I am a resident of Seneca Highlands, a complex of 57 townhomes off North Ventura Avenue in west Ventura.

These homes have been arbitrarily designated as affordable housing under the auspices of the city of Ventura — not the Housing Authority, only the city itself.

It is important to note I never qualified by income to purchase this unit, nor did many of my neighbors qualify. We also did not know at the time of purchase that our homes were covered by the intense restrictions of affordable housing. Furthermore, there are affordable housing units here that belong to a doctor from Santa Barbara and are rental/income property.

For those first-time homebuyers and potential qualifiers for the city’s affordable housing program, know that many units are being occupied by people who did not and do not qualify and that some units are being used as investment property. The rents for those townhomes by no means reflect affordability standards.

Is this true, you ask? Does the city of Ventura know about this? Yes, it is, and yes, they do.

— Kathleen M. Garcia, Ventura

Re: your July 24 article, “Guardian for disabled accused of theft, fraud”:

My name is Esther Anaya; however, I am not Esther Anaya Torres. My name may sound familiar as The Star has been following the investigation of a county employee who is charged with embezzling $93,000 from the disabled.

It just so happens that my name is Esther Anaya and I also work with disabled individuals. I work with a private nonprofit agency that funds support services for developmentally disabled individuals. I have worked in this field the better part of 10 years.

The article in the July 24 paper has made many professionals in my field, personal contacts and others question my morals and ethics, since they are mistakenly assuming that I am Esther Torres-Anaya.

This has been a great devastation for me and my family, as suddenly my professional and personal character have been questioned based on the article and the potential misconduct of someone with a name almost identical to mine.

My family, neighbors and most friends immediately knew this was a grave coincidence of similarity of name. I am also thankful to my co-workers who have managed to put a humorous spin on the name similarity and also for those individuals who knew, based on previous contacts with me, that the article was referring to someone else.

I decided to write this letter to clarify that the article is referring to another Anaya who works in the social service field.

— Esther Anaya, Oxnard

Re: Frank Moraga’s July 29 essay, “A state of disagreement”:

I haven’t been to Flagstaff, Ariz., recently, but I suspect that Arizonans’ thoughts on Mexican immigration are similar to mine and that Mr. Moraga either doesn’t understand the matter very well or he is deliberately dissembling.

The objection of almost everyone I know on the matter of Mexican immigration is that we strongly object to illegal immigration — not immigration, but illegal immigration, and not just illegal Mexican immigration, but all illegal immigration. It always amazes me how “immigration advocates” get away with the use of the term “undocumented aliens” to soothe the harsh moral reality of illegal immigration.

I would appreciate it if The Star’s director of diversity, whatever that is supposed to mean, would do a column discussing immigration from everywhere, not just Mexico, and include in his analysis his and The Star’s views on immigration versus illegal immigration.

— Richard S. Hawley, Thousand Oaks

Re: Laurie Charnley’s July 28 commentary, “Gleaning inspiration from migrant workers”:

As I was reading Laurie Charnley’s commentary about fruit and migrant farm workers, I think my heart began to bleed. But as I stopped wringing my hands and my tears dried up, I came to my senses.

All of us work hard for our families. Farmworkers are not the only ones who wake up before traffic starts or make sacrifices for their children. So I am not going to feel guilty when I order a salad or pour ketchup on my fries, as Ms. Charnley seems to suggest.

Re: Angelin Lucht’s July 28 letter, “Artwork is just fine”:

Angelin Lucht supports Attorney General Bill Lockyer’s decision to display a painting in the Sacramento Department of Justice building that shows a star-spangled map of America being flushed down a toilet with a caption reading “T’anks to Mr. Bush.”

According to Lucht, the artist is “a true patriot” and is simply protesting against what President Bush is doing to America. She defends this art as being protected free speech and believes that the real problem lies with neoconservatives with “extremist views” who want to censor public opinion.

I am extremely unsatisified with the poor quality of work done on Presidio Drive.

A Simi Valley Public Works inspector gave it the O.K. He really stabbed us in the back!

We finally had our street repaved nicely a couple of years ago. Then his people came in and did a job that involved tearing our nice street out and leaving it in much poorer quality than they first found it. They only repaved one side of the street, not the entire street!  The side that had more scarring and painting was left ugly and undone!

Re: T. Maya Teague’s July 27 commentary, “Are Filipino people addicted to national uprisings?”:

It is sad and unfortunate, but following its history, one can only say they are getting there.

Teague hit the nail on the head. I truly share her sentiments. Nothing is new with regards to what is happening in the Philippines. It gets so sickening to hear the same unrest going on all over again, all for the same reason, and the unreasonable way people wish to resolve it.

The way it is, everyone does things for their own personal reasons. The mighty hope to get mightier at any cost, the rich wish to become richer no matter what, and the majority could not care less. It’s survival of the fittest, so they say.

Ever see those cameras at traffic lights? They’re a good idea, right? Wait until you get a notice that your car, driven by a friend, was photographed going through a red light.

The notice included pictures showing the driver to be a lady. Since I’m a guy, it was obvious I wasn’t the driver. Included with the notice was a form to complete if I wasn’t the driver, requiring the name and address of the driver. I completed the form, put my stamp on their envelope, and mailed it to the named company in Phoenix — Phoenix? I gave the notice to the actual driver who, wanting to be a good citizen, paid the fine. Should be over, right? Wrong.

Re: your July 29 article, “Changes in store for county shoppers”:

After reading the article about the closing of the Robinsons-May at Pacific View Mall, I once again had one word pop into my head: IKEA.

Why doesn’t the owner of the mall pursue an IKEA store for the north end of the mall? That store would bring in customers from all over the area. The closest store to us now is in Burbank. I believe that people would drive down from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and the Conejo Valley and bring business to Ventura.
 
— Bonnie Bowsman, Ventura

I am very disappointed in Rep. Elton Gallegly’s vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, HR3035.

The bill, as passed, exports American jobs to foreign workers who will remain exploited. Once again, Wal-Mart, Target, and other merchants win, while American jobs become more scarce and lower paying.

As American jobs flee, and illegal aliens invade the Southwest, Gallegly’s vote for legislation that encourages these trends is certainly not in my interest, nor that of my neighbors.

Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “It’s a child, not a choice,” and I respect that person’s opinion, even though I am pro-choice. I wouldn’t want to blow up their gas-guzzling SUV or suicide-bomb their church just because of their opinion. Yet it seems the world is full of people trying to dictate the laws of the universe according to their beliefs, be they Christians, Muslims or corporate-minded worshipers of the almighty dollar. 

Self-righteous indignation is now leading our nation in a transformation of all kinds of rights and privileges we have struggled for and now stand to lose. One may believe a child is not a choice, and now, in some states, women have no choice because pharmacists do not have to fill prescriptions for birth control, according to some members of the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee.

Every contentious issue, from marital disputes about treatment to international disputes about treatment, has a common ground. The common ground always includes the objective of “the greater good.”

In a marriage, it might be the mutual desire to have a loving and supportive relationship; in international relations, it might be the desire to prosper through increased trade.

What I see happening too often is a jump to a conclusion of what will create that common good, followed by all the energy and attention being poured into forcing that “solution” onto everyone.

Re: Ken McElroy’s July 28 commentary, “Justices must act on case law, not personal beliefs”:

Mr. McElroy has a strange view of the Supreme Court. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that Supreme Court justices must “act on case law.”  In fact, beyond establishing its jurisdiction, the Constitution is absolutely silent on what the court may or may not do.

Since the very first court, the justices have interpreted the Constitution and its relevance to the laws of the land. Their role in the judicial process and interpretation, of course, rests absolutely on one’s personal beliefs.

Re: your July 25 article, “Public officials don’t just represent churchgoers, atheist says”:

I was disappointed that The Star chose Stuart Bechman to be the “poster boy” for those of us who don’t believe in a Supreme Being, with the possible exception of Diana Ross.

The Star mentions as an “interesting fact” that Mr. Bechman served as the 2004 Green Party congressional nominee for most of Ventura County, but a more interesting fact might be that Bechman has long served as a Sunday school teacher at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. I’ve never heard of any other “atheist” serving as a religious educator in a Christian church, and I’m not sure why The Star failed to share this fact with readers, unless, of course, it wasn’t familiar with Mr. Bechman’s religious leanings.

My son owns a small screenprinting shop in Camarillo with two full-time employees. He has no air conditioning or heating.

On July 5, he received his Southern California Edison bill, which increased 89.1 percent over the prior month. Upon calling Edison, he was told these are summer rates and the California Public Utilities Commission had authorized the increase. His small business uses approximately the same amount of electricity each month, summer or winter, and an increase of this amount is staggering.

Re: Julia Gregg’s July 27 letter, “Critical focus needed”:

Ms. Gregg is absolutely correct to demand that the media and the Senate dig deeper into Supreme Court nominee John Roberts’ past.

A judge of just two years, Roberts’ career has been spent representing the interests of the corporate elite when he wasn’t busy keeping the Reagan and Bush I administrations out of hot water.

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

I enjoyed Colleen Cason’s humorous column regarding the new Thousand Oaks retail center named The Lakes at Thousand Oaks.

I noticed a few angry letters in response that seemed to miss the point. Ms. Cason was not complaining so much about the center itself but pointing out the developer’s penchant for water in his projects and the inaccurate image that the name evokes.

We definitely need better Supreme Court judges.

The eminent domain ruling, Kelo v. New London, has undermined the property rights of every American. This decision has expanded the meaning of “public” use when it comes to confiscating property to include the taking of land for private uses, something forbidden by the Constitution!

You don’t think there is something rotten with these judges on the bench? You want more of their ilk? God help us!  This is not the America I grew up in!

I am outraged by the number of young adults I see riding bikes and skating without helmets. I drive by the skate park daily and have yet to see a teen wearing any kind of protective equipment.

I work in a neuro/trauma intensive care unit, and from experience, I can say the car always wins.
I love seeing the kids outdoors and think it’s great the skate park gives teenagers in my neighborhood a place to hang out. I just don’t want to see these kids in my unit.

I would like to remind parents that when they send their children outside to play, make sure they’re safe.

— Candice Zimmerman, R.N., Newbury Park

Re: Ralph Burquist’s July 25 letter, “LNG facility needed”:

This letter supporting the liquefied natural gas industry off the coast of Ventura County contains erroneous statements.

He suggests, “Would it not be more sensible to take the gas from a fully reloadable supply that is only 13 miles away, than many hundreds and possibly thousands of miles away?” Where does he imagine the “reloadable” supply comes from?

A former Ventura resident, Navy pilot Lt. Britt Boughey, war-tested in Iraq, recently became the victim of an unappreciative civilian.

Lt. Boughey, whose parents and brother still live in Ventura, was moving his family from Lemoore to his new base assignment in Virginia when irreplaceable personal property was stolen.

Lt. Boughey had contracted with a licensed car carrier service in Victorville and arranged to have his two vehicles moved across country. Two days into the trip, Lt. Boughey was informed that one of his cars was reported as missing and presumed stolen. This was not an ordinary vehicle. It was a prize 1956 Chevy Belair, which was a gift to him from a family friend for Lt. Boughey’s dedicated service in Iraq for his country.

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 26 essay, “Honest appraisal, please”:

An honest appraisal would be to inform the readership that the very reason for even being in Iraq was based on a pack of lies.

The Downing Street memos state that the intelligence for going to war was being fixed around the policy. No one in the Bush administration refutes the memos. There were 300 meetings nationwide on July 22, the third anniversary of the Downing Street memos, that were attended by thousands of Americans, yet there was no news coverage.

People from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara: Speak up now!  E-mail Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today to oppose the energy bill that is expected to be signed this week. It gives the federal government power to put liquefied natural gas ports off our coasts, whether our cities or state approve or not.

According to lawyer Tim Riley’s Web site, TimRileyLaw.com, the risks of disasters classified as “most severe” are real: a 30-mile- radius fire cloud or worse could result from tanker collisions, terror attack, earthquake, risky old oil platform, violation of safety regulations, or accidents.
Don’t let them experiment on us! Protest now!

— Stanley C. Semokaitis, Oxnard

“Veteran.”

This word applies to me and about 25,000,000 more. My legs are weak, my back sore, my age has caught me. There are others better off than me and others a lot worse, and there lies the problem.

When I was drafted in 1966, the deal was: Give 20 years and get medical care for life! And a pension!
A lot of guys bought this — me, too! I believed my country and did my thing, and so did a lot of other guys. Now we’re left twisting in the wind while the government is on a crusade to save the world. There’s no money left to bolster vet care. What happened to the deal?

When our fleet was destroyed at Pearl Harbor, our president’s first thought was not to give aid and comfort to the enemy. He did not call the Japanese ambassador to arrange to have any of the royal family and friends who might be stranded here safely delivered home to Japan. Nor did our president have, as honored house guests, the Japanese royal family at his home during the war.

What makes this acceptable wartime behavior for our president, George Bush? Now we are told that an investigation is under way into whether the Saudi diplomat Prince Bandar’s wife paid the families of friends of two of the suicide pilots who destroyed our twin towers! Is this the reason Prince Bandar has decided to resign? It’s certainly more diplomatic than President George Bush having to take action and expose our real enemy.

— Elinor Greer, Ventura

Re: your July 21 article, “Products get their pitches on television”:

Thank you for printing this excellent exposé. We all know it’s going on — advertainment, the embedding of advertising into programming — but we’ve grown accustomed to its face and have developed an unhealthy tolerance for it.

I rarely watch network television as I refuse to be bombarded by the barrage of ads. When I do watch the networks, I usually watch two or three shows at one time, switching between them during commercials. It’s crazy.

President Bush started the Iraq war with false evidence. It is a war that has killed more than 1,500 Americans and maimed lots more of our young soldiers.

Not one American is against supporting troops, and no one should be addressed by anyone as being a disloyal American.

This war will continue well past Mr. Bush’s administration, as no valid exit plan has been forthcoming.
Moreover, the terrorist activity is clearly not governed, nor has it ever been governed, by Iraq as we observed in the latest activity in England.

