This article was submitted by the office of Chairman of the Board of San Benito County Supervisors, Jaime De La Cruz.
Upon hearing that the Gavilan College Board of Trustees and Executives announced the results of a telephone survey reported in the local press designed to query voters support for new bond funds, the Chairman of the Board of San Benito County Supervisors, Jaime De La Cruz, is stating his opposition to such a proposal. According to Gavilan College, taxpayers may be receptive to supporting a $248 million bond issue a year from now which, in part, is to build a new campus in Hollister/San Benito County, adjacent to Ridgemark Golf and Country Club. According to De La Cruz, the location of the campus is not congruent with the county General Plan or the best interests of a majority of county taxpayers, the business community or student population.
“I was elected to serve on the Gavilan College Board of Trustees when the original 2004 Measure E bond was proposed. At that time, I was assured by staff and fellow trustees that the proposed campus would be centrally located to the hub of San Benito County, conform with General Plan guidance and best urban planning management practices.” De La Cruz said. “None of that materialized when Gavilan College chose to purchase property for a campus at its present location and I cannot condone taxpayers and my constituents being obligated to support a poorly planned community college campus at a location that will be difficult for students to travel to, further degrade county roads and discourage business interests from providing goods, services and hospitality support to our community.”
“Gavilan College must make a better effort to earn the support of San Benito County government officials and the community at-large.” De La Cruz said. “I would encourage its management and Board of Trustees to listen to the needs of our community and make future plans accordingly. Under my watch, San Benito County will not be stuck with a substandard community college location that doesn’t conform to the General Plan or serve the best interests of students, taxpayers or the local business community.”