On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Californians will vote in a special election. California’s “acting governor� calls this reform. Who is he kidding?  These propositions are not reform.

Proposition 74 will extend the time a beginning teacher needs to receive tenure from two to five years. Making teaching a less attractive profession is not reform. Reducing class size, school size, and the number of school districts would be reform. Providing educators with the necessary tools and technology to educate students for the 21st century would be reform. 
 

Re: Kevin W. Sharer’s Oct. 27 commentary, “Biotechnology industry backs Proposition 78�:

Reading Mr. Sharer’s defamation of Proposition 79 and his adoration of the biotech industry’s total support for the proposition they wrote, Proposition 78, Star readers should ask, “Why this great interest in this issue, and why Amgen’s interest?� Could it be that under our current system, Amgen’s profits have risen dramatically during the last two years and will, it is estimated, continue to grow handsomely?

I listened to the debates on Proposition 73 at Ventura College, sponsored by Students for Academic Freedom, and was grateful for the opportunity to hear both sides presented.
I disagreed with Christine Lyon of Planned Parenthood, representing the opposition to Proposition 73.

Ms. Lyon stated that a parental notification law was unnecessary in California. She provided no data specific to teen abortions to back up her statement. She referred to a study on decreased teen pregnancy rates in California. This is peripheral and begs the question as to why her organization resists the reliable collection of teen abortion data in California.

As the election is drawing near, I would like everyone to take a good look at John Hecht, who is running for a seat on our Ventura Unified School District board. I would like to share some of his strengths with everyone.

John is a man with a strong willingness to serve his community.

He has the support from his loving family.

He has excellent people skills. He hears what you have to say.

As a parent of a child entering the Ventura Unified School District next fall, I have great faith in the leadership John Walker has demonstrated to date and will undoubtedly continue to prove in the upcoming term.

John is and has been an outstanding member of our community for more than 26 years. He has been an advocate for our children for the last 16 years as a school board trustee.

Neal Andrews is a member of the Ventura City Council who attends the community council meetings on a regular basis throughout the year. We get to talk with him one-on-one about our concerns. It helps put our ideas in perspective and lets us reconsider what we are asking of the city in light of the general views of the other areas of town. That is really useful.

It would be my wish to see more City Council members attending these important gatherings. Andrews has been visiting these community meetings since he was elected four years ago. He takes his job as our representative seriously.

— Jim Gray, Ventura

Neal Andrews has done more to promote public safety and recognize the courage and dedication of peace and fire officers than all other candidates for City Council. Yet, he doesn’t get endorsed by the police and fire unions. Why?

Andrews’ background in emergency medical services has served the City of Ventura and its fire department well. He has helped the city nearly double its revenue for paramedic services.
After Sept. 11, he established the Kiwanis Fire Services and Heroes Day, annually honoring outstanding fire personnel countywide. He remains the force behind this program and our annual Law Day for outstanding law enforcement officers. He understands the daily risks these individuals take.

As a local teacher, I can see why many of my colleagues are calling the governor’s Proposition 74 on the November ballot the “Blame Teachers Act.�

In retaliation for teachers standing up to this governor when he refused to pay back the billions he borrowed from our public schools, he wants to blame us for the repercussions from the education funding crisis he helped create. Proposition 74 would do nothing to address the real problems our schools and students face, like overcrowding, underfunding and out-of-date textbooks.

My wife has been teaching in the Ventura Unified School District for the past 13 years, and it seems that one of the qualities that teachers are looking for in a school board member is visibility and the willingness to listen to their concerns.

I personally know many teachers, and far too often I have heard the complaint that a majority of our school board members are simply not visible or responsive to the concerns of our teachers.

John Hecht, a candidate for the school board, has committed to be the eyes, ears and voice of the teachers in the Ventura Unified School District. He has promised to be visible and reach out to the teachers for their input in how the school district should be run.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger insists that California is broken and that he is the one to fix it. But his propositions fix nothing except to position himself for re-election.

His Proposition 74 scapegoats teachers but neglects to mention that  California is next to the bottom among the states when it comes to funding public education. Combined with Proposition 76’s attack on guaranteed school funding, it looks more like a coded attack on public education itself than a reform.

Proposition 76’s spending cap does nothing to replace the loss of corporate taxes, which once provided major revenues for funding bonds as well as operating revenues.