Why is it that accountability is so evasive in the Bush administration? Lies about the reasons for going to war have damaged our reputation as a nation, and thousands of people have lost their lives. Iraq was not purchasing weapons materials from Niger, and there were no weapons of mass destruction. We had warnings from people like Ambassador Joseph Wilson, but the Bush administration already had an agenda for war. They only needed a palatable reason to feed the American people.

Karl Rove, who is indeed a mastermind of propaganda, knew just what to do to silence the truth coming from Joe Wilson’s reports. He leaked information about Wilson’s wife, a CIA undercover operative, and jeopardized her safety and the safety of this nation, thus committing a crime, which at the very least should be punishable by the loss of his job. President Bush promised to fire anyone who was found to have leaked the information. Do you think he will? Do you think he should? Do you think he knew?

One thing is for sure: The truth doesn’t seem to be surfacing much on many issues facing this country. The deficit isn’t troubling to the present leadership, and why should it be after the record profits and tax breaks corporate America is experiencing? Environmental protection laws are being phased out because they don’t support corporations. The president doesn’t believe in the latest scientific reports about global warming. He doesn’t have to.

Bush doesn’t have to keep his promise to fire the person who leaked Valerie Plame’s name, and he surely doesn’t have to hand over to Congress any documents concerning Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.

I can’t wait for the latest spin in the next chapter of “Lies and Deception.”

— Candace Hull, Ojai

I’m writing regarding mental illness and the potential damage that naive and ignorant Tom Cruise has done to the scientific psychiatric community and all of the mentally ill people and their families that these doctors help.

First, Cruise is not a doctor. Why anyone would believe someone who only has acting credentials but no doctorate in mental health is beyond me. Cruise should be ashamed for ignorantly giving medical advise without a doctor’s degree.

Over and over, intelligent scientific tests, observations, and studies have shown that chemical imbalances do exist in some people. This is not something “make believe,” like the fictional writings of Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard that Cruise believes in.  

Re: Kathy Matthews’ July 26 commentary, “Simple birth control needed”:

This is to inform readers of the benefits of natural family planning.

The couples who use NFP learn to recognize the woman’s physical signs of her individual fertility pattern. As she approaches the fertile time in her cycle, a woman experiences changes in cervical mucus, basal body temperature and the cervix itself. The couple can then use this information to avoid or achieve a pregnancy.

Re: Kathy Matthews’ July 26 commentary, “Simple birth control needed”:

I couldn't agree more with Kathy Matthews’ article.

I am a good Republican in favor of abortion because I do not believe that all males take their fair share of responsibility on birth control.

Having been married nearly 60 years, I have gained a lot of knowledge and, I hope, wisdom, in observing the behaviors of males and females.

Re: your July 25 obituary for Tim Howe:

I’m writing in response to the obituary for the 20-year-old man who died from taking Oxycontin for the first time. It was very compassionate for his family to include this information in the obituary, in hopes that the information will help others.

According to the latest national study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, about one in five teenagers has abused a prescription painkiller. That’s more than have experimented with Ecstasy, cocaine, crack or LSD.

Re: your July 19 article, “Save Top Hat, backers ask Ventura council”:

The Top Hat Burger Palace in Ventura on Main and Palm streets is indeed a part of Ventura’s valued past. Nostalgia and emotion alone should not be the sole criteria, however, for deciding what might be the best thing to do.

The easy proposals to simply move it to another city-owned site seem to ignore the possibility that such a plan might involve significant costs. Who pays for it and what the taxpayers should contribute are factors to consider.

Re: your July 15 article, “Base supporters blast realignment plan”:

I think the presentation by Point Mugu supporters to the Base Realignment and Closure Committee may backfire.

If I were on the BRAC Committee and had to listen to retired Rear Adm. George Strohsahl and others tell us our analysis was flawed, our conclusions in error, and our committee work poor in general, I would be highly insulted and irritated. As a committee member (hypothetical) who had spent much time on the effort, I would probably change my recommendation to immediate base closure.

— William Wolny, Oxnard

As a Red Cross volunteer and a Vietnam veteran, I drove to Ventura from Thousand Oaks to volunteer my services for the 13th Annual Ventura County Stand Down. When I arrived at the National Guard Armory on Saturday morning, I could tell right away that there were too many Red Cross volunteers manning the sign-in desk. I was issued a red wristband and decided to look around and make myself useful.

I scoped the whole operation out a number of times and was very impressed at the nearly 20 agencies that were providing so many services needed by the 100-plus homeless vets.

Re: your July 13 article, “Damaged plane glides to safe landing in field”:

The frequency with which private planes encounter mechanical problems, low fuel or human error and land on city streets, private property or freeways is appalling. These pilots not only endanger our lives, livestock and private property, but themselves as well.

Why don’t they check the soundness of the plane mechanically, the fuel level and assume a sober state of mind prior to takeoff?

They are not heroes. They are selfish drivers.

— Vincent Burns, Santa Paula

It’s about time we Americans woke up to the fact that Muslim extremists will never stop their murderous reign of terror so long as Christian coalition forces and civilian personnel who are trying to help in rebuilding Iraq remain in Iraq.

The radical Islamic clergy throughout the Middle East continues to spew their hatred toward Americans and their allies in order to stay in power! Not only do they encourage the killing and slaughter of Americans, but of their fellow Muslims as well. They think nothing of killing innocent women and children in the name of Allah.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger keeps referring to our teachers as a special interest that must be broken.

They are the wonderful men and women who commit their lives to relatively low-paying jobs in an underfunded education system just so that they can teach our children. They get up early, work hard, and often stay late, not because they are paid extra, but because they are committed to making sure children have the best possible education.

I also believe teachers are very special interests because they freely contribute so much to our children and our society. Unfortunately, the governor thinks those who gave large cash donations to his campaign are more special.

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 26 essay, “Honest appraisal, please”:

Richard Larsen wants the Bush team to be more open on Iraq problems, even though the Bush team has been more open and honest to the American people on military issues during a time of war than any other administration in American history.

Short of publicizing in advance the daily schedules of our military, our battlefield tactics and the names and addresses of Iraqi security forces, there is not much more information the Bush team can share.
What we really need is for the terrorists to be more open on why they kill innocent people, including Iraqis, civilians, children, women, the elderly and those simply working to help others. There is no apparent sane strategic explanation for their actions.

It is fair to hold Karl Rove responsible for his actions, but the rhetoric and rage appear to be way ahead of the facts in this case.

The only bright spot in all of this is that with a little bit of luck, our elected representatives will be so caught up in their frenzy they will not get around to approving a liquefied natural gas terminal in the middle of an international shipping lane and a military test range.

— Jim Kaness, Ventura

The increasing problem of graffiti is not just in Oxnard, it’s countywide.

If the City of Oxnard spends $700,000 annually dealing with graffiti, why doesn’t it stop the problem at the source and ban the sale of spray paint altogether? The county should do the same. Yes, you must be over 18 to purchase it now, but taggers of all ages have no problem getting it, either finding it in their parents’ garage or buying it at stores that sell to anyone.

No spray paint for sale, no more graffiti. Problem solved. There is no good reason to sell spray paint to the public. If you can’t paint with a brush or roller, buy an air compressor and air brush and get the same results as a “rattle-can.” Sure, the paint manufacturing industry will cry foul, but who cares? We are the citizens who must look at the graffiti, pay for its cleanup and face devaluation of our neighborhoods that repeatedly get tagged.

—Michael Rivers, Piru

Re: your July 25 article, “Public officials don’t just represent churchgoers, atheist says”:

I subscribe to The Star for news, not social commentary.

Would someone tell me what is newsworthy about this article? To me it is nothing other than one more abomination by the Old Media on its way to becoming the Gone Media.

I am sure there were plenty of truly newsworthy events you could have chosen to report on but did not.

When the Ventura Community Park opens, what is going to happen to all the other established parks in Ventura?

Reportedly, the city has $400,000 right now to contribute to the next phase of the Community Park. Would it be possible to take some of those funds and upgrade the facilities we already have?

I was at Camino Real Park last week. I went into the restroom to wash my hands and was appalled to discover there was no soap dispenser. No soap dispenser in a public bathroom! I have to wonder if the other parks are lacking as well.

Re: Jeffrey Dransfeldt’s July 25 commentary, “College journalism cuts blunt experiences”:

Mr. Dransfeldt had very positive experiences to relate regarding his training and the professional support and assistance he received in the Ventura College journalism program.

We are always pleased to hear when students achieve such success academically and vocationally as a result of their time at the college. It is our hope that in time, we will be able to reinstate the journalism program and the printed and online versions of the Ventura College Press, so that more students will be able to advance through similar educational and internship opportunities.

Re: your July 24 article, “Putting a foot down on flip-flops”:

As a university intern serving my second summer internship as a paralegal intern at Naval Base Ventura County’s Judge Advocate General’s Office, I, too, found myself in a footwear dilemma.

I was invited to a formal retirement ceremony at Point Mugu and forgot to bring my black dressy shoes. Although I was not in flip-flops per se, I was wearing white sandals without ankle straps. Upon my arrival to the ceremony, I was the only female civilian standing with the uniformed officers. I felt totally out of place with my “naked toes” exposed for all to see — so much so that I turned down an offer to sit in the front row with the JAG staff to view this special ceremony.

Re: your July 24 article, “Guardian for disabled accused of theft, fraud”:

This article should be an eye-opener for most who do not have a clue about public or private guardians. 

The theft by Esther Torres, who worked in the Ventura County Public Guardian’s Office, is nothing new to advocates and those who have been affected by guardianships.

While driving past the San Onofre nuclear reactors, I noticed with some irony that their emergency sirens are powered by solar panels, so that in the event of a nuclear accident, the sirens will still have power.

I’d like to suggest that we get rid of these very expensive and potentially dangerous nuclear reactors and replace them with inexpensive, safe and reliable solar panels on rooftops throughout California.

Most people already know that California’s new Million Solar Roofs Initiative, SB1, has strong bipartisan support and is very likely to pass this year, bringing solar into the mainstream and replacing the need for far more expensive large and polluting power plants. 

Re: your July 21 article, “GOP calls on Lockyer to remove painting”:

Recently some Californian Republicans have voiced extremist views that, if widely accepted, could damage our free speech rights, specifically our right to criticize the government.

This story concerned one painting in an exhibit in the cafeteria of the Department of Justice Building in Sacramento. The cartoon-like painting shows a “star-spangled map of America” being flushed down a toilet. A pair of cowboy boots stands on the floor. The caption reads “T’anks to Mr. Bush!”

Re: Frank Moraga’s July 22 essay, “Taking education home”:

Educator Denis O’Leary is wrong about some details but right about the important issues.

The figures O’Leary gave Frank Moraga about books in the home in the United States are not quite accurate. The average American family has an average of 137 books in the home, not 300, and the average Hispanic family with limited English-proficient children has 26, not 15.

But this is still a big difference, and it means a lot. Fewer books in the home means less reading, and less reading means that children do not learn to read as quickly or as well.

I recently noticed something very unusual while driving around the neighborhood.

Amid houses where cars were parked on the street, I saw one house that actually had two cars parked in the garage and none on the street! When the garage doors were open on some adjacent houses, I noticed that the spaces built for garages were obviously converted into mini-storage facilities full of old furniture.

I wonder if the use of garages to store cars is becoming a new phenomenon, or if those folks just haven’t caught up with the modern way of life?

— Dick Randall, Thousand Oaks

Up to now, the focus has been on what a nice guy John Roberts is.

Last week, Judge Roberts did not “recall” being a member of the secretive far-right Federalist Society.

The July 25 Washington Post published an internal directory of the Washington chapter of the society. Judge Roberts is listed as a member of the chapter steering committee!

This episode demonstrates that the media and the Senate must dig into his record for an accurate picture of a man who could be on the Supreme Court for decades.

— Julia Gregg, Simi Valley

By Jonathan Ziv

Re: your July 16 article, “Effort fails to eliminate boating center funding”:

The article mentioned that “some beach residents and environmentalists” oppose the project’s western shore site and favor an alternative location on the eastern shore.

While that may be true, the fact that Habitat For Hollywood Beach’s hundreds of supporters hail from throughout Ventura County and even from neighboring counties discounts the characterization that opposition is from just a few NIMBYs living across the street from the project.

By T. Maya Teague

The Philippines and Filipinos are on the verge of a people’s revolution, yet again.  Ho-hum.

It is tempting to respond to such news with an apathetic shrug, given the fact we have seen this all too often. It is becoming a bad habit, wherein every few years Filipinos are compelled to stir things up in the homeland.

Re: Rick Lemmo’s July 22 letter, “Lakes will be an asset,” responding to Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

The Civic Arts Plaza’s Twin Lakes also can boast non- identical opinions.

Rick Lemmo’s critical assessment of Ms. Cason’s column is the perfect example of egotistical righteousness. He has elected himself the authority of good taste and dubbed the extravaganza around our governing buildings the only community gathering place in town. There are probably plenty of sheep to support his opinion, knowing his boss, Rick Caruso, has won all sorts of awards for “building things up.”

Would it be possible for the news media to stop referring to ethnic groups as a race? In today’s world, the word “race” is no longer acceptable. We are a planet, full of people who come from different ethnic backgrounds. To refer to any group as a “race” does nothing but cause divisiveness.

Rejoice in the diversity that makes us strong. Reject the designations that only serve to weaken that strength.

—Laura Snead, Moorpark

Since July 19, most of the big news has been about John Roberts’ nomination to the Supreme Court.
Let’s not forget the other big “R”: Karl Rove. Rove and other White House staff allegedly outed a CIA agent in retaliation for her husband’s criticism of President Bush’s Iraq policy. This action compromised our national security.

While Roberts is currently in the news spotlight, Rove needs a bright light, as well.

— Julia Gregg, Simi Valley

The Moorpark Redevelopment Agency is forming a project area committee. The panel is to study the needs of the designated area and then advise the agency.

The MRA commissioners took the easy route in the formation of the committee by not appointing its members but having them elected, but by whom?

