Thumbs up, thumbs down: A big week for San Benito Co. economy
Jul 18, 2008
THUMBS UP: Telling by a crowd consistent with or better than any previous year, the Hollister Motorcycle Rally was a success. After the rally's revival in 2007 brought out an impressive crowd following the event's cancellation in 2006 and included a major change to the traditional layout by moving bikes off San Benito Street, the big question was: Will they return again? They certainly did and, in doing so, proved that tradition carries a lot of weight in the biker culture - and there's nowhere better to find it than Hollister. They will return yet again, and it's encouraging that city and business leaders - the San Benito Chamber of Commerce partnered with Horse Power Promotions and Hollister for the first time this year, and both the chamber and city invested in sales of official rally merchandise - have embraced the tradition and taken on lead roles. Also on the upside, there appeared to have been fewer complaints about police issues, a testament to authorities and organizers who've made the event more family friendly. Above all, businesses seemed happy with their results - and that's what matters most.
THUMBS UP: The board of the Economic Development Corp. of San Benito County this week picked its top candidate among a pool that the group's president, George Lewis, said included several qualified prospects for the crucial role. Government and business leaders are counting on the new director, expected to more aggressively pursue recruitment of new businesses here, to help carry San Benito County into an era of continual progress. We trust the EDC board members, a group of leaders who care for this community's future, have chosen the right person for the job and we're excited to see he or she get to work.
THUMBS DOWN: Starbucks' bubble boiled over after rapid growth for several years, and this month's closure of the San Juan Road shop in Hollister is a result of the company's effort to cut costs as revenues have dropped. It's among 600 Starbucks' closing before month's end. It's not surprising, considering the sluggish economy and the company's almost unimaginable growth for so many years. But it is unfortunate for Hollister and seven other locations in California because employees will lose their jobs and the property owner now must find another tenant to fill the vacancy.
THUMBS UP: The San Benito Foods cannery opened this week and once again will provide hundreds of seasonal jobs to locals while boosting the local economy, especially considering the company uses 50,000 tons of locally grown tomatoes each year. Although speculation will never subside about the company's future and whether, some day, that area might be redeveloped, for now San Benito Foods is continuing a tradition, one that carries our county's name proudly and still provides an economic benefit to this area.
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Highlights of Friday's game against Alisal now available
