THUMBS DOWN: For gas prices climbing once again into the petro stratosphere. With local gas prices averaging $2.29 per gallon, it appears as though paying at least $2 per gallon is here to stay forever. Funny how gas prices always climb, yet never seem to drop back down to where they were even a year ago. In this day and age, a 30 cent drop in gas is practically unimaginable.
THUMBS DOWN: For a shortage of flu vaccines nationwide and throughout San Benito County. Since vaccine maker Chiron found millions of contaminated doses, the entire country is scrambling to find more vaccines to fill the void. San Benito County Public Health Services usually gets 1,100 doses, but will get a much smaller supply this year. Hazel Hawkins Hospital also will see their stock reduced. Unless you’re in high-risk category for serious illness from influenza, skip the shot, take a sick day if you have to, and let the few vaccines we do get go the people who need them the most. It looks like it could be a sneezy, miserable winter.
THUMBS UP: For the Sheriff’s department resurrection of the explorers program – a project introducing youth to law enforcement. Not only does the Sheriff get to work positively with youth in our county and possibly attract recruits with a vested interest in the future of our area, the kids get a taste of how law enforcement works and possibly career path to follow. Based on the success of the Hollister Police Department’s program, this is sure to help everyone.
THUMBS UP: For a bill that will spend $10 million of federal grant money to repair the 21 Spanish Missions in California. The bill recently passed in the U.S. Senate and now heads to the House before, hopefully, appearing on the president’s desk for signature. The California Missions are an integral element of state history and a treasure worth preserving in this modern world. It’s a small price to pay to preserve our past.
THUMBS DOWN: For the scheduling of a county forum on Indian Casinos. The Board of Supervisors invited officials from Yolo and Sonoma counties to discuss what their jurisdictions went through when casinos came to town. That’s the right thing to do. But what’s not right is to schedule it at 1:30pm on Thursday, when many people are hard at work. The proposal to build a casino on Highway 25 will effect everybody in our county, and everybody should have a chance to learn and ask questions at the supervisors’ forum.
THUMBS DOWN: For the expectation that the city of Hollister won’t meet it’s final October 2005 deadline to build a sewer plant. Not only could that mean a fine, but it means the building moratorium, which has crippled the local economy, may not end as soon as hoped. As is all too common in San Benito County, local governments are pointing fingers and blaming each other for the delays. The county government and the San Benito County Water District say Hollister’s disposal plans will damage the area’s aquifer. Hollister officials complain they are throwing up roadblocks. What will it take to get leaders in a room together to hash out problems before they become a huge problem for the public?