There are four categories to which a voter must belong before he or she can vote. A voter must be a residential owner occupant, residential tenant, business owner or existing community organization. It sounds simple enough.

Re: Susan M. Murata’s July 25 letter, “Applause for Caruso,” responding to Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

Did Susan Murata forget she lives in Simi Valley? This project is in Thousand Oaks, last time I checked. Does she work for Rick Caruso?

Maybe next time, Simi will get one of Caruso’s strip malls.

Re: Carlotta Barnes’ July 25 letter, “Absolutely right on Iraq”:

How curious it is for me when religious people say it is OK to kill in Jesus’ name. All we have to do is close The Book and look into the sacred heart of Jesus and find the answer.

Ms. Barnes and so many people forget why we Americans are so hated in the world. Look into our history of supporting dictators all over this planet who have abused the basic human rights of their own people.

On Sunday morning, July 24, my husband and I got in the family car to go to the store. Approaching Vineyard Avenue and H Street, I noticed a small runaway Chihuahua mix running loose at that busy intersection. We pulled over and tried to catch the little guy. He had a collar on, so he obviously came from someone who took care of him.

We ran and drove for blocks trying to get him, but he was very quick. He doubled back on us and ran right back onto Vineyard. We prayed, but it was too late. He got a direct hit from a car. The car turned around and went back, but the dog was dead.

Re: Marcos Breton’s July 21 Arts & Living commentary, “If poker is a sport, it’s time to fold”:

Wow! Marcos Breton sounds so angry! He seems to know a lot about televised poker, so if he hates it so much, why does he watch?

He asks, “Who are these people?” Well, I’m one of them. I’m 70, have two master’s degrees (both of which were earned with a 4.0 grade point average), and a professional license. My husband and I started playing live casino poker three years ago, and we manage to win enough so the entertainment is well worth the cost — about $40 a day so far this year. (I call it spending, not losing.)

I was deeply troubled by the action of the Conejo Valley Unified School District board on June 28 when four of its five members voted contrary to the public’s plea for support of traditional family values in our children’s textbooks.

Parents aren’t asking that any religion be pushed, simply that the text reflect the laws of our state: Marriage is a legal and personal commitment between a woman and a man.

Be sure, these members will not have my vote when they are up for re-election. Only Mike Dunn was willing to vote the will of the parents whose children are suppposed to be served by this board.

Re: Roger Hernandez’ July 21 essay, “Put Hispanic on high court”

This essay is a fine example of racially biased writing.

Mr. Hernandez writes, “In a nation of more than 40 million (and growing) Hispanics working to figure out where to sit at the table, it’s even harder to ignore a Supreme Court candidate’s ethnicity.”

What he really means is that he has trouble ignoring a candidate’s ethnicity.

Many Oxnard citizens read about the City Council in The Star and listened to the City Council meeting on television last Tuesday. We heard about “unkept promises” of the City Council, costs of operating a swimming pool, “prohibitive costs” of constructing a sports park, and reasons why the City Council might have to vote to change the zoning from a “sports park” to “residential” at the corner of Oxnard Boulevard and Gonzales Road.

It seemed that the citizens who spoke from the neighborhood initially simply wanted an open grassy field in which their children could play after school and on weekends. These hardy people had been seen with their children playing soccer on the unimproved open fields this last spring.

One of Judge John G. Robert’s opinions upheld the arrest of a 12-year-old girl who ate a single french fry on the Washington, D.C., subway.

Both the arresting officer and Roberts failed to understand the age-old wisdom: “Average people have five senses; smart ones have two more — horse and common.”

— Anthony R. Miller, Thousand Oaks

Re: Daniel Hayes Pearson’s July 17 letter, “Marine mammal rehab facility is needed”:

Living in the beach area for the past two years, we enjoy the beautiful sunsets each day.

However, one day last week, one of the most distressing things we saw was a man on a ski boat chasing a seal in open water beside the wharf. When the seal finally dove to get away from this boat, I motioned to the man with my arm to leave the seal alone. It was only then, when he saw us watching him, that he disappeared toward Ventura Harbor.

Re: Marcos Breton’s July 21 Arts & Living commentary, “If poker is a sport, it’s time to fold”:

These are the types of articles that force the public to search for intelligence outside the world of the newspaper industry.

The first thing that hit me was all the reference to the physical appearance of the players. Perhaps Mr. Breton should switch to celebrity poker, where the prettier people play to satisfy his need for superior superficial viewing.

For more than 10 years I keep getting this inspiration in meditation, and now I get to send it to the newspaper.

Placing nuclear waste in concrete blocks and dropping those blocks into active volcanoes may render the material non-radioactive as a result of the tremendous heat and pressure inside volcanoes.
If someone has the resources and interest to test this out, I’d love to know if it works.

— Scott Friedman, Camarillo

I had the good fortune of golfing with a young man who is an active Seabee stationed in Port Hueneme. We had an enjoyable round of golf at the River Ridge Golf Course and after “bogeying” and “parring” several greens, we got into a long conversation between drives.

He told me that he has served for the last four years in several countries, including Iraq, and he will soon be sent to Africa.

I asked the young man if military personnel received a discount for golfing, and his answer shocked me. He said no!

Let me give a few reasons why I feel strongly about my party line.

I don’t have to lie about a war under false pretense. I can go to bed at night knowing I didn’t create a deficit now $333 billion strong and growing. I know I won’t sell my assets to some foreign country even though they wouldn’t sell theirs.

I won’t steal millions of hardworking average citizens’ assets, like some WorldCom executive, allow an ever-increasing illegal migration to enter this country and do nothing but turn a blind eye, or skyrocket the price of gas to line someone’s pocketbooks. I won’t allow the banks to take advantage of student loans, taking money from our school system never to be repaid.

Re: Joy Hamlat’s July 22 letter, “War isn’t right”:

I always enjoy letters that quote Jesus’ “Blessed are the peacemakers.” I'm waiting for one that quotes Jesus’ sayings like, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34).

Sometimes the sword (or today’s weapons) can be used in a cause that is righteous. If all the Islamofascists rush to Iraq — since it has been reported that many of the so-called insurgents actually came from other countries to fight us “Crusaders” — and get decimated there rather than cause trouble here, I think President Bush was absolutely right in going into Iraq.

— Carlotta Barnes, Ventura

On a recent trip to the mall with my 14-year-old girl, I was browsing the T-shirts section in the Ventura Anchor Blue store. Many of the styles include advertisements for various products (Trix), artists (Hendrix), or towns (Newport Beach). Imagine my surprise when a cute little pink T-shirt designed for a teenage girl sports an advertisement for the Mustang Ranch!

Now maybe I’m way too informed to be shopping at Anchor Blue, but isn’t the Mustang Ranch a house of prostitution? Why would any responsible company sell a T-shirt to teenage girls advertising a bordello? Is the wearer supposed to be a customer or an employee?

I am not a video gamer, so I may be a bit naive — well, I will admit to playing a few hands of Freecell. But please help me put the controversy about Grand Theft Auto San Andreas into perspective.

As I understand it, the game follows a street gang as they steal cars, shoot citizens and massacre police officers. For this, the “gaming police” awarded it a “Mature” audience rating.

Now it has been discovered that, by use of an Internet download, these same gangsters can be seen engaging in graphic sex acts. As a result, the rating has been raised to “Adults Only,” and retailers have pulled it from the shelves of their stores.

I have dealt with numerous U.S. Army engineers in regard to permitting me to remove rock from the mouth of the Santa Paula Creek, the east side only, and rebuild their east access levee at no charge. My truck traffic would exit at the end of Lemonwood Road to Hallock Drive, with 10 loads per day, approximately.

I dealt with the Ventura County Watershed Protection Agency. They gave me the application, asked for a $1,000 inspection fee and a $15,000 completion bond. I performed on all the above. They used $600-plus of the inspection fee. I never met any of them on site, as I had requested. This is looking a gift horse in the mouth!

Are there any people in Newbury Park who work on their cars? I’m one. I’m sure there are many garage mechanics in Newbury Park.

I’ve lived in Newbury Park for most of my life, since I was 8 years old. I moved here with my parents in 1963. I’ve seen many stores come and go, including at least one auto parts store that used to be in the Lucky-Longs shopping center, I think it was called Moms, which for unknown reasons, closed.

As fast as Newbury Park is growing, I think it’s time for us car buffs and tinkerers to have the opportunity to be able to drive to a nearby auto parts store, instead of making the drive to Thousand Oaks, where you have Pep Boys, and two Napa stores, one formerly known as Harvey’s Auto Parts.

Some people might say, “no big deal.” I don’t mind driving to Thousand Oaks to purchase foreign or domestic parts, but wouldn’t it save time, money and gas if we at least had one auto parts store in Newbury Park?

You can buy gourmet coffee, building materials and most anything else, but where can I get a spark plug, fuel filter, oil filter, alternator, starter, etc. for my vehicle without driving to Thousand Oaks?

— David M. Fairfield, Newbury Park

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 19 essay, “An assault on your rights” and his July 12 essay, “Judicial discretion at risk”:

Judging from Mr. Larsen’s last two essays, he is in the dark about what judicial activism is. It is not being a judge who happens to be a Christian, nor is it being a judge who even likes Christians. Judicial activism is the practice of making law by judicial decree.

Our Constitution spells out that law is to be created by the Legislature, enforced by the executive and interpreted by the judiciary. The most famous such violation of the constitutional process of law making is, of course, Roe v. Wade. Only nine Americans voted on whether abortion on demand should be the law of the land. Sadly, Roe v. Wade is one of hundreds of such examples of the judiciary overreaching its constitutional authority. Moreover, judicial activism is practiced only by the left, as they have found that what they can’t win at the ballot box, they can put in force by judicial fiat. So called right-wing judges do not create law, but do interpret it along strict legal guidelines involving precedent and consistent principles. That’s all we want, good judges who interpret but do not create law.

One last thing. In his essay of July 12, Larsen attempts to show how complicated even moral absolutes are by quoting from the Bible, “Thou shalt not kill.” Larsen’s error is that the King James word “kill” means “murder,” as all modern versions have it. Murder is an absolute, is not difficult to interpret, and therefore means the same thing to everyone always. Perhaps a little more research in areas Larsen is not well versed in would help him write accurate essays, but then, I am an optimist.

— Jerry Pomeroy, Camarillo

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:
Cason’s interminable ranting about the soon to be completed Lakes project on Thousand Oaks Boulevard was nauseating to read. Sure everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but a reporter for The Star should base opinion on, at the very least, some accurate information. Did she bother to research the time and effort and people involved in finally getting The Lakes to fruition? Does she understand how desperately Thousand Oaks Boulevard needs this type of project to boost its redevelopment? The whole project area that Caruso had to work with is only 7.5 acres, how big could the lakes be? How deep does she think the lakes need to be?

As she so contemptuously pointed out, one of the lakes is going to be frozen in the wintertime for the enjoyment of Thousand Oaks residents (and I doubt they will be “packed shoulder to shoulder”). It has to be shallow in order to be able to freeze it.

Caruso is going to considerable expense to bring this imaginative atmosphere to our community. Her column was just a pathetic attempt at some kind of injudicious humor. It was an insult to those of us who have spent countless hours waiting and wanting and working toward an improvement to the east side of our civic center and to finally getting some wonderful new restaurants in this town.

Caruso has attracted some of the finest eateries in the country to the Lakes. PF Chang’s is not just one of a “couple of Asian restaurants.” I, for one, cannot wait for the grand opening of The Lakes. It is going to be a beautiful addition to our civic center and Caruso should be applauded for investing his time, efforts and money in our city.

— Susan M. Murata, Simi Valley

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

Cason’s swiping at Rick Caruso’s handsome new shopping plaza, The Lakes, next to the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, was startling, since The Lakes will be such an admirable improvement for that mixed part of town, the former site of weed-covered Jungleland.

While she derides the beautiful Lakes project, a widely admired addition to the community, she does think the Top Hat burger stand in downtown Ventura is worthy of being saved. She supports the city moving this dirty, greasy shack onto a nearby strip of city land, a greenbelt-sized park between thrift shops. There it can be patronized by folks who chose to eat artery-clogging slop outdoors astride dirty stools, immersed in traffic fumes, fighting off flies, entertained by loud regulars, flippant food sellers, and tottering drunks begging for quarters. That park is currently being used by the great unwashed as a place to urinate and by addicts as a place to sell and use drugs. Seems like a fitting site for the Top Hat Burger Palace to me.

Perhaps this award-winning journalist would prefer seeing a similar ugly structure here in Thousand Oaks. She obviously thinks when the most admired developer in Southern California transforms a former eyesore and civic embarrassment into a gorgeous and appealing center, he has exceeded the constraints of good taste in daring to call it The Lakes, since it will sport merely two manmade water features.

I’ll take Caruso’s vision over Cason’s any time. Caruso improves; Cason carps.

— Maryanne Leonard, Westlake Village

In 1982, California lawmakers passed a law to bludgeon the jobs of servers and bartenders with an 8 percent pay tax taken from our checks. I and five workers did the march to Sacramento to try the appeal. It has been 23 years.

I am currently in the restaurant business after all the years. I would not wish this law on anyone in the live-for-tips business. I, as many others, do not understand why we were targeted? Barbers, hairdressers, busboys, car attendants and numerous others do not have this applied.

I’ve figured that, over one year, at the average taken from me, I could have a new car every year.

— Sandra Sherwin, Thousand Oaks

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 19 essay, “An assault on your rights”:

Mr. Larsen does an excellent job of setting up, attacking, and destroying a straw man in his most recent opinion piece on the right to privacy and what he sees as the right wing’s agenda to transform the court.

Central to his argument is the notion that attacks on the constitutional “right to privacy” are exclusively conservative and/or right wing. The only problem with this view is that it is not true.

Re: Pam Baumgardner’s July 21 letter, “No fix at all”:

Ms. Baumgardner writes, “It has been proved time and time again that there is no chemical imbalance for any psychiatric dissorder.” What planet does she live on?

My son was born with childhood onset schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, behavior disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was strange from the day we adopted him, but his pediatrician thought he just had “hyperactiveness” and that it wasn’t so bad.

