Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Published: August 31, 2012
The real issue
To the Editor:
We have all heard complaints about how uncivil national politics has become. Republicans lie about Democrats. Democrats smear Republicans. Most of us have probably complained ourselves. I even saw two cartoons on the Opinion page of last Friday’s (August 17th) Santa Paula Times mocking these practices. “Candidates who drop the negative ads and start to address my concerns will get my vote,” preached one.
Yet how can we complain about the inhuman world of Presidential politics when we engage in personal smearing and ixnsults right here in Santa Paula? On the very same Opinion page, I read two letters to the editor that simply insulted the current trustees of the Santa Paula school districts opposing district unification (Measure M), by charging them with acting only for their own interests. “Those who fear change want to stay in business.” “Unification is almost always opposed by previously elected trustees because they risk loss of political position, prestige, district-paid trustee health care and other perks.”
Why can’t we stick to the issues even in our own small community? How can we expect Republicans and Democrats from all over the country, who have no way of knowing each other, to treat each other with respect when we treat our own political leaders, who should be our friends, by smearing them this way?
I have known Michelle Kolbeck, one of the leading critics of Measure M, for over 20 years. I cannot imagine a woman who has given more selflessly to Santa Paula schools over that time. I am sure I am not alone in resenting any implication that she would be opposing this measure for any other reason than that she thinks it in the best interest of the Santa Paula children.
Michelle has given many reasons for questioning the advisability of unification. Unification is expensive. Budget cuts will have to be made right now to cover these costs, and whatever is borrowed from the state will have to be paid back. Research has shown that low-income children suffer when parts of larger districts. Research also shows that unified boards tend to spend 70% of their budgets on high schools; that would translate into significant budget losses for Santa Paula’s elementary schools.
Michelle has at least 10 significant reasons to oppose Measure M. Why can’t her opponents treat her and our community with the respect we deserve? Stick to the issues!
Andrew T. Seeley
Santa Paula
Soccer supporters
To the Editor:
On behalf of Santa Paula AYSO Region 82, I would like to thank the Limoneira Company for awarding us with a financial grant once again this year. This money was provided to us through the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). The VCCF is a charitable foundation committed to promoting and enabling philanthropy to improve communities. This money is greatly appreciated. It will allow us to help continue providing a quality soccer program to many children in the city of Santa Paula.
We are also grateful that Limoneira provides us with beautiful fields in which we are able to practice and play our games.
Michael C. Tushla, M.D.
Treasurer, AYSO Region 82
Santa Paula
Vote for Martin
To the Editor:
A very good friend of mine is running for City Council and I know that he will be a very good one also. His name is Martin Hernandez and he is running for the City Council for the city of Santa Paula. He has the experience in people and public relations and has what it takes to run for City Council, and has what it takes to be on the City Council, too.
His main thing to bring to the City Council for the city is great expectations for what he sees for Santa Paula and its future. But his most important thing he has for the city is economic growth, as well as safety too.
Martin has the background of political experience in working for Supervisor Kathy Long and for what he stands for in his quest for a seat on the City Council. I personally have known Martin over the last number of years, and I see a very good man for the Santa Paula City Council who will bring Santa Paula a great deal of excellence and integrity to the city of Santa Paula and with your vote for Martin Hernandez on Tuesday, November 6th.
I hope that you show your support and vote for Martin as he tries for a quest for a seat on the City Council, and with your vote I know that he will win. So please come and show up to vote, and vote for Martin Hernandez on Tuesday, November 6th when you go to the polls to vote; and when you do, please vote for Martin, because I know that Martin has – like I said – what it takes to be on the City Council and what it takes to be a leader in the field.
And to express your vote will mean a lot to Martin, so please, once again, vote for Martin because if anyone can do it Martin can. So please vote for Martin Hernandez for City Council on the November 6th election, for we all want a man with everything that also includes experience, devotion, dedication and determination too.
Martin will work hard for you and I to see that we get and need to keep Santa Paula a very beautiful and wonderful town for many, many years to come in the future; and for everyone to see Santa Paula and that is a beautiful and wonderful town and more, too.
