Cheers for Downtown
The following events, organizations and people deserve either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
THUMBS UP: For the influx of new businesses into downtown that are filling storefronts on San Benito Street. The buildings which once housed cookware and antique shops now are home to a slightly different sort of marketplace – three real estate offices are making their home downtown. Intero Real Estate is already operating out of the former Dorothy McNett’s Place, Nino Real Estate will be opening its doors in early spring and Ridgemark Realty will be situated in the Old Flower Mill building. The new offices will mean real estate employees and their customers will be downtown looking for lunch, shopping and other amenities. It’s a positive way to fill empty buildings and benefit the businesses in the heart of our community.
THUMBS DOWN: For the members of the San Juan Bautista City Council and city consultant Mark Davis who are refusing to answer questions about a trip to Seattle to discuss the project to repair the city’s dilapidated water system that Councilman Chuck Geiger thinks they took. Now, the district attorney is investigating whether the city violated the state’s open meetings law. Two words: Come clean. This is the most important project in San Juan and there should be no secrecy about how it gets done.
THUMBS UP: For the Hollister School District, which is taking advantage of lower interest rates to refinance $6 million in voter-approved bonds – a move district officials say will save local taxpayers about $300,000 in the long run. It’s a welcome sign of fiscal savvy from the district that has serious enough financial problems that it was facing the possibility of state takeover.
THUMBS DOWN: For the weekend storm that flattened the 115-year-old Dunville Dance Hall. The dance hall has been at the County Historic Park since 1992 after leading a colorful existence as a electrician’s shop, radio repair shop and community center. But now it has been reduced to a pile of lumber and bent nails. This is a charming piece of our county’s history and if you want to help restore it call 635-9301.
