Opinion article is written by community contributor, Marty Richman.
Let me preface my remarks by saying that I supported Hollister’s Mayor Ignacio Velazquez in every election and I believe he has done enormous good for the city as a whole. He championed paying down the debt that was crippling the city and he almost always keeps a sharp eye on the budget realizing that things can turn in no time.
He has also been correctly skeptical when it comes to all the hoopla surrounding the theory that cannabis-related income will have the city rolling in dough; however, I believe his failure to accept the will of the majority City Council on the 400-block decision and the cancellation of the motorcycle rally as final are both distasteful and risky.
His Honor was officially recused on the voting on development at the 400-block of San Benito Street and had to pledge to keep his food-entertainment business closed during the motorcycle rally so he could cast a vote on that issue.
After the 400-block vote did not go his way the Mayor led a petition campaign to have that decision reversed. The results of that petition are yet to be determined at the Office of the Attorney General and/or at the ballot box. Now I am told the Mayor is promoting or supporting another petition drive for the rally.
Although the Mayor may meet the technical requirements of recusal by closing his business for three days, no one can deny that both these issues are likely to have a future impact on the value of the property next door, The Vault. This leads to distrust, especially if the Mayor looks for an alternate way to exert influence regarding an issue where he is legally obligated to stand down.
Even if one disregards that impact to the Mayor’s future financial interests, and that’s hard to do, neither of these issues are worth the bad feelings generated among the other council members – and in the case of the rally, the enormous financial risk of uninsured police and fire temporary help – to the city. Where is the financial prudence in that position? We did not save so much in interest payments just so we could disburse them to pay potential Worker’s Comp claims.
No local politician should entertain or encourage the residents to bet the farm on anything, much less the behavior of a crowd when a lot of alcohol is being consumed. There is a reason we cannot get affordable insurance and that reason is the size of the risk.
These issues are not worthy of the time and effort being spent on them. Come on Mr. Mayor, let’s move on to more important things.