I find it a bit odd that The Star recommends voting no on Propositions 78 and 79 for financial reasons and then also recommends voting no on Proposition 75.

Contrary to The Star’s assertion, it is about choice. It is a lot easier to opt in than to opt out. I have no doubt that employees are pressured and intimidated into not opting out. If, as The Star says, this proposition would weaken the unions, then my point is proved. Many people really do not want their dues going for political purposes.

I have to admire their loyalty.

There isn’t much I like about the present administration. I won’t bore readers with a laundry list of their policies that would gag a maggot. But one trait of these right wing zealots which I admire is their loyalty to their leaders.

Re: Mary Herbert’s Oct. 28 letter, “Mindless scholastic drones�:

Every once in awhile, The Star publishes a letter that is so venomous and hateful that it must not go unchecked. Ms. Herbert’s letter was so shocking that I thought someone must have written it and signed her name as a tasteless joke. I hate to think anyone can be that extremist. But I am glad The Star published her letter because we all need to be aware that there are people like Ms. Herbert living right here in our community.

In 2000, President Bush often pledged that he would “restore honesty and integrity to the White House.� Refresh my memory: Does lying to a grand jury fall under the category of being honest or restoring integrity?

— Bill May, Camarillo

The candlelight vigil marking 2,000 deaths in the Iraqi war was significant. But as we pursue our various efforts for peace, let us not forget that “the 2000� are major media numbers that have been manipulated into misnomers.
 
Let us not forget the civilian contractors who are not counted in the death toll, or the 7,000 soldiers listed in critical condition who have been flown out of the country to die in Germany, also uncounted.

If it were only 2,000 deaths. But just one death in a fabricated war fought for resources and empire, while placing soldiers needlessly in harm’s way, is murder.

I have seen numerous letters saying the public should not vote on union matters because we are not in the union. If you are talking about the Teamsters, you are correct. But since we are talking about public employees — that means you work for the public — the public has the right to vote on matters concerning their employees. If they don't like it, they can go to work in the private sector, where the pensions are not anywhere close to what they are receiving now, thanks to our tax dollars.

— Rich Simpson, Camarillo

As a citizen of Ventura, each voter will have three votes to elect three Ventura Unified School District board trustees. I strongly urge each voter to use one of those votes for John Hecht.

Education and Ventura Unified is primarily all about our children. But, it is more than that. It is budgets, personnel, real estate, unions, human resources, long-range planning and resource utilization and much more.

John Hecht is not only passionate about the education of his two children who attend elementary school in this district, but he has the business experience necessary to help our superintendent and the school board make the best possible use of the resources that are available. 

Everyone expects their city to provide a safe community with access to clean water, clean streets, parks, libraries, good schools and sufficient stores for the goods we use every day.

This calls for good police and fire departments, reliable water and sewer systems and enough money to support the parks, libraries, schools and shopping centers for the quality of life we expect in Ventura.

The cost of these services increases every year. Unless our citizens wish to increase their own taxes, the only alterative is to support a strong business community that provides sales taxes and income taxes from the thousands of jobs they provide.

With the Ventura election season bringing attention to local issues that surround our city and school district, it seems appropriate, as president of the Board of Education for Ventura, to take this time to highlight how well Ventura schools are doing.

The school board understands our diversity gives us strength. Administration, teachers, staff and parents work very hard to create safe, high-performing schools. There is always room to do better and, working together with our community, we will continue to look at progressive pathways for further improvement.

Re: your Oct. 27 article, “Palestinian bomber kills 5 Israelis in suicide attack�:

I was going through the paper while eating breakfast and was horrified to read that, once again, there was a suicide bombing attack in Israel.

Five Israelis standing in line to purchase a falafel were killed and 30 were injured. I looked over at the accompanying picture, expecting it to show the horror of the attack, and I was appalled. There was not a photo of the dead and wounded, not a photo of the grieving families of those dead and injured. There was the “poor, grieving� sister of the murderer holding his picture.

I hope all voters in these last few days before the Nov. 8 election will look closely at Propositions 74, 75 and 76. They may be sound good on the surface but, as always, “the devil is in the details.� These three flawed and poorly written propositions will prove very harmful to our schools and students.

Proposition 74 would make all teachers wait five years to have permanent status. This would make California’s teacher-probationary period one of the longest in the nation. What teacher would be willing to apply or transfer to one of our local schools if they have to wait five years for job security? The high price of housing already makes it difficult to recruit high-quality teachers. Proposition 74 will make this task even more difficult. The only way to insure a high-quality education for our future students is to continue to hire excellent teachers.