Re: David Collins’ July 19 letter, “Lessons for shuttle”:

Space flight is not an amusement park ride, and the space shuttle is the most complex flying machine, if not the most complex machine, ever built. Brave souls fly it to advance human knowledge without regard to the enormous risk they take.

The space shuttle has five main computers and hundreds of other computerized control systems managed separately. There are four fuel tank sensors, and only two are required.

The photo sits in a bookcase in the family room, a reminder of what I’ve accomplished and opportunities lost. I’m dressed in my graduation gown, shaking the hand of Interim Ventura College President Mike Gregoryk.

I sat through the ceremony, a recipient of one of the final Associate of Arts degrees in journalism at Ventura College, and considered what was lost. The Ventura College Press had published its last issue, and with it, opportunities for other writers like me to gain valuable experience was lost.

The controversy over a “shield law” wouldn’t exist if the “profession” of journalism would live up to an ethics code. Every time I see someting attributed to “a highly placed source,” I immediately suspect (1) the source exists only in the reporter’s fantasy, (2) the reporter said the quote in the form of a question or (3) the reporter interviewed as many people as necessary to get the desired quote.

— James M. Crosser, Ventura

Re: your July 19 article, “‘Day in Fields’ teaches lessons”:

Driving down Ventura County’s stretch of Highway 101, busy drivers are usually unaware of the expanse of green vines across the valley that await the human touch to relieve itself of the heavy fruit that has to be picked. The fruit, oddly, decides to ripen at different times, making it necessary for the fruit pickers to visit each vine at least 20 times to harvest the whole plant.

Male and female farmworkers need to be aware of the degree of color that is required and desired before judging a fruit’s pickability.

The Ventura County Economic Development Association is pleased that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and our legislative leaders were apparently able to reach agreement on a 2005-06 budget agreement that does not raise taxes, contains no new borrowing, pays down our debt and invests in education, transportation, public health and public safety.

However, reforming the budget process is essential to keeping California on the path of progress. Without reform, that system could still bring the state to the brink of bankruptcy.

Re: your July 21 article, “County’s failing roads ranked among worst”:

Recognizing that commenting on county government, without being an insider, has some risks, here I go anyway.

How can people still blame Proposition 13 for lack of funds? Real estate values in California, including Ventura County, are some of the highest in the land. When this expensive residential and commercial property changes hands, a new higher tax base is established. With all the recent real estate activity, the county should be rolling in surpluses — and be able to fix a few potholes.

It can’t be that simple. I’m sure I’ve left something out of the formula.

— Jack Weber, Oxnard

Re: Michael Kornder’s July 20 letter, “Downtime puzzling”:

Mr. Kornder asks a very leading question about why the Mandalay power plant was idle Monday.
The plant was not idle. As a matter of fact, we were very busy.

Unit 2 was at full capacity the entire day and most of the night, and it generated 2,860 megawatts of power to the grid.

Unit 1 was out of service temporarily due to a tube failure after running for extended periods at maximum capacity.

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

As one who has often enjoyed Ms. Cason’s column over the years, I was more than simply disappointed when I read her pointless rambling, humorless quips, unfair and un-researched statements and complete lack of regard for a lengthy process that the citizens of Thousand Oaks guarded and guided every step of the way.

Being a journalist doesn’t allow one to ignore good taste, facts and information gathered during an interview. Unfortunately, Ms. Cason’s column on The Lakes ignored everything but a point she wanted to make, without regard to the facts or the information she gathered.

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

Ms. Cason’s column is right on. Lakes are lakes, and “The Lakes” at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza merely supports increased tax revenues. For what once was Jungleland, better this should have been a park than a commercial op.

— Marty Lachow, Thousand Oaks

I will start this off by saying that, as an east county resident, l have always felt slighted by the powers that be. Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks always seem to be on the dirty end of the stick when it comes to municipal projects — county courts, police facilities, freeway expansion. (When the Highway 23 proposed expansion opens, it will only hold more cars from Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura coming and going to Los Angeles to avoid the crush of traffic through the San Fernando valley on the 101.)

That being noted, l would like to proclaim my support for the BHP Billiton liquefied natural gas terminal, hopefully to be sited off the shores of Oxnard/Port Hueneme. The country, especially Southern California, needs all the energy resources that we can get. As far as l have been able to determine, the line will come ashore near the Edison plant and be distributed from there.

Would it not be more sensible to take the gas from a fully reloadable supply that is only 13 miles away, then many hundreds and possibly thousands of miles away?

As l see it, most of this opposition has been coming from the likes of the Sierra Club that have no real connection with the people in the affected areas. With the record of safety that these gas ports have around the world, l would put my money on them to add millions of tax dollars to the local economies, along with a great supply of clean-burning natural gas to heat our homes and light our homes.

— Ralph Burquist, Simi Valley

Re: Grant Marcus’ July 20 letter, “It all ties together”:

Marcus would like readers to believe that the Downing Street memos nails down the left’s unrelenting accusations that President Bush, as far back as 2002, had “fabricated evidence” to justify a war against Iraq where no solid reasons existed.

The memo said that, “the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.” Bush haters have twisted “fixed” to read “manipulated.’ That same memo (and we have only a typed copy of it, not the original or a Xeroxed copy of the original) also disclosed that it was the prevailing opinion coming out of British intelligence that Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction and might well use them in the Middle East.

Marcus also knows, I myself having some time ago read them in his presence, that leading liberals such as John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy, all made public comments in Congress prior to going to war, that Saddam did have WMDs, and that we, through the United Nations, should take action to stabilize the situation.

Even liberal commentator (and Bush denigrator) Michael Kinsley in the pages of the Los Angeles Times did not think the Downing Street memos were at all a smoking gun.

But the left, contrary to the facts, must pursue its unrelenting agenda that Islamic terrorism and all global economic misallocations are spawned by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney under the flag of Halliburton. I hope they keep it up. Nobody believes them anymore.

— John Gentry, Ventura

Re: your July 20 article, “Bush taps Roberts for Supreme Court”:

And the cries came from the crowds and the media: “Crucify him. Crucify him.” Just substitute the name Karl Rove or, more recently, John Roberts. Don’t bother with the evidence. Sound familiar?

— Dave Maltby, Santa Paula
 

Re: your July 19 article, “Man dies in Casitas Springs fire”:

It is a shame that a loss of life happened, but the property owner had been warned and then taken through the criminal system on misdemeanor charges. Tom Scott Stephens does have a condition known now as “horders,” more politically correct than a “pack rat.”

My sister, an adult protective officer, attended a daylong conference in Long Beach that talked about the behavior and possible corrective actions able to be taken under the law.

It appears that Building and Safety officers attempted to have the property owner comply, but where were other county agencies in their enforcement actions? Putting nonmonetary liens on one’s property is fine if they want to sell or refinance, but it does not clean up the property or conditions that affect the neighbor or community.

Finally, where were other departments over the years? What did they actually do (planning, fire and environmental health?)? Will the supervisors give enforcement a “bigger stick” to enforce the law against the outrageous community nightmares in the county?

I understand property ownership rights but government has to step in and be more timely in such nasty matters. I feel sorry for the neighbors and community to have to live next to such conditions and person.

It is such a shame that there was a loss of life and years of the neighbors having to endure these conditions (rats and his behavior).

— William Schneder, Ventura

Re: Richard Larsen’s essays, “Judicial discretion at risk,” July 12, and “An assault on y our rights,” July 19:

A week ago, Larsen was wanting Supreme Court nominees who could discern all shades of gray, but who didn't know right from wrong.

This week he is chastising conservatives for, “turning the word ‘liberal’ into the incarnation of all evil.” I’[m sorry, but we can’t take credit for that. Larsen and his leftist friends did that themselves.

In the ’30s they wanted us to join Joseph Stalin. In the ’60s they wanted us to surrender to the Soviets, “Better Red than dead.” Now, they want a Supreme Court that will make us just like those sophisticated Europeans.

While their countrymen are busy trying to save democracy for the world, they can only think of making political hay. They may not quite be the incarnation of all evil, but they certainly are beneath contempt.

— Leland L. Sprague, Ojai
 

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 19 essay, “An assault on your rights”:

Larsen does it again. In his relentless attack on conservatives, he swept logic, bipartisanship and truth under the rug to promote his political idealism. In his latest installment of the “Larsen broken record,” he writes his weekly anti-conservative diatribe — that conservatives have “turned the word ‘liberal’ into the incarnation of all evil.” Sounds just like what liberals have done with the term “right-wing conservatives.”

This is hypocritical.

Another example of this is his statement that conservatives have been trying for years to redefine the Constitution. Wouldn’t putting things into the Constitution that are not there be redefining it as well? The establishment clause of the First Amendment says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This does not say religion and government should be separate, but that government should not establish religion.

In fact, the Constitution was ratified more than 10 years before the phrase “separation of church and state” was written by Jefferson. Wouldn’t this be rewriting the Constitution, too?

I have an idea for Larsen’s next column: write on the disproportionate influence of the media on American society. For instance, one of the biggest news items last week should have been the unemployment rate falling to 5 percent, below the level it was at when terrorists struck Sept. 11. The Star put the story below the fold on the front page of the Business section. A Gallup Poll released July 19 revealed that 7 percent of Americans (plus or minus 3 percent error rate) thought that unemployment was the most important issue in America. If the European Union unemployment rate is 8.8 percent and Japan’s is 4.4 percent, how can almost 10 percent of Americans think that unemployment is the most important issue? It’s the media.

— Scott Nandor, Simi Valley

Re: Rose-Marie Robinson’s July 17 Pulse page letter, “None of his business”:

Here is what “None of his business” has brought us by way of psychiatry”:

Years ago, psychiatrists convinced the government that they were the only ones who understood and know how to fix mental problems, so we could all stop wasting our time finding solutions. We could “mind our own business.” Since then they’ve done such a good job the public is wildly enthusiastic, the proof being that every citizen in America wants a psychiatrically rehabilitated criminal moving in next door. Their success with child molesters and rapists is legendary. We all want one dating our daughter and teaching our kids.

In the last 40 years, psychiatry-directed learning models have taken our school systems to new levels of achievement and safety. Employers everywhere are looking for people who have achieved the level of honesty, competence and social grace that mind-altering drugs bestow. Taxpayers cheer the wise use of excess budget dollars that support all this for our benefit. What? You don’t agree? You must be depressed or suffering from some kind of mental illness. Well, don’t worry, I am sure there are plenty of psychiatrists who can write you a prescription to handle that, too.

— Carol Horton, Ventura

I’ve been watching with much interest the sparring of words between Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields regarding her treatment for postpartum depression. I knew it was only a matter of time before other people of notoriety started weighing in on the fact that they, too, have been treated with some form of psychiatric drug and that they felt they had been helped, or they know someone who has, such as the acting governor of New Jersey.

It has been proved time and time again that there is no chemical imbalance for any psychiatric disorder. If you ever hear this from your doctor, ask for the results of the test. Dr. Thomas Szasz, professor emeritus of psychiatry, is quoted as saying: “There is no blood or other biological test to ascertain the presence or absence of a mental illness, as there is for most bodily diseases. If such a test were developed (for what, theretofore, had been considered a psychiatric illness), then the condition would cease to be a mental illness and would be classified, instead, as a symptom of a bodily disease.”

What are psychiatrists selling? A quick fix? A way to alleviate suffering? Sure. Marijuana and alcohol are used widespread to alleviate stress or boredom. It’s no different. These are not cures. They only treat the symptoms.

Unfortunately, these psychiatric drugs can be very dangerous and have been proved to cause psychotic breaks, murder and sometimes suicide in people.

It’s not only a wrong fix, but it’s no fix at all.

— Pam Baumgardner, Ventura

Re: Marc Rogers’ July 18 commentary, “Reflections on the roles of government and religion”:

Rogers’ final question (one of many) with regard to the differences in the world’s religions makes clear his assumptions about how they “differ in their approaches to the existentialism of life”. His final words: “And what if there is no God and we humans have to take full responsibility for all our actions and transgressions?”

Since when does religion teach us that we are not responsible for our behavior? And how can anyone say that all religions are essentially identical in content when the central tenet of Christianity is that God cared enough about us to send his son to Earth in the man Jesus of Nazareth, to teach us truth and to simultaneously condemn iniquity and free us from it and its consequences — death and separation from all that is true, beautiful and good.

Faced with Christ and his claim to a unique relationship both with, and as God (the only avatar), each person must decide for himself whether to believe and follow him or to face God alone, in effect saying, “I did not believe him.”

Jesus taught that a person can serve only one master. Faith in him sets us free from our existential crisis (and the fear of death) in a way that only a living, omnipotent and ever-present God can. My prayer is that obtaining an education in this country doesn’t demand surrendering the expression of one’s faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, is Rogers with him or against him? Will he face God with his PhD. or hs redeemer?

— Mark McCormack, Camarillo

It’s ironic that the governors who are asking the federal government for billions of dollars to cover the cost of illegal immigration are crying about spending a few million dollars to standardize driver’s licenses to help prevent illegal immigration — not to mention terrorism.

Let’s hope they can get their act together.

— Bob Larkin, Simi Valley

After years of trying to save the Ahmanson Ranch from developers, this was finally accomplished by the citizens and our elected officials.

We thought the ranch was safe from developers, but we were wrong. A mile-long emergency access route is being considered to go through the property. This is for homes being built in the West San Fernando Valley. The road would have an impact on wildlife and habitat. There should be no road through this property.

The Board of Supervisors of Ventura County is sending a letter of opposition to Los Angeles County authorities. A letter also is being sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Whether or not Karl Rove’s outing of a CIA operative is found to be a crime, he clearly breached the oath of confidentiality required of all people with a security clearance.
 
However, what is more troubling is President Bush’s conduct. 

Two years ago, Bush said that he would fire anyone involved in the leak. In the White House, Bush is the boss. In business, any boss would ask each subordinate whether he or she was involved in the claimed misconduct. If anyone admits it, that person would be fired or given the opportunity to resign, and if potentially criminal conduct was involved, it would be reported to the proper authorities to avoid complicity. 

