Anzar High deserves praise
The following people, events and organizations deserve either a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down this week
THUMBS UP: For Anzar High School which has been honored as a California Distinguished School. Anzar achieved the lofty accolade – only 191 of California’s 2,300 high schools got the award – by achieving its mission: teaching students how to think. The results of that educational focus speak for themselves. The entire graduating class of 2004 was college-bound. It’s a well-deserved honor and should serve as an inspiration for all our public schools.
THUMBS DOWN: To the San Benito County Board of Supervisors who voted down the formation of an ethics committee in San Benito County. Through all the mudslinging and vituperative political rhetoric being tossed around in the last year, one thing has become clear: An ethics committee, or at least ethics training for politicians, would be nothing but beneficial for San Benito County. We hope the Gavilan Board of Trustees will take it upon themselves to set up a short class in ethics to train candidates for office in campaign law and ethical behavior.
THUMBS UP: For San Benito County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Soto who survived a roll-over accident while pursuing a criminal at speeds up to 90 mph last weekend. Though he suffered a concussion, cuts and bruises, Soto, who was wearing his seat belt, is lucky to be alive. It’s a reminder how dangerous the work of law enforcement is. We should be thankful that there are people who are willing to do the job of keeping our streets safe at great risk to themselves. Also, a Thumbs Up to the bystanders who helped Soto out of his destroyed patrol car.
THUMBS DOWN: To whoever wrote the hate-filled anonymous letter sent to Maria Araujo recently. Araujo was the woman brought up on charges of voting twice for Supervisors Jaime De La Cruz in March 2003. The charges were promptly dropped when a judge said there was not enough evidence to prove she had tried to defraud the election system. But, though the election is more than a year old, someone out there isn’t willing to let it go and sent Araujo a letter signed ” a very disgusted Hollister neighbor of yours, who is embarrassed they has [sic] to live in the same town as you (I was here long before you, however, so I’m not leaving).” Whoever wrote the disturbing letter needs and gain some perspective and move on. While important, the job of San Benito County Supervisor is hardly worth all the bile that’s been spewed in the last year.
