EDITOR: Supervisors Don Gage and Jim Beall are are to be
commended for voting against a county holiday because of the county
fiscal shortage. When state government employees, five other
counties and other cities, are added to the Santa Clara County
estimated cost of $650,000, the total cost for a Caesar Chavez
holiday will have a statewide fiscal deficit consequence.
EDITOR:
Supervisors Don Gage and Jim Beall are are to be commended for voting against a county holiday because of the county fiscal shortage. When state government employees, five other counties and other cities, are added to the Santa Clara County estimated cost of $650,000, the total cost for a Caesar Chavez holiday will have a statewide fiscal deficit consequence.
County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado had flawed fiscal goals that, at this time of California’s budget crisis, are unconscionable. In fact, she has done her constituents a disservice. Commonsense confirms that government services will be reduced. Moreover, a county holiday will not benefit farm workers, service workers, store clerks and restaurant employees who will be working on this day. One does question Alvarado’s contention that the holiday is, “a matter of principle and a matter of philosophy.” Interpret this to mean, it is a matter of politics.
Caesar Chavez was a union labor leader whose life’s work deserves to be remembered with honor and respect. During the time he was working to organize a United Farm Workers Union, there were a number of people who were Latinos that championed his cause for fair and just treatment for farm workers. It was the right thing to do then, and it is the right thing to do in 2003.
A “matter of principle and a matter of philosophy” that troubles me is that of one of an injustice. Predictable is that my opinion will be considered as “politically incorrect.” At Labor Day holiday ceremonies, there is not a singular labor union organizer, who endured long and difficult years before the right to strike became law, chosen to be honored with a holiday. American union labor history dating back to 1890 is relevant. My sense is that Casar Chavez would be disappointed about his memory being honored by way of an exceptional county holiday.
Phyllis Dowers, Morgan Hill