Re: Shirley Bressler’s July 19 letter, “Report suspicions”:

I, for one, would support the idea that anyone should contact law enforcement officers in regard to any suspected criminal act. However, there are two problems in regard to this.

Unfortunately, unlike the British government, which took a strong lead in recognizing that the majority of Muslims are law-abiding citizens and equally against terrorism, the U.S. government rushed into the Patriot Act and racial and religious profiling, which has caused extreme suspicion among Muslims here. As a direct result, Muslims do not feel safe approaching law enforcement officers, even if they wanted to pass on such information.

One has to wonder why, when the Islamic Arabs are conducting genocide in Sudan against black African Christians — and now against black Muslims, their former allies — the focus in all the newspapers and magazines remains on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Islamic Arabs have killed more than 3 million people and displaced more than 6 million. Yet Israelis are the ones who are continually put in a bad light and accused of “genocide,” even though the Arab population in Israel has increased, not decreased.

Re: Colleen Cason’s July 20 column, “Center’s lakes are watered down”:

I am appalled at the article insulting the new Lakes project on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. 
Why does the media believe that in order to find readership it is necessary to belittle and demean anything that might have a spark of good? Rick Caruso’s project is a beautiful addition to our community. The fact that his “lakes” are not deep enough for Cason’s taste only confirms the shallowness of her thinking. Tell me, was she planning on swimming?

 — Dale Naylor Cowgill, Oak Park

Why is it we hear so much about the civilian deaths in the London bombings and nothing about the hundreds of civilian deaths that we and the British cause in Iraq every month?

We never see any gruesome graphics of the men, women and children butchered by our own troops, but there seems to be an abundance of gory graphics from the London bombing.

On top of this, we call the perpetrators of these attacks terrorists. Has anyone stopped to consider that killing hundreds of civilians in Iraq every month has terrorized millions of Middle Easterners and created hundreds of vengeful enemies who will do anything to extract the same amount of suffering from the civilians of the U.S. and Britain?

Re: David Loe’s July 17 “On Cruising” column, “No remedy for jet lag makes for a tired trip”:

First off, Dave and his business partner, Tisha Longoria, run a fantastic tour business. They are the most efficient and pleasant tour organizers that my wife and I have had the pleasure of associating with.

On the subject of jet lag, if Dave had suffered its effects as he described in his column, it really did not show in his performance during the cruise. Perhaps Tisha did more than her usual fabulous job to compensate for him. However, fast-forwarding nine hours had a definite and noticeable effect on many people in our group, including my wife and myself, as we moved around in a bleary-eyed, zombie-like trance.  I also tended to doze off at greater frequency than usual. Strange what an excess time change can do to you.

Re: Rose-Marie Robinson’s July 17 letter, “None of his business”:

I would like to make two points about Tom Cruise’s comments.

First, Mr. Cruise brings up some very good points. As Americans, are we being overprescribed? If a person has an episode of lowered chemical or hormonal balance, and these chemicals and hormones are in our bodies naturally, why wouldn’t it be reasonable to take care of these “imbalances” naturally?

It seems everyone has forgotten something. Those people held at Guantanamo, Cuba, were trying to put an end to our way of life and trying to — and in some cases, did — kill American troops. Now we want them treated more humanely? Right now they eat better than those guarding them and are shielded by Americans from storms and excessive heat. Yet, when they spit on their guards, they’re misguided and can do no wrong. Wake up and smell the coffee.

— Gregory Alan Hammer, Camarillo

Re: your July 17 Pulse page, “Are antidepressants overprescribed?”:

Who is right in the debate over postpartum depression?

All portrayals of reality are probably wrong; however, some can be useful. Scientists know this, so the good ones place their faith in those excruciatingly strict scientific rules used for testing our beliefs.   
Many of us use anecdotal evidence when arguing our beliefs. An example: My mother said so, and my aunt knows someone who ate green rocks every day and lived to a very old age.

Isn’t it odd that with all the publicity from the utility companies about cutting back on usage because of the heat, the Mandalay plant was idle on Monday? Is it another planned downtime in the middle of summer when the demand for power is high? Is it because the owners of the plant want higher rates for the power than the going rate?

— Michael Kornder, Ventura

Re: Frank Moraga’s July 15 essay, “Voices of moderation”:

As a world traveler who just returned from Egypt, I can tell you that America is the most tolerant nation in this world. We have more freedom in this country, and that is why so many immigrants desire to come here. But one thing that Americans will not tolerate is our freedom being taken from us.

I quote from Mr. Moraga’s essay, “Islam is not about hatred and violence. It’s about peace and justice.” Any Muslim who tries to convince us of that is trying to whitewash Islam. We are not stupid. We can read the Quran for ourselves. To be Muslim and not follow the Quran is blasphemy. It is 95 percent full of violence and hatred, and it suppresses the rights of all women.

Re: Thomas D. Elias’ July 18 commentary, “Energy bill has 3 provisions that could harm state”:

In his commentary, Elias repeats a misstatement of fact by claiming that the proposed legislation would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission control over siting for all proposed liquefied natural gas terminals in California. This is not true.

Californians will continue to have a robust oversight role over Cabrillo Port under the terms of the U.S. Deepwater Port Act, regardless of what happens with the federal energy bill. The governor, along with the other members of the California State Lands Commission, will continue to have ultimate authority to approve or deny the Cabrillo Port project based on its merits.

— Kathi Hann, Public Affairs Consultant, BHP Billiton LNG International Inc., Oxnard

Santa Paula and the Fire Department were real smart when they had a practice fire at Isbell School on Sunday afternoon. The west wind was blowing 15-plus mph, and the town had a lot of visitors at the annual Citrus Festival, so to impress all the visitors to our community, they had a practice fire which covered the area’s east side, Harding Park included, with thick black smoke and ash! That was real smart planning! I wonder what they’re planning for next year’s festival?

— Don Petty, Ventura

Re: Your July 18 editorial, “The campaign to sell CAFTA”:

The editorial urging passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement was incomplete.
 
CAFTA is a huge deception to lure the United States deeper into internationalist entanglements. The “free trade label is misleading. As with NAFTA, CAFTA would promote highly regulated trade, subject to rules of the World Treaty Organization. 

CAFTA has globalist sponsors who view it as a stepping stone to a hemispheric union and world government.  If you like the idea of America going further into a steep decline with more jobs and more industry going overseas, then by all means support CAFTA.

— John K. Carter, Camarillo

Does anyone still think this is not World War III after the terror attack in London? Does anyone still think Islam (and only Islam) is the only way to go in this world? America has now fought fascism, Nazism and communism – and now we are in another war – another religious and terrorism war. And at 81 years, I say go for it.

Hope I’m alive when I’m 90 years old to see, or at least hear of, victory!

— Elizabeth Bass, Thousand Oaks

I’m sure that every American who watched CBS’s “60 Minutes” on July 17 was moved to the point of despair when hearing our soldiers tell of continued lack of support from our government — not enough supplies, protection, radios, repairs or even bullets for training sessions (for Iraqis I presume).

It seems support was curtailed after President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier, claiming victory in Iraq.

Our troops are still dying behind makeshift plywood shields. One officer in command painfully stated he had no power to do anything about the atrocities.

Re: Dale McFeatters’ July 16 commentary, “Rove scandal borders on ridiculous”:

Dale McFeatters clearly misses the import of Karl Rove’s discussing with reporters the identity of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Whether or not Rove or others in the White House are ultimately convicted of unlawfully leaking classified information is not the issue. Rather, Rove’s morally bankrupt conduct again clearly demonstrates how readily the Bush administration has placed political gain over our national security and the lives of those bravely defending this country.

Re: your July 15 article, “NASA tries to fix sensor problem”:

I read the article with great interest. When I got to the quote by the NASA deputy shuttle program manager — “The repair that might get us to Sunday is if we go in and wiggle some wires and find a loose connection” — I nearly dropped my cup of coffee.

Based on that kind of statement I would, as an engineer and safety inspector, ground the shuttle and fix the problem(s) for real instead of playing politics and games with people’s lives. Having a single sensor that could shut down the shuttle engines if the sensor failed is unconscionable. This is a single-point failure that should have been eliminated years ago when the shuttle was designed or upgraded.

It’s great that American Muslims, or any Muslim, seek to be heard condemning terrorist attacks. But that is not a solution to deterring these barbaric acts. We can’t recognize the terrorists who live among us.

A greater gesture by Muslims would be to report any sign of hatred toward our democratic society, or any inclination of siding with terrorists, to the proper governmental agency. Who else would be best to recognize any signs of terrorism but the families or close acquaintances of these terrorists? How could the families of the London bombers not have any inclination of the hatred, training trips or meetings of the terrorists that existed amongst them?

— Shirley Bressler, Simi Valley

Re: Jonathan Mirabile’s July 11 letter, “Ignoring will of people”:

I attended the Conejo Valley Unified School District board meeting on June 30, and the only morally contemptible moves by special interests that I witnessed came from Mike Dunn’s ultraright-wing extremist supporters. Dunn and his base are trying to turn our public school system into an evangelical one in which only one view of our world is allowed: theirs.

I filled out a card at the meeting, as did many of my friends. So why were there only 15 comments in favor of adopting the broad-languaged book? My theory: The cards were collected by Dunn supporters and never reached their proper destination, which is not atypical of these people.

It makes perfect sense now, in light of recent events surrounding Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contract with Weider Publications, why he labels the actions of other groups as “special interest.” He himself is a lobbyist for “special interest.” As they say. it takes one to know one.

— Steve Crandall, Camarillo

When looking over the list of corporations that seem to be straying from their original mission of supplying goods and services, I wonder how their philosophy has become so twisted.

Investing in any of the public corporations, one has to be a bit suspicious as to how, where and for what purpose is an ever-increasing part of their budget siphoned off for totally unwarranted causes. The list is no longer confined to the Enrons, World Coms and Adelphias. In thumbing their noses at those who purchase their products, they are saying, in essence, “Our customers are trash.”

Isn’t anyone able to understand or comprehend the ongoing “evil” that is being committed by the Bush administration? It started with the “weapons of mass destruction” and continues with the latest: presidential adviser Karl Rove regarding the disclosure of Ambassador James C. Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame as an intelligence agent.

This administration will do anything needed — dirty, unethical or dishonest — to punish anyone who talks about the truth when the truth may hurt the current administration’s curriculum.

— Jack D. Prosen, Camarillo

Re: your July 15 article, “Owner of kids bookstore looks to sell”:

I don’t want to know that Jody Shapiro is leaving as owner of Adventures For Kids. Can anyone else continue this gift to the community?

This is the bookstore where someone is always available to help this grandmother find a book that is on a grandchild’s wish list or an old classic I remember reading to my children. This is a store where I can find wonderful plush hand puppets, maybe for me, or little games and puzzles and doodads that every child loves. 

Re: your July 18 article, “On your mark, get set, tour!”

I enjoyed reading the article discussing the hidden wonders of Ventura County. Our county is indeed blessed with many hidden treasures.

Unfortunately for its readers, The Star missed many of the important attractions of Santa Paula, and further, moved our Punch Bowls to Ojai.

Re: Mike Fargo’s July 15 commentary, “Ventura needs to fully fund Fire Department”:

Adult readers of The Star know that there are two sides to every story — and to every labor negotiation over pay raises. With elections coming up, there’s a temptation to try to tug the heartstrings of the public to gain advantage at the bargaining table. But as the county’s lengthy battle over public-safety funding demonstrates, both sides end up losing credibility by trading claims in the newspaper.

The Star recently gave coverage to one side in the labor negotiations between the city of Ventura and the Ventura Firefighters Association. Ventura Fire Captain Fargo authored a one-sided and inaccurate portrayal of our challenges in pursuing our shared goals of expanding our Fire Department staffing and continuing to pay competitive wages and benefits to our fire fighters.

Fargo is entitled to his opinions, but the place to find common ground is at the bargaining table, not slugging it out in the press. We are glad that the union’s leadership has accepted our offer to return to negotiations. We look forward to working collaboratively with them to find win-win solutions that give first priority to protecting the safety of Ventura’s residents.

— Rick Cole, City manager, Ventura

Re: Doris Neil’s July 13 letter, “Back to basics”:

In these modern times, students must pass standardized tests. These tests do not just require mastery of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students are tested on how well they understand concepts. Innovation should not be dismissed by those afraid of change, especially when our young people’s futures are at risk.

Anna Wan cares about teaching math to her students and employs creative and intelligent methods for teaching math concepts. She engages her students and excites them about math. Many of today’s high-school clientele fear math, possibly due to the same old techniques that possibly worked in Neil’s day. Wan wants her students to understand math, particularly geometry, not just add, subtract, multiply and divide.

That simply isn’t enough in this changing world.

— Erika McCoy, Ventura

Tuesday, Ventura County Community College District trustee Larry Miller put forth a motion to the assembled board of trustees that they reinstate a number of classes that the board had cut. When no trustee had the courage to second this motion, it was defeated. Trustee Robert Huber, criticizing Miller, said, “When I was growing up, I was taught that if you win you don’t brag, and if you lose you don't whine.”

Wednesday, Huber joined with the three other board members opposing Miller’s motion to “whine.” More specifically, they voted to have the state attorney general investigate Miller for a “conflict of interest.” Mind you, the Ventura County district attorney and an attorney hired by the district, in separate opinions, declared no conflict exists.

On behalf of the community may I belatedly second Miller’s motion, while at the same time demand an accounting, not simply of the cost of muzzling Miller, but of the claims by staff that the district is in financial straits necessitating program cuts.

That “fine whine” you hear coming from the district offices is the sound of a dissenter being mugged.

— Edward T. Buckle, Ventura

As a Save the Conejo board member, I’ve had to chuckle over the recent spate of nasty letters attempting to vilify our local, grass-roots organization and its members. These writers have stuck to the FoxCo “talking points,” attacking STC, singling out Debbie Gregory personally for having had the audacity to oppose the firing of Phil Gatch, the Thousand Oaks city manager. The clearly transparent tactic is to shoot the messenger in order to draw attention away from Andy Fox’s power-putsch. It hasn’t worked.