John Bravo
Santa Paula
Organized labor
To the Editor:
“Honor the Labor Force” is this year’s Santa Paula Labor Day Parade’s theme. As we honor working men and women across America and their contributions to society, it’s often forgotten and if not forgotten, definitely under attack these days. Labor Day was a holiday created by organized labor for all workers across America. As the summer season ends, starts the beginning of our election season and yes, once again workers are under attack in California. In an attempt to silence workers’ voices for good in the political arena is the anti-union, millionaires supported initiative, Proposition 32. This is nothing more than a big power grab by big corporations and the supporters of this initiative, who already outspend labor unions in political campaigns at a rate of 15 to 1. This will give them more influence to further destruct what many in the “Labor Force” have worked so hard to achieve for the benefit of all. Many of the benefits and rights workers enjoy today came from legislation that had support of organized labor, for example the 40 hour work week, pensions, medical coverage, sick leave, ending child labor, overtime pay and soon to be, for many men and women who work in our agricultural fields. Thanks to organized labor!
Today, union workers are demonized for having jobs that pay a decent wage, provide healthcare coverage, and one day will provide them a pension in order for a person to retire with some dignity. Why should we lower the living standards of public workers, to be comparable to the private sector? Sounds like a race to the bottom philosophy to me. These workers are our own family members, neighbors and friends, who put their lives on the line every day to ensure public safety, teach our children in our schools, work at our local grocery stores, and deliver our mail to us every day. Union members seem to be an easy blame to our current economic problems by anti-labor politicians and some non-elected public officials.
If the backers of this initiative are successful, be prepared to see the wealth gap continue to widen to devastating proportions as unions along with the middle class slowly disappear.
In closing, I thank the Rotary Club for recognizing the contributions to all workers in our community.
Rodney M. Cobos
Santa Paula
Re: “Local jobs needed” SP Times, 8/24/2012
To the Editor:
John Cabral’s article regarding local jobs needs an explanation as to how hoarding all the upcoming jobs on the proposed new Santa Paula High School will help Santa Paula construction workers achieve a steady annual income. Cabral writes about “local hiring rules” which is another way of restricting competitive bids from all eligible contractors. I find it ironic that Cabral boasts of having to travel to Illinois and Oregon to work on construction projects thereby taking the resident workers job away but yet he promotes a priority on local hiring. Doesn’t this stink of a “hooray for me and screw you” mentality? I can bet Cabral is a union worker as I use to be a union carpenter and a union contractor who has passed on the “torch” to my son. However, I have had to follow past union rules which required paying “foreign union dues” in order to satisfy the Locals greed for revenue. As a contractor when working out of Ventura County, there was the ever-present corrupt crony system of mandatory union job stewards a method used to keep out of area contractors and satisfy the Locals greed for extra revenue. Mr. Cabral speaks highly of Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation because in the past, CEDC has signed project labor agreements (PLA) but he fails to mention the government financial assistance in CEDC projects. If every area was to follow Cabral’s rules of restricting outside contractors and outside hiring then he better get prepared to apply at the “local” McDonald’s whenever construction work dries up in Santa Paula. If Cabral is really concerned with the state of the economy he will repudiate the propaganda which his local union is advocating regarding local, state and national politics. The State of California is in dire financial straights due liberal/progressive stupidity. Our country’s majority elected a “myth” of a character in Barack Obama thanks to the 95% black vote, 67% Hispanic “Tio Taco” vote, and the 43% white guilt vote. I wish John Cabral’s memory would take him back to 2001 through 2007 and compare it with the last 3 ½ years under “hope and change”! The union membership prefers full employment to food stamps and unemployment benefits but our country will not get back to a low 4% unemployment rate we experienced in 2001, 2006 & 2007, until the unions and government go back to relying more on free enterprise rather than crony capitalism of Barack Obama and the party of “food stamps and welfare”. By the way Mr. Cabral are Santa Paula union workers restricted from working in areas such as UCSB, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, Universal Studios, etc.?
Andrew F. Castaneda
Santa Paula
Re: “Inquiring minds want to know…” by Marsha M. Rea
To the Editor:
The Santa Paula Times has raised the bar on journalism; it has risen to new heights. I was used to “just plane folks” (as advertised by a former S.P. tavern; Okies) writings by Peggy Kelly which although reminded me of skipping through an episode of Mayberry RFD. But now we have the critical thinking analysis of Marsha M. Rea’s column which if my hunch is correct it is an entertainment column. I can’t for the life of me figure out what’s her message! This reporting is more Kabuki theatre than investigative journalism but maybe just maybe Rea’s type of new journalism is now following the formatting of TV series such as “Dallas”; to be continued! By the way, could this be a reincarnation of the late Rona Barrett?