As a member of California State Employees Association, Retirees Division (a union and a corporation), I will be going to our local polling station and casting my “no� vote on Proposition 75, the so-called Paycheck Protection Act.

This act, if passed, would make it exceedingly difficult for nurses, teachers, firefighters, police and other public employees to participate in the political process because it would require they sign a form if they want their dues to be used for the union political activities. In contrast, the corporate interests pushing for this new law regularly spend shareholder money on politics without permission.

Re: Tony Sereno’s Oct. 27 letter, “Loosening union’s grip�:

I was outraged by Mr. Sereno’s vicious attack on the teachers of Simi Valley, the Simi Educators Association and Mr. Arleigh Kidd. In it, Mr. Sereno claimed that school board members must “meet the demands of the SEA.� I would ask everyone to call school board members, including Greg Stratton, and ask if SEA, or any of its members, have ever demanded they do anything. We have school board members in Simi Valley who listen to all points of view before making their independent decisions on matters.

I take my personal freedom seriously. I am a Vietnam veteran and have been a good citizen and resident of Ventura County for more than 30 years. I don’t smoke every day; maybe on the weekends I will have a cigar.

It seems that there are some people who feel that they should control everything and everybody. What is to be next?

I fought for our country because I believe in freedom. I wonder if the letters for restriction of our freedom are from people who have put themselves in harm’s way to preserve it.

— Peter F. Cicciari, Simi Valley

Isn’t it funny how people sit around and complain about how politicians all go into office and are money hungry. They usually come out millionaires.

It seems that everything they do is for more money, no matter how much it hurts their state or area who elected them.

Then, when someone is finally elected who wants to make a difference and put things where they should be for the general good, there is always someone who has to complain about it.

The governor is trying to be what he said he would be. He’s trying to throw out some of the garbage. Give him a break, OK?

If you need something to worry about, just hope that the president doesn’t get the mortgage interest deduction dropped from your tax exemptions.

I am a registered Republican and I disagree with the president on that one. I believe it would wreak havoc on the economy and put many out of their homes.

There’s an old saying, “don’t change horses in midstream.�

— Jack Killian, Simi Valley

Re: Richard Larsen’s Oct. 25 essay, “The poor deserve better�:

Has Larsen ever taken an economics course? It is disturbing to see someone once again espouse spend more on government programs to eliminate the poverty level. Kindly tell me where the funds would come from? It comes from private individuals and private companies through tax dollars. Larsen would like government to set wage standards, income standards and living standards. Hmm.

I’d rather see doors opened through employment opportunities and educational opportunities, see road blocks to companies who do not see the damage done by the jobs not created. Stop setting wages so jobs open up to young people. Yes, some jobs aren’t meant to support a family.

College education is not out of reach. There are many government subsidies in place already plus the community college route does a great job of educating at a very low cost.

It sounds like to me that Larsen is favoring government reallocation of your wages to make everyone equal. Didn’t that lead to low productivity and government failure elsewhere in the world?

Larsen should “tear down that wall� and read an economics textbook. Better yet, he should reread Adam Smith’s� great book on the markets guiding hand.

— William F. Klepper, Simi Valley

Re: Greg Stratton’s Oct. 21 letter, “Doomsayers speak out�:

Simi Valley Unified School District trustee Stratton holds an interesting perspective in his role as a public education advocate.

In his letter, he asked our community to support Propositions 74, 75 and 76, supposedly to stick it to the “government employee labor unions� — the people who teach our children, nurse us, fight our fires and patrol our communities.

His argument seems to be based upon some idea that our state needs these “reforms,� financed and essentially written by big business and wealthy fanatics, to silence the voice of teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police.

Ironically, Stratton did not seem to mind accepting campaign money and an endorsement from the Simi Educators Association when he was running for school board. He is also going against his own “association,� the California School Boards Association, and its opposition to Propositions 74 and 76, as well as the rest of his colleagues on the school board.

So what is school board “trustee� Stratton suggesting we support? Proposition 74 would make new teachers wait five years without any job security. Additionally, it effectively eliminates any due process for releasing veteran teachers.

Proposition 75 would silence the public voice of teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police — the very people who advocate quality public services.