Save The Conejo supports environmental issues that enhance our community, with the mission of helping educate residents on public policy. Our board members are community activists who recognize our civic responsibility to work at making and keeping the Conejo Valley the beautiful place it is, without overdevelopment or poorly designed projects.

A number of us serve, or have served, on various city and county boards. Individually, members have financially supported and contributed their time to civic organizations.

Save The Conejo also supports civility, the currently fashionable buzzword used by supporters of Fox, Jacqui Irwin and Dennis Gillette (FIG). However, the FIG’s actions against Gatch belie any notion of civility and fair play. With Fox leading the charge, Gatch was summarily forced into retirement after 38 years of dedicated service to our city.

Fox’s actions were mean-spirited and a violation of the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code. Additionally, Fox’s actions were unnecessarily expensive for taxpayers. Gatch already was planning on retiring within a year.

Such is the arrogance and pique of Fox, just to make the point that he is Thousand Oaks’ new power broker.

There is evidence of ethical malfeasance and city code violations. Will the Council majority allow an impartial investigation, or is Fox above our laws?

— Gerry Langer, Thousand Oaks

Re: Lauren Schwartz’s July 6 letter, “ Hypocrisy in plea”:

I did not say the “Islamic world” respected anything, as such an entity does not exist. With the abolishment of the Turkish caliphate in 1924, and the colonial division of the resultant vacuum into colonial spheres of influence such as the Palestine mandate under British control, anything remotely resembling this ceased to exist.

The point I keep trying to make is what the position of a Muslim should be in regard to certain circumstances. The Arab-Israeli conflict is outside these terms of reference and it is not my intention to discuss that here.

As regards Jewish holy places, any Muslim should regard them as equally holy since Muslims accept all the prophets as prophets of God. The reverse is not true of either Jews or Christians and neither can claim to be the best protector of the holy places of all three Abrahamic faiths in the Holy Land. This is not bigotry but simple logic.

Because an individual has a Muslim name, this does not indicate he or she is carrying out an act sanctioned by Islam. Timothy McVeigh bore a saint’s name, but I never heard anyone blame his act of terror on Christianity. The acts of believers, even when they do claim religious support, are not necessarily sanctioned by the religion they claim to believe in.

To make my position as a Muslim perfectly clear, I would as readily stand together with a Jewish congregation to protect its synagogue as I would with a Christian congregation in the South to protect its church from being torched. I do not believe Islam offers me any other option. Who will stand with me to protect a Mosque from desecration?

— Yahya Merchant, Simi Valley

I think George Bush needs to go back to Sunday school and listen more carefully in church. Jesus is the prince of peace, not Darth Vader.

Jesus said: “Love your enemies” and “Blessed are the peacemakers,” not invade other countries and torture them into democracy. There is nothing right or religious about waging this war.

— Joy Hamlat, Oxnard

Re: Kathryn Jean Lopez’ July 13 essay, “Bush should get his man”:

Ms. Lopez got it right with her clear and factual reporting of the dishonesty and meanness of some Democrat senators and other left wingers in regards to presidential judicial nominees for the Supreme Court. They succeeded with Judge Robert Bork, and there will be no holds barred when President Bush puts forth his nominee to succeed Sandra Day O’Connor.  They have already piled up their ammunition and started the childish name-calling.

The downtown “Cultural District” has Starbucks, Quizno’s, and Subway, but it soon won’t have the Top Hat. This is unacceptable. Every time a local business is forced to vacate, either a national chain or yet another upscale eatery moves in. This is the culture of Santa Barbara, East Ventura County and countless other cookie-cutter communities, not the San Buenaventura where I have spent the last 38 years. Save the Top Hat!

— Fred Dixon, San Buenaventura

I saw “Napoleon Dynamite” when it was first released in the theater. My thoughts: a dang flippin’ sweet film! I’m a 42-year-old adult, and I get it, gosh! Now that I’ve expressed myself, I think I’ll use my skills and go build a cake or something!

— Bryan White, Ventura

Re: your July 2 article, “DA’s probe clears council of wrongdoing”: 

Has anything that Save the Conejo 2000 told The Star ever turned out to be true — even once over the last eight years? It would be nice if The Star would focus on printing the truth, not the truth The Star wants to hear.

By the way, and not for the first time, The Star owes Thousand Oaks City Council members Andy Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin an apology, but I won’t hold my breath waiting for it.

— Michael Hebert, Thousand Oaks

Re: your July 6 article, “Governor, lawmakers reach pact on budget”:

I voted for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I’m disappointed he has capitulated to the Democrats and state employee unions.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, calls the budget “fiscally responsible yet compassionate.” It is only “compassionate” for state workers who continue to be hired in droves and awarded great pensions.

Re: your July 10 article, “Programs, agencies aid businesswomen”:

The Star calls attention to the difficulty faced by entrepreneurs, especially women, in starting a new business.

The article mentions several excellent organizations that offer assistance to individuals starting a new business. However, I would like to point out that the article does not mention another Ventura County organization that is dedicated to helping these individuals.

Re: Roger G. Pariseau Jr.’s July 13 letter, “Stop flights over coastline”:

Mr. Pariseau’s request for a county ban on flights over the coastline is a good example of the silliness the City of Oxnard, the county and paragliders have to put up with. He submits a picture of pelicans flying across the trail of a distant ultralight as evidence of bird harassment. If the pelicans were being harassed, why weren’t they fleeing? Nor is the ultralight near the tern nesting area.

Then Mr. Pariseau takes it upon himself to dismiss federal aviation law and make rules about exactly what types of aircraft can cross the coast. He’s convinced that collisions between birds and the 24-mph paragliders are a mortal menace, yet he has no problem routing airliners over the power plants.

The International Olympic Committee invited softball as an exhibition and kicked it out 12 years later.
There is far too much personal training time, money, and sacrifice of an athlete to be exposed to whimsical decisions of narrow-minded and politically biased committee members. The IOC creates false hopes for future sporting events. It should stick to the original concept and events for the Olympic Games.

The Olympics is also a poor way to promote a sport. Sports should develop stability with regular international competition outside of any Olympic involvement.

With all the letters regarding the safety of the use of fireworks by the local population, it seems that a major message is being missed.

Yes, the fireworks are dangerous, but the use of them poses a problem that will carry on for years to come.

While walking home from the beautiful display of fireworks at Ventura College, I was struck by how many illegal fireworks were being set off in my neighborhood. I know the kids were having fun and the parents were enjoying watching them as well.

There have been several letters that have appeared to be pro-liquefied natural gas. We recently learned that some of the endorsements turned out to be fake. I believe the issues here are the following:

1) States’ rights are involved when the federal government decides it knows what is right for each state and where things should be located, no matter what the individuals of that state want.

2) Oxnard is the most populous city in Ventura County. Why was it chosen? I have heard it is because we have a high Latino population, and they thought we wouldn’t make a fuss so it would be easier here. Well, we are making a fuss. This city belongs to everyone, and all children will be involved if there is an explosion or leak.

Re: Robert Burnett’s July 1 letter, “Governor is right”:

Burnett states, “It makes sense to put an LNG terminal where it will have the least impact on people, wildlife, the coast and environment.”

Neither the governor nor Burnett seems to be aware that the environmental impact report has not been completed, and the U.S. Coast Guard, which is the lead agency in this project, has more than 100 questions (data gaps) BHP Billiton has to answer about safety, impact on people, wildlife and the effect of earthquakes and tsunamis on the two 21-mile underwater pipelines planned to come ashore in Oxnard at Ormond Beach, etc.

Congratulations to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for working with all parties in our state government to pass a budget.

The governor increased education more than $3 billion, paid back $1.2 billion owed to cities and counties and put $1.3 billion into California’s roads and transportation system.

What is even more exceptional is that the budget contains no new taxes and no new borrowing by the state.

— Alex Soteras, Agoura Hills
(The writer is the government affairs chairman of the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce)

June 29, I attended the event in Thousand Oaks for Phil Angelides, California treasurer and 2006 gubernatorial candidate. It was great to have a candidate come to often-forgotten east Ventura County and articulate so well the frustrations Democrats face by an administration that derides our values and backtracks on its promises. He told it like it is without pie-in-the-sky promises to change it. This is one voter anxious for California to get back on track. Angelides appears to be the right engineer to do it.

— Roseann Markert, Simi Valley

The governor has said he opposes expanded offshore oil drilling, and yet he has cut the budget for the California Coastal Commission, the only state agency with the ability to deal with this renewed push by the Bush administration to open our waters up to more offshore drilling.

The Coastal Commission was brought about by a citizens initiative more than 30 years ago. The desire to protect the coast is as strong today as it was then.

— Michelle Hoffman, Port Hueneme

The Karl Rove outing of Valerie Plame once again brings back the Downing Street memos, tying things together and further connecting our president to the British version of “Deep Throat.”

The Downing Street memos prove that Mr. Bush was already fixing facts around the policy and fabricating evidence for his fictitious war with Iraq.

We may never get to the complete truth, but it is more than likely that Bush encouraged Rove to put a stop to Plame’s husband, Joseph C. Wilson, who exposed the White House and its false claim that Iraq was getting nuclear materials from Africa. Bush was counting on the weapons of mass destruction link to convince Americans to go to war. As payback, and to hush Wilson, Bush, through Rove, outed Valerie Plame.

After watching the recent White House news conference in which the president’s press secretary repeatedly dodged questions about Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove’s “outing” of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame, I couldn’t help but recall how “Doonesbury” creator Garry Trudeau chose to depict the Richard Nixon White House during similar stonewalling efforts.

For several months, all you could see of the executive mansion was a tall stone wall blocking every view from the street or sidewalk. And as many of us “Doonesbury” fans remember, that wall didn’t come down until the day Nixon finally resigned.

Re: Ira Cohen’s June 30 letter, “War’s false pretenses”:

I have never heard President Bush say Saddam Hussein had anything to do with September 11. What he said was that Saddam was a threat to America.

We know Saddam wants the destruction of Israel and the United States. We know this because he has shouted it to the whole world. His hatred of America is what connects him to al-Qaida and the rest of fundamental, militant Islam. 

Re: your July 1 article, “Rapist-killer Dworak gets death penalty”:

I read the story of the final days of freedom for Douglas Dworak.

I sat, and my mouth fell, when his attorney, Jim Farley, gave his pathetic reasons why Dworak’s life should be saved. Then the victim’s father, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Hamilton, read his statement.
The State of California Parole Board should also stand trial for the murder of Crystal Hamilton. Dworak should have never been paroled, and if he had completed his sentence, Crystal would never have met this monster.

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s July 9 commentary, “The ‘new’ PBS will offer programming offensive to all”:

Neo-conservative mouthpiece Bill O’Reilly pokes fun at PBS by suggesting new programming that would be offensive to all. I have another suggested new program: “Pornographic Book Reviews,” starring Bill O’Reilly.

— Burt Elliott, Thousand Oaks

Another piece of Ventura’s soul is being sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dollar. The Top Hat is being forced to close. And why? So Ventura Properties LLC and the city can rake in even more money, and James Mesa can be even richer than I’m sure he already is. The citizens of Ventura have a right to feel sick and disgusted over this. I hope they still remember those feelings by the next election.

Having cursed the darkness, let me light a couple of candles. Is there any way to move the Top Hat over to Mission Park and out of harm’s way? It’s historical enough and a lot of fun, too. I think that would be a great location. Or how about moving it into the pseudo park between those two commercial buildings on Main Street?

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot?

Top Hat Burger Palace was the only place to eat when I lived in downtown Ventura. My kids tug my arm every time we pass to stop and get the Top Hat Special. Smart-growth activists have finally exposed their plans for Ventura County.

The city manager and mayor of Ventura never surfed, played or ate in downtown. They have no respect for our cultural heritage or history.

Isn’t this typical of East Coast and L.A. people? Their voracious appetite will not be quenched with Top Hat. What’s next? The Mission? The county museum? My house? Yours?

— Jeff Ketelsen, Ojai

Seven months ago, many citizens brought their concerns to the Oxnard City Council regarding the unbridled authority the city manager has to sign personal services contracts and, specifically, his approval of the Big League Dreams contract for $400,000.

At that time, the council tried to assure citizens that their concerns would be handled properly. To that end, Councilman Dean Maulhardt promised that this issue would be discussed in open meetings during the budget sessions.

Did anyone notice that Councilman Maulhardt’s commitment to bringing the “contracts” issue back to the City Council during the budget sessions never happened? There is no item on the most recent council agenda to discuss the matter.

I fear our “sweet land of liberty” has gone bye-bye.

Let me start at the beginning how I think it has all slipped away:

You recall that we wasted a lot of paper signing the Right to Privacy Act. That was superceded by the Patriot Act,  which allowed the government to look into every nook and cranny of our private lives, even sticking its noses into our bedrooms.

Re: your July 5 article, “Her rookie year”:

This article was about Anna Wan, a teacher at Oxnard’s Pacifica High School.

My, my, how times change! In her math class, she is teaching crocheting, which really helps students subtract, multiply, add and divide. And on Fridays, she teaches origami.

Re: Timm Herdt’s articles, June 24 “Governor wants LNG site off Oxnard” and June 28 “Bill regarding LNG proposals rejected”:

As a Ventura resident and a volunteer with the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, I am alarmed by the liquefied natural gas issue and its impact. It is frustrating to me that no one knows, but when they learn some details, they are shocked as I am. 

The plan to shift 6,300 employees from Naval Base Ventura County to China Lake appears to me to be an attempt to pave the way for liquefied natural gas facilities off the coast of Oxnard.

The proposed LNG facilities off our coast are certainly not compatible with the mission of Naval Base Ventura County. When a ship with LNG comes into Boston Harbor, the Coast Guard closes down all activity, for safety reasons, in the harbor while the ship is there.

It takes 20 hours to transfer the LNG to the proposed floating ship for conversion into natural gas as proposed by BHP Billiton off Oxnard. If there is an interruption of the transfer, many time-consuming activities have to take place before continuing the transfer.

