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THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

MARCH 8, 2019

‘VELOCITY’ REVIEW P8 WINE PASSPORT TOURS P12 MUSIC THERAPY P16

Diane Ortiz proves a worthy ally for local youth

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

XXXXX PXX | XXXXX PXX | XXXXX PXX

SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FINDING MY PLACE Youth Alliance helps kids pave a path P4

NEW HIGH SCHOOL COURSES P4 | JOBS IN GILROY P8 | CHASE YIELDS GUN P12

HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY

A New SV Media publication

Friday, March 8, 2019

sanbenito.com • Vol. 147, No. 10 • $1

Mayor goes solo v.400 block VELAZQUEZ CLAIMS HE IS A ‘PRIVATE CITIZEN’ IN NEW CHALLENGE Robert Eliason

Jaqueline McCool Reporter

Mayor Ignacio Velazquez sent a letter “as a private citizen” to the Hollister Planning Commision raising new, personal objections to plans to develop the 400 block of San Benito Street. The mayor—forced to recuse himself from all discussion and action on the controversial project because his business is next door, and thwarted by the state attorney general in a bid to take the issue to a referendum—warned ➝ 400 block, 2

YOUTH ALLIANCE From left, Aleina Valles, Jose Martinez and Josh Ochoa, are excited about learning at

a recent Youth Alliance event. Find out more about the Youth Alliance in San Benito magazine, inside.

Kids find a path each year in 16 schools in San Benito and Santa Clara counties, providing such services as after-school, summer and late night programs, and early intervention bilingual counseling and case management. For an in-depth look at Youth Alliance, see San Benito magazine, inside.

Robert Eliason

Youth Alliance is a nonprofit, founded in Hollister in 1995, that “strives to create thriving and equitable communities to equip youth and families to become agents of change in their own lives and in their community.” The all-volunteer organization now serves over 13,000 children, youth and families

ART IS FUN Victoria Radilla shows friends her art technique at Youth Alliance event.

Proposals stir charter schools TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS FAVOR STRONGER OVERSIGHT Scott Forstner Reporter

Gov. Gavin Newsom late on Tuesday, March 5 signed into law Senate Bill 126, which ensures that all corporate charter schools are held to the same transparency and

accountability standards as neighborhood public schools. During the debate on the Senate bill and several still-pending Assembly measures, charter school advocates were concerned about the impact of the legislative initiatives aimed at their growing industry, which includes nonprofit and for-profit schools. Traditional public school officials and teacher union representatives said they believe that new oversight of charter schools is long

overdue and will establish an equal playing field for their districts. “The charter schools industry is concerned with the package of bills that was introduced as they could have a devastating impact on the ability to provide equitable choices and education for all students,” said Kirsten Carr, of the non-profit Navigator Schools, which operates charters in both Gilroy and Hollister. Senate Bill 126, along with Assembly Bills 1505, 1506, 1507 and 1508, could change the landscape

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, March 23 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Register today! StratfordSchools.com/NorCalOH Morgan Hill Campus

| 410 Llagas Road | (408) 776-8801

of how charter schools have been allowed to operate under the existing charter school law established in 1992 and amended in 1998. The new law will make charter schools abide by the same Brown Act opening-meeting laws as traditional public school districts, and require public elections of its school board members, who are now appointed. The Senate bill also requires conflict-of-interest ➝ Charter, 4


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