Proposition 76 would eliminate minimum funding levels for our schools, and make it possible for the governor to take back funding from our school district up to three times in a school year. I have sat in numerous school board meetings where every penny is stretched to the limit to allow us to provide a quality education to the children of Simi Valley. Is “trustee� Stratton really advocating less money for Simi’s schools?

Concerned citizens of Simi Valley, join with your nurses, firefighters, police, and, yes, your teachers and vote no on Proposition 74, 75 and 76.

— Luke Bannon, President, Simi Educators Association, Simi Valley

Re: your Oct. 27 article, “3 vigils in county remember war dead,� and Lorrell Cooper’s Oct. 27 letter, “Where’s the left’s wrath?�:

On the morning after thousands of Americans held vigils to remember our war dead, The Star had the usual letters and online comments from angry ideologues. Confusing mourning with hate, Cooper in a letter and Katie Teague online felt the need to reiterate dishonest and disrespectful talking points to make sure we all know hateful liberals don’t support our troops.

You don’t have to be a member of either MoveOn.org or the GOP to support our troops and veterans. There are excellent, hard-working organization that can always use a hand.

Veterans For Peace puts its muscle where its members mouths were. VFP members erect Arlington West memorials every weekend in Santa Barbara and Santa Monica. You can help, contact or join them at http://www.veteransforpeace.org.

The Iraq Veterans Against the War are thoughtful and patriotic people who’ve been there and back. There are several local members. I would encourage anyone to listen to what they have to say. You can support them at http://www.ivaw.net.

Operation Truth is a veterans organization that does not claim a political position, but it wants a plan. It asks for a conversation with all voices at the table and decent respect for the military point of view, and a plan to get our troops out of Iraq without leaving Iraqis in the lurch. Its Web site has many means of supporting undersupplied troops. Give it a visit at http://www.optruth.org.

This isn’t a liberal/conservative issue. This should not be a political issue. This is about life and death, respect for sacrifice and demanding responsible conduct from civilian leaders who send our soldiers to war.

— Laura McLean, Thousand Oaks

Teacher union bosses in California are forcing all teachers to pay a mandatory dues assessment to finance a massive political program to defeat certain ballot initiatives this November.

It is blatantly illegal for union officials to spend union dues on politics over the objections of rank-and-file teachers and workers. The California Teachers Association and California Faculty Association bosses know this, but it appears they don’t mind breaking the law to finance their power grab.

This is outrageous.

— Tim F. & Sarita J. Martin, Simi Valley

The logical, simple, responsible and easy approach to the eight election measures: Don’t make things any worse. Just vote no.

— Gilbert S. Bahn, Moorpark

I read last year that 85 percent of firefighters and state lifeguards retire on disability, free of state taxes. Fraud and its incentive are strongly suggested by such high numbers.

Who are the politicians who bought their votes with the tax-free incentive? We already know about the high cost of the prison guards union. As a 28-year veteran of a union, I have seen first hand how unions protect such behavior.

When my former employer went bankrupt, I lost much of my pension. Not so for public employee union members. Even in the face of huge deficits, partly caused by their largess, public employee retirees continue to receive full benefits, with cost-of-living increases and dependent protection, courtesy of the overburdened taxpayer.

I think it is past time to rein in the power of public employee unions and their politicians. The governor is trying to do just what we mandated when we put him in office.

That is why I am voting yes to all four of his initiative, Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77.

— John Milliken, Westlake Village

The recent natural disasters have made everyone throughout the country keenly aware of how  important partnerships are between the public and private sectors.

Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center wants to publicly thank the Ventura County Fire Protection District for providing hazmat training to our hospital hazmat team. When we looked for a source to update our hazmat skills, our research showed that the most reliable resource was right here in Ventura County.

With the help of Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire Protection District Emergency Medical Services Assistant Chief Vaughan Miller and VCFPD Hazardous Materials Officer Steve Baker, coordination for the hazmat training and the actual training went smoothly and efficiently.

Teamwork and partnering: It’s a win-win for our community.

— Kris Carraway Bowman, Vice president marketing business development, Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, Thousand Oaks

I want to voice my support for Ventura Unified School District board member John Walker.

Mr. Walker is a board member who always does his homework, asks the difficult questions and then makes an informed decision.

He has the qualifications, background and experience we need to keep our district moving forward.

As a parent of young children, I want to keep his experience and dedication for our district intact. Please join me in voting for John Walker for Ventura Unified School District Board of Education.