Re: Sylvia Moore’s and Tom Kisken’s July 10 article, “Statements on LNG issue appear false”:

How in the world could a huge multinational corporation think it could get away with lying to a government agency? After all, Martha Stewart did time for that in this country. Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Well, maybe it wasn’t BHP Billiton that submitted comments in support of its proposed, hotly contested project. Maybe there aren’t billions of dollars at stake. Maybe our very popular governor didn’t come out in support of the project. Maybe he didn’t break his promise to the schoolchildren, either.

Birds of a feather flock together, you know, especially when there is a great deal of money to be made.
Do not be fooled by these fast-talking hucksters. What we need is energy that is unquestionably necessary and environmentally friendly.

— Jill A. Singer, Simi Valley

Re: Sylvia Moore’s and Tom Kisken’s July 10 article, “Statements on LNG issue appear false”:

The Star did a fine investigative reporting job on the apparently false communications concerning a liquefied natural gas port proposed by BHP Billiton. I appreciate its efforts.

At several open public hearings I recently attended, I had the feeling that the issues have been pre-decided and the meetings was simply for show.

As the article stated: “The officials said comments specifically for or against Cabrillo Port have no bearing on the agencies’ decision whether to grant BHP a deepwater port license.” 

This is the type of attitude that leads to voter apathy.

— Gerry Levy, Oxnard

Re: Richard Larsen’s July 12 essay, “Judicial discretion at risk”:

Once again, Richard Larsen is showing his political bias. His essay about the president’s pending Supreme Court nomination is so biased as to be unbelievable even for Larsen.

Yes, the announcement of a Supreme Court opening sent right-wing groups into a flurry of activity, but liberal groups such as the National Organization for Women and Move-On were just as busy.

The reality is that those who voted for the president expect him to nominate a right-wing conservative. That’s what we want, that’s how we voted.

Re: your July 5 editorial, “Meeting city’s housing needs”:

This editorial omitted these facts about affordable housing:

1. While Oxnard has the most affordable housing in Ventura County, it also has the most crime. Crime is centered around areas of affordable housing.

2. The editorial failed to mention the alarming rise of childhood asthma and the increasing cancer risk from pollution caused by overpopulation.

Unless the courts again frustrate the will of the people, as they did with Proposition 187, the people of California will soon have representative electoral districts where “safe” districts are replaced by fair and honest districts.

While the retired judges serving on the redistricting commission may have some political biases, it is an infinitely better process than having district lines drawn by legislators who are openly partisan on the issues and whose primary motivation is to keep their jobs.

Re: your July 6 editorial, “Serving nation key to military”:

We should not need military recruiters to go into the high schools. When did we start thinking the right way to fight a war is to hire it out? We should have a citizen military where everybody is subject to serving.  We should not have military recruiters to hire people to go fight wars like a job. Killing people should not be considered just a job to be done as our president and the military like to say. That’s the way organized crime functions. Bring back the draft and make it everyone's responsibility to be on the front lines. Above all we should not be recruiting with the enticement of money and glory. War is too serious for that. Bringing back the draft would be a start.

— Paul Lux, Thousand Oaks

Re: shark attacks during June.

Human beings: 105,000 shark kills (estimated).

Sharks: Two human kills.

Contrary to the biased news coverage, humans still have the overwhelming edge, thanks in large part to the ridiculous shark fin soups in Asian countries and the still-lingering “Jaws”-effect from 1975 that makes the killing of sharks seem like an OK pursuit in the best interests of the public.

I am sure the shark population would love to thank Steven Spielberg personally for that.

— Jeff Bellamar, Santa Barbara

Re: your June 30 article, “Angelides says he’d keep promises on education funding”:

June 29, Phil Angelides, California state treasurer and early gubernatorial candidate, visited Thousand Oaks to speak about his vision for California's future.
 
The article covered his interview with The Star’s editorial board, as well as his stop in Ojai, and the fact he led the current governor by 4 points in the recent Field poll. It did not even refer to Thousand Oaks as a part of his itinerary.
 
Although it is nearly a year and a half until his potential election as governor, nearly 400 enthusiastic people attended this standing-room-only event. I was surprised to find no coverage in The Star. Why?

— Penny Strowger, Westlake Village

Re: your July 2 article, “Grand Jury backs more funds for Crisis Team”:

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors needs to take another look at the administration of the Behavioral Health department. In the three years since David Gudeman was ousted and Linda Shulman was moved from her finance position to become the Director of Behavioral Health, the department has struggled with an identity crisis and services have continued to suffer. All county agencies have been subject to funding cuts, but the priorities within Behavioral Health don’t seem to have been managed correctly.

Perhaps it’s time to do now what Health Care Agency Director Pierre Durand said he would do three years ago: to begin a nationwide search for a new leader.

This is a critical time for Behavioral Health. With new funds coming in as a result of the passing of Proposition 63 in November, the agency needs to be managed by a professional who can recover the integrity of the department and make a positive difference in the lives of its clients. The department still has many excellent managers and hard-working employees who need clear guidance, and its consumers have plenty of feedback to offer.

The supervisors can take quick action. It’s time now to appoint a new director and restore the Behavioral Department to the standards of the other county agencies.

— Ratan Bhavnani, Thousand Oaks

Re: your July 6 article, “Complains bring a downtown crackdown”:

As a downtown business owner, the Ventura Police Department crackdown on illegal activities of transients in this area comes as as a welcome and overdue response. The knifefight mentioned in the article as well as recent death threats to a local merchant and to Ventura police officers by transients in June underscore the need for increased police presence in downtown Ventura.

Well-intentioned charitable groups who have been feeding the homeless on a daily basis have only contributed to the problem by subsidizing the presence of many individuals with substance abuse problems and criminal records. City of Ventura officials and police are to be commended for taking a responsible approach to this problem.

— Steve Storz, Ventura

Re: Marjorie Olson’s July 3rd letter, “Comet folly”:

Olson asked: “What is the vital necessity and benefit to the financial concerns of the United States to spend $333 million” on the space probe “Deep Impact”?

Her letter was reminiscent of opinions expressed at the end of the Apollo program, where people wanted to use the money spent exploring the moon to help alleviate poverty.  That was more than 30 years ago. While we have not yet returned to the moon, we hardly seem to have made a dent on poverty.

“Deep Impact” is better understood as pure research, done to increase the understanding of the universe without immediate application to solving human problems.  Pure research creates understandings that are applied as technology. As an example, electricity in its early stages was pure research. Scientists investigating it were derided for such an apparent waste of time and money. It is hard to imagine society and research today without it.

A Google search on “Space exploration spin offs” resulted in more than 1 million Web sites. Technology related to space exploration included miniature heart pumps; golf clubs that use shape memory alloys to allow better control; thermal protection materials used by NASCAR drivers and for home insulation; 3-D virtual reality and remote control programs; strong and light composite materials used in planes; cordless power tools; smoke detectors; water filters; skin care; etc.

I realized that all the money was spent not just with a few scientists, but with the staff (researchers, technicians, secretaries, custodial, etc) of several space-related companies. NASA’s $16 billion budget accounts for only 0.7 percent of the total 2005 federal budget.

Does “Deep Impact” impact anyone here on Earth? The answer is definitely, “Yes.” Urge your representatives to increase spending in research and education, it’s a worthwhile investment.

— Richard Smith, Ventura

Let’s see if I understand this process.

We allow our nation to be overrun by millions of illegal aliens and even if our beleaguered Border Patrol can catch them, we just let them go and hope they will suddenly become honest and trustworthy enough to report back for a deportation hearing.

And, gosh, when they don’t show up, let’s authorize spending billions more taxpayer dollars apprehending them and go through the costly process of legal deportation of those already here illegally and then pay to fly them to their countries of origin.

Did I get that right? This would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic. Because our elected officials have deliberately ignored the sovereignty of this country, “we, the people,” are paying for this travesty of justice with failing education for our children, neighborhoods turned into slums, increasing crime and mocked for forming border patrols of our own.

I’ve got a simple solution. Immediately upon apprehension transport them to the border country that they came to us from. Do it every hour if necessary. Then perhaps these countries would be more diligent about protecting their own borders and, therefore, ours.

It couldn’t cost any less than paying the consequences of having foreign nations making a mockery of our sovereignty.

— Judy McLaughlin, Simi Valley

I write to formally and publicly protest illegal and morally contemptible moves by special interests in our public school boards, against a clear majority, to pollute and destroy what public schools are teaching our children in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

I refer to the redefinition of marriage in a public-school textbook away from “between a man and a woman” in favor of a “politically correct” version.

A recent CVUSD board meeting logged 100 statement cards opposing the “politically correct” textbook; 15 supported it. The people were ignored.

Why? Many board members had a hidden agenda (had a statement prepared before the 115 cards were obtained) and had already decided how they were going to vote before listening to the written opinions, once again, ignoring a huge majority. This was also proved by the 100-15 vote tally against the politically correct textbook.

Tim Stephens would not even read the statement cards or give an indication of what the people wanted. Mike Dunn asked Stephens three times to read the statement cards, but he would not. A clear majority was in attendance and wanted a traditional textbook and they and their opinions were ignored.

This is a blatant abuse of power and of our children and a violation of the public trust. Moreover, this textbook is a violation of the law in California.

About 30 other California districts have adopted this contemptible and illegal textbook, flagrantly violating the California law defining marriage in public schools.

This special-interest-driven result has changed the core philosophy of the school district away from the conservative base it has historically represented.

Clearly there is no democratic concern for public opinion in the CVUSD board. We must end this arrogance and contempt for the legitimate and legal will of the people by special interests and political opportunists.

— Jonathan Mirabile, Simi Valley

Re: your July 7 editorial, “Free New York Times reporter”:

A federal shield law sounds great, doesn’t it? It would help protect whistle-blowers and other good guys whose conscience errs on the side of democracy and freedom. And it would help make government more accountable to the people. Right?

Well, maybe. But maybe such a law would allow Big Brother to more easily persecute those same good guys and move us all closer to an age where no one dares speak out against the bad policies or corrupt deeds of government.

Judith Miller’s decision to act according to her “conscience” and commit an act of civil disobedience, by refusing to disclose her source, is a poor defense. Miller isn’t protecting democracy and freedom by her act but doing just the opposite: her refusal protects those who have worked the media to punish one of the good guys, Valerie Plame’s husband, who dared to offer us facts about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs. Because the White House did not like those facts, someone with a high security clearance exposed undercover CIA agent Plame.

It appears that Miller waived any right to a defense-by-conscience when she chose to play the stooge and help commit a grave crime against all Americans. Her apparent collaboration with the White House is not an indication that it has yet become an enforcer of White House policy but the media has a long way to go to regain the public’s trust before The Star leads the call for a shield law.

Until the matter is fully investigated, such a law is premature and may well be a greater danger to democracy and freedom.

— Gary Selvaggio, Simi Valley

Re: your July 7 editorial, “Free New York Times reporter”:

Wow — maybe the truth is not important when it comes to the media. What a surprise.

I don’t know if Judith Miller needs to be in jail or not, but to infer the government is trying to silence the media for criticizing it is not only foolish, but self-defeating. It’s not about rights of the media (reporters) — it’s about what is the truth. The person responsible for leaking Valerie Plame’s name needs to pay the consequences.

I would find it very unlikely that the mainstream media like The New York Times would hesitate for one second to demand the resignation and jailing for a member of President Bush’s Cabinet if that person leaked the information.

I’m kind of an old-fashioned type of person. Show me the facts, documentation and that the information has been shown to be true — then make a decision to let others know. I only wish the media would do the same and not cry foul when they are asked to show the true facts.

— Ron Patterson, Thousand Oaks

After spending another hellish Fourth of July in my neighborhood in southeast Oxnard, I got to thinking that if setting off fireworks and being morons is a gauge on one.s patriotism for the United States, I must live in the most patriotic neighborhood in Ventura County, if not in all of California.

I started wondering if I was not patriotic, as I did not infringe on my neighbors and terrorize their pets by being an idiot and detonating fireworks. All I did was fly the flag of the United States to state my love for this country, something not done by any of the other 180 houses in my neighborhood.

My next Fourth of July will be in Arizona Hopefully, there will be more flags flying there.

— Scotty Bonnar, Oxnard

July 4, while people celebrated our nation's independence, my friend lost his best friend to selfishness and irresponsibility. Ventura residents were illegally lighting fireworks, scaring my friend’s dog, and she fled, subsequently getting hit by a car. She died on the way to the emergency vet in my friend’s arms. I’ve never seen him, or his family, so devastated.

Before the holiday, people were setting off fireworks in the neighborhood. My friend called the police to report the illegal activity. An officer reprimanded the offenders. Apparently they didn’t care.

I’m not writing this letter for sympathy. I’m writing to ask for more responsibility and consideration for others. Because certain people broke the law, not paying attention to the concerns of fellow citizens, my friend lost his best friend … a family member.

It’s illegal to use fireworks in Ventura. People go great lengths to acquire them, but are too lazy to use them responsibly. If people can go to where it’s legal to buy fireworks, they can certainly go there to enjoy them.

The Ventura Police Department failed its mission. They were called to check on illegal activity, and they didn’t stop it. Maybe police influence was enough for one night, but they didn’t prevent further illegal activity. They obviously weren’t patrolling enough Monday night. Police see people lighting fireworks illegally every year, and don’t do anything about it. We need stricter enforcement of these laws.

Let’s think about our neighbors. Think about safety, about how it affects others, right or wrong. Many people only follow the rules so they don’t get in trouble. If, rather than being afraid of getting caught, people thought about the consequences of their actions, this world might be a better place.

— Hunter Cook, Ventura

Re: Michael Webber’s July 6 letter, “Freedom over safety”:

Webber felt as if his freedom was being impinged upon when the police arrived to end an illegal fireworks show in his neighborhood. Webber was upset police were “protect[ing] us from ourselves again.”

Although it would be unfortunate if Webber or his neighbors actually suffered an eye injury or lost a finger, that’s not the point. The police weren’t protecting anyone from themselves; rather they were enforcing the law and ensuring there would be no chance for an errant firework to cause a fire.