Andrew F. Castaneda
Santa Paula
Obama’s retirement
To the Editor:
I have noticed that Michelle and Barrack Obama are getting smart, they have not visited their home in Chicago on Air Force One since they moved into the White House over three years ago. Obama did send some jobs to Chicago by opening his re-election headquarters there, however Chicago has become the murder capital of America. Black on black crime in Chicago is breaking all previous records. There are more violent deaths in Chicago last year than there were in Afghanistan! It looks like 2012 will see a big increase! The primary reasons, given by the news media, for these activities are gangs and the breakdown of the black family unit.
Where can Obama retire next year where he can be safe? LIBERIA! Our fifth president, James Monroe established a west coast colony for African Americans in 1820. You may not remember this in history class but thanks, to the Internet, it is there for all to see and read about. Today no one but African Americans can become a citizen in Liberia! This means Obama can bring all his African American friends, Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan and his family members! I am sure Obama would be welcome with open arms, and Liberia’s political structure is set up just like America. Liberia has 15 states with a lot of natural resources. One of the first industries in LIBERIA was Firestone rubber co.! I know Obama has a lot more to offer the Liberian people than Charles Taylor did!
Obama’s one-way ticket to Liberia will be underwritten by happy Americans! Help Obama retire on November 6th and vote for Mitt Romney!
David Kaiser
Santa Paula
No, Christine. There is no Santa Claus
To the Editor:
My family moved to Santa Paula in 1967 when my father acquired a position with Limoneira Company. My parents, Dan and Joan were both very active in the Santa Paula schools, community and political arena.
I purchased my home from my parents in 1987 and raised my three children there as my parents and raised their four.
In 2005, I lost my job due to several health issues including a fractured ankle that resulted in contracting RSD/CRPS, an insidious nerve disorder. I was also legally blind for several years until I had lens replacement surgery.
The past several years have been very emotionally and financially difficult, culminating in an inability to make my mortgage payment after having exhausted my retirement and savings accounts.
In November 2011, I was able to reach a modification agreement with my mortgage company. The first payment under the terms of the modification was due on December 1, 2011. I made the payment, the bank accepted the payment. They sold my house the same day.
Selling as many of my possessions as possible, I was able to raise enough money to purchase a beat up 1983 motor home to avoid being completely homeless.
A wonderfully compassionate gentleman north of Santa Maria provided me a secure place with hookups in his yard for several months. Unfortunately, personal issues on his part necessitated me returning to Santa Paula.
I visited a friend in Ventura for a couple of days, staying in the guest room. I received a ticket, although there was no signage in place, for parking an oversized vehicle on the street.
I came to Santa Paula and parked on a side street for the night whereupon two officers from Santa Paula Police Department informed me I couldn’t do that and there were no streets in Santa Paula where I could park. The officer I spoke with was very courteous and professional and suggested I use the truck stop in East Area 1 saying “No one will bother you there.”
I was grateful for this information and proceeded to spend the night at the truck stop. Upon awaking the next morning, I discovered a warning ticket from Limoneira Security stating if I parked there again, my vehicle would be towed.
A couple of years ago, Ventura had a pilot program allowing homeless people to sleep in church parking lots. Santa Barbara opens parking lots for homeless women to sleep in their cars or RVs and then locks the gate to provide security and a feeling of safety.
I understand no one wants to see the homeless people. No one wants to have an area turn into a shantytown. But the homeless person could very well be your neighbor, uncle, sister, yourself, or like me, a Mom of three and a Grandma of two with zero income and nowhere to turn. I have nowhere to go. That’s a very vulnerable and despondent fact.
Please, tell me, what am I supposed to do?
Christine Murray Pulido
Santa Paula
Unavoidable questions
To the Editor:
We definitely need a City Manager with “a backbone”! And we quite obviously need a City Mayor with “the common sense ability” to properly assess what our city is most in need of (a new police chief? Indeed!!).
Are we legally stuck with these two men in charge?
How can they best be removed?
If these are not our – hard to ask but necessary to answer – questions, let us simply ask ourselves, “Where are we going, with this crew at the helm?”
Nina Remensperger
Santa Paula
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