— Leslie Carpenter, Ventura

Re: your Oct. 9 article, “Meet the future�;

The Star’s article on the “best and brightest high-schoolers� was as depressing as any article you’ve ever published. The kids highlighted are supposed to be the best the school system can generate. And yet, they are nothing but mindless scholastic drones. Their solution to every problem being more government, more rules, more taxes.

Julia Carrillo wants to change the government structure — no doubt because the government is not intrusive enough already. Most of the others want to socialize healthcare and, of course, waste even more money on public education even though the more that is spent, the worse it becomes.

The majority of kids graduating these days are as dumb as a box of rocks, yet full of self-esteem. They’re in for a rude shock when they have to compete with kids from other countries where the emphasis is on learning instead of “feeling good about oneself.�

Then we have this blathering about marriage for homosexuals. God save us all from pompous self-righteous socialists who spout the party line because it’s too difficult to think for oneself.

The one thing you do notice about all these public school drones is they can’t get enough of the welfare state. Too bad they don’t know that the government is broke. The state of California is hemorrhaging money like crazy supporting illegal immigrants and all the parasitic politicians and bureaucrats in Sacramento. But I’m sure they’ll find new ways to loot the middle class to keep the game going a little while longer.

The federal government is broke as well. That’s why we’re in Iraq. The only way to keep the economy from collapsing is to loot other countries and steal their resources. But I guess economics and history aren’t taught, which is why these kids think there is an endless pot of money to pay for all their big ideas.

I have only one piece of advice for people who love their children: Get them out of the public schools now unless you want them turned into mindless drones as well.

— Mary Herbert, Oxnard 

Mary Haffner is a dedicated and hard-working education advocate who will be a great school board member.

Mary will be a highly accessible and visible voice for public education.

As a parent with children in Ventura Unified, I want someone who has already shown they are willing to do the work that is necessary for building strong public schools. Mary works tirelessly to bring resources into our classrooms and has been doing so for years.

More than that, Mary understands that taking care of our children’s needs involves a broader perspective — one that looks at the overall health and well being of children.

Our children and our schools need Mary Haffner on the school board. Join me in voting for the strongest candidate — Mary Haffner. 

— Karin Clark, Ventura

I would like to express my support for John Walker for re election to the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education. In addition to serving his local school district board, John has served in many leadership capacities on the Ventura County School Boards Association.

Walker is the immediate past president. His leadership style is one of collaboration and respect for all. As our association president, John was always prepared, knew the issues and followed through. I have observed John advocate for our schools in Sacramento as a governmental relations chair for our association on many occasions. Again, he was always prepared and represented our efforts.

John has served his constituents well and I respectfully ask that you re elect John Walker to the Ventura Unified School District board.

— Suzanne Kitchens, President, Ventura County School Boards Association, Ventura

As a retired Camarillo school board trustee of almost twenty-six years service, I would encourage Ventura voters to vote for John Walker and Velma Lomax, candidates for the Ventura Unified School District board.

As director, California School Boards Association, for this region, I often interfaced with these two dedicated board members.

John served with me on the CSBA Delegate Assembly. He was always engaged in doing what was best for the district and its students. John’s leadership was also acknowledged by other county board members in his selection as president of the Ventura County School Boards Association.

I have found him to be a man of impeccable integrity whose sole interest is pursuing the best education avenues for the District. He has always been accessible to parents as well as staff taking the time to listen, and to solve the many challenges facing education.

Velma is a dynamic individual who also pursues the best education avenues for the district. She, too, has always been receptive and willing to work with staff and parents.

I recall when she traveled to Sacramento and back in one day to advocate for financial resources that California districts needed and deserved. She is willing to sacrifice time necessary to be a true servant to the Ventura community.

Both of these magnificent trustees deserve to be re-elected, and I hope that, Nov. 8, you will cast your vote for John Walker and Velma Lomax as Ventura Unified School District board members.

— Dolores “Val� Rains, Camarillo

I would like to take a moment and voice my support for Ventura school board member John Walker. It was my privilege to work with John as a fellow board member of 12 years.

During those years, I always found that John made decisions in the best interest of children. The board always appreciated John’s business background as we made difficult business-related decisions.

I found him to be a team player, collaborative and a tireless board member. We need to keep John on board.