It would be more tragic in my mind for someone to sustain damage to their home than for one of the guilty participants to injure themselves. You play with fire, you could get burned. But are they prepared to make restitution to a neighbor if they cause damage to another’s property?

The issue here isn’t freedom versus safety; it’s about obeying the law. If Webber wishes to stand on the very top step of his ladder, that’s up to him. It’s not against the law, but it’s dangerous to do so. No one gets hurt if Webber falls but himself.

He said in his letter, “If I have to choose between safety and freedom, I’ll choose freedom every time.” The difference is that using illegal fireworks could adversely impact others.

I suggest that the Webbers of the world reconsider their selfish, arrogant and reckless positions.

— Dave Dolnick, Thousand Oaks

Re: your July 6 article, “Illegal fireworks frustate residents”:

This article really hit the mark. For years, we in Newbury Park have waited for better enforcement of the law against private fireworks, only to see the problem grow worse year by year. This was the worst year by far. M-80s, cherry bombs and rockets rattled my neighborhood for hours.

One nearby neighbor had a party and set off ear-splitting rounds for a full hour after the city’s display ended, about one a minute. Pets run for cover, the walls shake and our nerves are shattered by the end of the holiday period.

The city of Thousand Oaks and our elected representatives are out of touch with what the community needs, both in terms of safety and the sanctity of this beautiful area. We need to light a firecracker under them.

— Martha Harris, Newbury Park

Another year of crackdown promises went unfulfilled. Our streets and parks are littered with remnants of illegal firecrackers and Piccolo Petes.

Unfortunately, what could be considered a right of passage is becoming all too dangerous. These are not the same fireworks we used to buy as kids.

For weeks in advance, illegal fireworks have been going off. Reporting them seems to do little good. After, we learned of brushfires caused by fireworks in our neighboring communities. We were at least lucky some knucklehead did not set our neighborhood ablaze.

Although we took recommended measures locking our dogs in the garage in a pen with classical music to try to drown out the noise, two leaped over the pen and one injured his paw.

I am appalled city government is not taking more responsibility to crack down on the illegal activity. It is time our Simi Valley government takes a firmer and creative stance on limiting this dangerous behavior. I would like to recommend the following actions:

1. Sue the city of Fillmore, and other local communities that still allow the legal sale of fireworks to require proof of residency to sell fireworks only to residents of the communities that allow them.

2. Stiffen the penalty for fireworks possessions to a minimum of $1000 and $5000 for large quantities or attempting to illegally sell fireworks in the city.

3. Setup a citizens grass roots campaign in each district. Distribute flyers, set up local numbers, Web sites and e-mail addresses where people can report fireworks without tying up the 911 or police/fire department lines. Send letters to violators and use response information from the public on going after the severe cases.

If even a small percentage of the people acting illegally were brought to justice and paid the fine, the system would pay for itself.

— Jack Brown, Simi Valley

Re: John Sherffius’s July 6 cartoon, “Mexico’s new stamp”:

To draw a parallel between a benign Mexican cartoon caricature of some 50 years ago and the American institutions of slavery, the Ku Klux Klan, lynchings and cross burnings seems to me to be stretching history beyond the breaking point.

Why should Mexico feel an obligation to share our guilt and shame for these American aberrations? We must atone for our own sins rather than demand that other countries do it for us.

— Richard E. Dodson, Ojai

Re: your July 6 article, Complaints bring a downtown crackdown”:

It’s hard for me to feel real sorry for guy’s like the one in the photo accompanying the article on the homeless. It must be a drag to have your free meal interrupted by a call on your cell phone.
Got to love the U.S.A.; we have the richest poor people in the world.

— Doug Wilton, Oxnard

Re: Steve Schleder’s July 3 Pulse piece, “A wrong done to Ventura’s pioneers”:

In the tagline, Schleder was identified as the vice president of the the San Buenaventura Conservancy, which implies that the views expressed by Schleder about Memorial Park are also those of the conservancy.

To set the record straight, the San Buenaventura Conservancy board of directors has never taken action nor made comment on this issue. The board respects Schleder’s right to express his individual opinion but wants to stress that he is not representing the Conservancy or its members in his article.

If the San Buenaventura Conservancy board does take a stand on the issue, it will be in accordance with any preservation law or CEQA issues that may be raised with regards to the subject.

— Jerry Breiner, Board member/webmaster, San Buenaventura Conservancy

Concerning the London bombings, 9/11, Madrid, et al.: I’d love to know who convinced the right wing in this country (and in Spain and England, etc.) that we could butcher people wherever we wanted to (Fallujah, Gaza, Basra, Kabul, Baghdad and ad infinitum) and never get butchered back.

“What? You kill my mother — I don’t care for what ‘simon-pure’ reason (spreading democracy; toppling a dictator; getting rid of WMDs, etc.) — and you honestly think I’m never coming after you?”

To quote one of the characters in the movie “Kissing Jessica Stein:”

“What are you: 12?”

— David Rives, Ventura,

Re: your June 29 article, “Text with broad marriage definition picked”:

Congratulations to the Conejo Valley Unified School District board for seeing beyond the special-interest rhetoric of a small group of parents and voting for a textbook that accurately reflects the world in which we live. The four board members who voted for the new textbook demonstrated that they have the best interests of a diverse and tolerant community in mind.

My four sons received an excellent education in this community. They learned the importance of tolerance and the ability to develop an informed opinion on divisive issues through a close examination of all sides. The values they learned in childhood still guide them, but they are open-mined people who are now able to participate effectively in a democratic society.

Perhaps this community needs to re-think its election of Mike Dunn to our school board. He does not seem to be the voice of reason and apparently does not work well with others. He might be a fine firefighter but, as a school board member, he would rather push his own personal agenda than work cooperatively for the good of the students in the Conejo Valley.

— Brenda Burgar, Westlake Village

Re: Elaine McKearn’s July 6 commentary, “Sad day for T.O. schoolchildren and parents”:

Although I did hear some people speaking civilly at the recent school board meeting, I also heard a lot of gay bashing from board trustee Mike Dunn and his supporters. I think that the board made a reasoned decision. Students will not change their sexual preference or ideas of marriage based on a few words in a health textbook. Parents and church are the greatest influence in a student’s life and that is as it should be. Stating that marriage is between individuals or two people is true and does not redefine marriage in any way.
Two ministers from our community spoke in favor of the California version of the textbook. The Methodist minister on the textbook committee stated that the 14 pages before and after these phrases pictured couples consisting of a boy and girl.

Dunn created a controversy where none exists. All members of the board are married and have children. All are caring people who want the best for children in this community. The majority of the board members are moderate people who reflect the makeup of our community. We do not need extremists of any faith dividing our community and pushing their personal agenda on our children.

Our parents are asked to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to buy such basics as library books, computers and pay the salaries of music, art and PE teachers. We do not need to pay a premium for the Texas version of the health book.

The majority of our school board understands they need to follow the rule of law. By law, the board is not allowed to respond to statements made by the public. It is so printed on the bottom of the agenda.

— Peggy Buckles, Thousand Oaks

Re: Don Katz’s June 20 letter, “Museum needs sign”:

We want to thank Katz for his eloquent letter concerning our World War II aircraft at Camarillo Airport aircraft and our World War II veterans. We need to keep alive the history the Commemorative Air Force WWII Aviation Museum presents so well with the memorabilia, artifacts, aircraft and the World War II volunteers currently working on site. And yes, a sign on Highway 101 would be in order.

However, the letter was seriously mistaken in stating that “The museum has contacted the former Assemblyman and Caltrans … (and) both ignored the Museum’s request for a sign.”

We have been working with former Assemblyman Tony Strickland and his Sacramento office for three years in an attempt to cause Caltrans to install a freeway sign. We have also received support for the freeway signs from our friend Sen. Tom McClintock.

Through Strickland’s diligence, AB2459 (Highway 101 Signs: World War II Aviation Museum) was introduced to the Assembly Transportation Committee in January 2004. Chairwoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, did not allow the bill to be brought to the full Committee for a vote. The bill died.

We are now working with Assemblywoman Audra Strickland’s office to plan another attempt to get the freeway signs. Audra Strickland is fully aware of the opportunity the signs would afford the residents of Ventura County.

— Col. Frank W. Doerfler, Commemorative Air Force, Thousand Oaks

Re: Terry Paulson’s July 4 essay, “Judicial war of worlds begins”:

It appears Paulson has launched a pre-emptive strike on Democrats who, he believes, “are preparing for all-out war to derail any conservative Bush appointment.”

One shouldn’t be surprised that a pre-emptive war waged by a Republican is based on faulty intelligence and factual errors. Paulson cites the ease with which President Clinton’s Supreme Court nominees were approved; this was due to the fact Clinton worked with Senate Republicans who were in the minority at the time. Sen. Bill Frist, who now speaks disparagingly of filibusters, didn’t mind threatening to use them then. The “nuclear option” of ending the use of filibusters was a label applied not by Democrats, as Paulson states, but by Sen. Trent Lott.

Paulson’s historical examples of “activist” courts stretch the definition of the term. His use of Jackson’s refusal to enforce the court’s judgment in Worcester v. Georgia as an example of a president standing up to an activist court is appalling. Paulson alludes to Justice Anthony Kennedy’s opinion in Roper v. Simmons when he states “liberal judges … even use the decisions of foreign legal systems to make changes out of step with the majority of Americans.” Since only 19 states allowed the death penalty for juveniles, his opinion was in keeping with most Americans and the rest of the world.

Democrats show contempt for majority rule, according to Paulson.

Well, abusive and arrogant majority rule is contemptuous. The Constitution’s requirement for two-third majorities in important matters, e.g., the ratification of treaties and amendments, reflects our founders’ wisdom. It is also a strong argument for preserving the filibuster, essentially a supermajority requirement for lifetime judicial appointments. Who knows, Republicans may find they need the filibuster in 2009.

— Ken Long, Newbury Park

Re: Tom Casey’s July 4 commentary, “People need to reverse morally bankrupt nation”:

I am guilty of supporting some of Casey’s “morally bankrupt” notions, notably,euthanasia, Roe v. Wade, gambling houses, etc. Sorry that puts me in the same category with child molesters and crystal meth lab operators.

Don’t like abortion? Then don't get one.

Don’t like gambling? Stay out of Las Vegas.

Don't want to choose the  time and manner of your own death? Then suffer, but don’t force me to.

Casey and his ilk are scary people. The Taliban is definitely alive and well in the United States.

— Richard Pratt, Oxnard

Recently, The Star has printed two articles in the opinion section that mention “anchor babies” or babies born here to illegal immigrants. These articles fostered the belief that women come here to have these babies and gain instant access for the rest of the family to get green cards.

The right-wing talk show hosts also pedal this lie.

The so-called “anchor baby” cannot sponsor anyone until he is 21.

There would be a two-decade wait until he could petition to let his parents become legal immigrants. He also must sign an affidavit of support that states he will be responsible for their keep if they lose their jobs.

How many 21 year olds can do that? Once he petitions, there is a waiting period. The people he petitions for are not moved to the head to the line, they are just moved above those who have no relatives here. They also still have to pass all the requirements of any person who wants to be a legal immigrant.

Spouses, children and parents of a U.S. citizen have priority. He can petition for his brothers or sisters but that is fourth priority and can take another decade or more of waiting. And he would have to sign an affidavit of support for each one he wants to petition for. It’s not likely that he would ever sponsor anyone other than his parents.

You can find the rules here http://www.formdomain.com/family.htm.

— Alex Magdaleno, Camarillo

During his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 23, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, “The American people are solid. And I don’t mean solid in support of the war. They’re solid human beings. And if we tell them the truth and provide the right kind of leadership, by golly, they’ll support a worthy noble goal.”

Rumsfeld is correct. Unfortunately, truth and leadership have not been forthcoming from anyone in this administration.

Vice President Dick Cheney said the insurgency is “in its last throes,’ but coalition casualties are rising; 35 in March, 44 in April, 81 in May, and 86 so far in June.

In February 2003, just before we invaded Iraq, Rumsfeld was asked how long he thought the war would last. He didn’t think it would be a long conflict, “It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.” That was 28 months ago.

On May 1, 2003, President Bush stood under a “Mission Accomplished” banner and declared the end to major combat in Iraq. There were 172 coalition deaths in the “two month” war. There have been 1763 coalition casualties since then.

During that same speech, Bush said, “The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11, 2001.” Yet, the 9/11 commission found no credible evidence of a link between Iraq and al-Qaida.

Bush said in his January 2003 State of the Union address that Saddam Hussein had sought uranium from Africa. The intelligence has since been declared false, and then-CIA Director George Tenet said he had insisted on removal of that statement from White House speeches as early as October 2002.

The administration needs new leadership in the Defense Department; it needs an exit strategy with measurable benchmarks; it needs to be honest with us. We can take it, even if Bush can’t.

— Lynne Nuibe, Camarillo

Re: your July 3 Pulse page commentaries, “What should happen at Ventura’s Cemetery Park”:

I have read with some interest the festering exchanges in the press regarding the conversion of Saint Mary’s Cemetery to a municipal cemetery and to a municipal park.

As I learned of the budding controversy, I went over to the park and spoke to those buried there. Not one of them has offered a negative comment or a request to change the current situation. The local dog population would like to keep the current status quo as well.

In my own case, I have made every effort to assure that my corpse will be turned over to a medical school for use as a cadaver and then any residue to be disposed by cremation and dispersal of ashes. I will have no further interest in my remains and I cannot imagine why anyone else would care about them either.

If the operators of Saint Mary’s had the wherewithall or the interest to maintain the cemetery, it would not have fallen into the city’s hands. If anyone else had in interest in the land or the graves it appears they neglected to come to the fore at the appropriate time.

Let’s leave this situation alone. I do not care to have my city take up the cause of grave-site reclamation and restoration. I believe most of our fellow Venturans share my conclusion, even though they may have reached that end through a path of their own.

— Dutch Vandervort, Ventura