— Jim Wells, Former board member. 1991-2003, Ventura Unified School District, Ventura

I’ve been voting in Ventura City Council elections for more than 20 years. I’ve voted for Jim Monahan five times and I intend to vote for him again this November.

Monahan has a sense of history and he’s unwavering in his support of business. He will vote his conscience even if it means being the lone voice. He doesn’t care about being on the winning side. He cares about being on the right side.

As long as we have Monahan on the council we can be assured that wrong directions will be questioned. He may not always be eloquent, but he is a voice of reason and he votes for what he believes is right, not what he believes to be politically correct.

The Lyon family has had businesses in Ventura for many decades. We’ve seen good times and bad. Ventura has not been particularly business friendly for many years, but fortunately the business community has had Monahan in its corner.

We need more like him. Ventura needs four more years of Jim Monahan, and he’s getting my vote.

— Ed Lyon, Ventura

I once heard Franklin D. Roosevelt urge the country’s workers to organize and form unions in order to enable them to have a voice in their government and, thus, have an influence in improving their choices for a decent living.

The unions formed a back bone of what became the largest class of Americans, the middle class. It makes America the great nation it is today. There is no greatness in a country with only the haves and have nots.

The governor would have us believe that unions are a plague upon the land and the problems that face the state are somehow their fault. We are all familiar with his calling the teachers, nurses, firemen and policemen special interests and inferring how detrimental they are to good government.

In truth, these people are all basically middle-class citizens doing their best to make California a better place.

Unless the unions are in violations of a statute or law, how they conduct their business should be a matter for the members to decide, not the general public.

If one were to pay attention to this governor’s television ads you will notice he is asking for help so that he could rebuild California. This is a blatant ego trip.

We did not put him in office to rebuild the greatest state in the union to some image he may have in mind, we put him in office to govern with what tools we already have in place: the Legislature.

These propositions are simply an indication of his inability to govern. Prerequisites for this position are more than reading scripted lines and acting the role.

— Joseph Kobylak, Camarillo

The esteemed Republican senator from Texas, John Cornyn, said Wednesday, “The 2000 dead soldiers in Iraq is an ‘artificial’ landmark.�

I cannot help but wonder just how “artificial� that number would be had one of the dead American soldiers been his brother or his son.

— Barry Long, Ventura

There will be at least one new face on the Ventura City Council after the November election. Out of the nonincumbents running for election, one candidate stands out above the others. That candidate is Ed Summers.

As a council member, I worked with Ed as he chaired the Ventura Music Festival and the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

When it came time to take action with respect to protecting jobs at the naval base, Ed again stepped forward to be co-chairman of the Base Realignment and Closure committee.

While serving as mayor, I worked closely with Ed as he chaired the Cultural Affairs Commission. His commitment to supporting the arts and his understanding of the economic value of a strong cultural environment is well-known.

Ed has demonstrated a strong willingness to serve his community. He is articulate, intelligent, committed and has a servant’s attitude.

He has a strong grasp of the issues facing Ventura. He is a realist.

In an era when candidates have a tenancy to promise just about anything to get elected, Ed promises to work diligently on a broad base of issues with an understanding that developing renewable financial resources will allow those promises to become realities.

His record of leadership and service will make him an outstanding council member.
Vote for Ed Summers on Nov. 8.

— Ray Di Guilio, Former mayor, Ventura

As parents of children in the Ventura Unified School District, we feel John Hecht is very well-qualified to serve on the school board. Like us, John has children who are currently attending Ventura schools, a perspective that is missing from the current school board. In an era of collective accountability, John’s vision of collaborating with businesses and the community to find ways to improve education will serve all of our students well. With the current budget woes for schools, this kind of creative thinking is greatly needed to serve the needs of all students.

As a teacher and principal in a neighboring school district, we know that John’s experience as a businessowner and planning commissioner will be well-utilized. John understands that doing what is right for our children involves students, parents, staff, administration, and the community. This depth of experience and collaborative approach is what is needed in a school board trustee. Running a school district is multifaceted and challenging; John Hecht can do the job and do what is right for our children.

— Cathy Hewson & Rene Rickard, Ventura

As the Ventura Chamber of Commerce does, I support Councilman Neal Andrews.

Andrews is a caring leader and exemplifies knowledge for our community. He is action-oriented and gains realistic results. He is involved in many local functions and knows Ventura's needs well.

Whether he is working and supporting the nurses, helping to continually support and create a new art center, improving neighborhood safety issues, understanding our land developments, interacting with the people of our town or working out budget concerns, Andrews knows how to get things done right.

— Tracy Saunders, Ventura

Re: your Oct. 26 article, “U.S. death toll in Iraq war hits 2,000�:

Two thousand deaths are 2,000 too many if they are based on, at best, incompetence and at worst, deception. Brave American soldiers are willing to lay down their lives for this country; it is up to us to make sure they have not done so in vain. Have we let them down?

I support the troops but do not support this war. Many cannot make that distinction and that is a shame. How many more are going to die while we cling to our justifications and pride?

— Pete Johnson, Camarillo

Re: your Oct. 26 article, “U.S. death toll in Iraq war hits 2,000�:

The enormity of the loss of 2000 of our best and brightest young soldiers is now beyond rational acceptance. This unholy crusade to bring Texas-style Democracy to another foreign culture is doomed to be a fatal replay of the last days of U.S. Army in Saigon. Everyday, the body count climbs higher and the moral decay of the United States digs deeper, but we remain far too silent.

Only a Democrat with a simple question: Where are our elected leaders?

Will someone please explain why Democrats in Congress continue to vote funds for the Iraq war that is contrary to overwhelming public opposition. Please, give me the name of any Democrat senator or Congress member who has gone on record to demand an end to this war and immediate removal of all U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Is there any Democrat leader in California who is not afraid to step forward and speak to stop this illogical slaughter of our youth.

The silence in Sacramento and Washington from our elected representatives is disheartening. Only the shallow excuses “to fight on� from President Bush causes greater nausea to any intelligent person.

— Joseph O'Neill, Oxnard

Re: your Oct. 26 article, “U.S. death toll in Iraq war hits 2,000�:

The enormity of the loss of 2000 of our best and brightest young soldiers is now beyond rational acceptance. This unholy crusade to bring Texas-style Democracy to another foreign culture is doomed to be a fatal replay of the last days of U.S. Army in Saigon. Everyday, the body count climbs higher and the moral decay of the United States digs deeper, but we remain far too silent.

Only a Democrat with a simple question: Where are our elected leaders?

Will someone please explain why Democrats in Congress continue to vote funds for the Iraq war that is contrary to overwhelming public opposition. Please, give me the name of any Democrat senator or Congress member who has gone on record to demand an end to this war and immediate removal of all U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Is there any Democrat leader in California who is not afraid to step forward and speak to stop this illogical slaughter of our youth.

The silence in Sacramento and Washington from our elected representatives is disheartening. Only the shallow excuses “to fight on� from President Bush causes greater nausea to any intelligent person.

— Joseph O'Neill, Oxnard

The 2,000th death in the Iraq war is being hailed as a milestone by liberals. This is to further the cause of their antiwar stance. Any normal thinking person would not refer to these tragic deaths as a milestone. Many people who are against the war in Iraq feign self-righteous indignation toward the thought that they are unpatriotic because they say they still support the troops. Those two positions are not compatible.

These are the same people who will not support an amendment to ban flag burning. I believe you would be very hard-pressed to find a person who expounds these positions with a “support our troops� sticker on their car. More likely would be an anti-Bush sticker, which is their real reason for existence.

Sensible and fair city budgets are critical to the well-being of our city.

Councilman Neal Andrews has had extensive experience in managing multimillion-dollar budgets via 30 years of management and policy positions. He is a key member of the city’s budget and economic development committees. He headed major government agencies in Michigan and California; he is a member of the board of directors of non-profit social service agencies and is a nationally recognized expert in strategic business management issues.

He successfully introduced “performance management� philosophy and techniques to our city government and fathered the “primacy of economics� concept to city planning and policy.

Re: Teresa Coffman’s Oct. 20 letter, “Opting-out on union dues� and John A. Williams’ Oct. 25 letter, “‘Opting out’ available�:

Ms. Coffman’s letter informs Star readers all that the California Teachers Association wants them to know about union political spending. There’s no need for Proposition 75, she informs us: Just check the opt-out box or call your local union representative.

Then what? Does she think the union has less money to spend on whatever it wants?

It is my understanding that there have been numerous complaints and articles written about the Oct. 15 Ventura College football game.

I was a guest in the visitor stands. The racial slurs and name-calling of both the Ventura players and staff took me back to the 1960s and before. It was appalling.

It is a shame that the coaching staff for Ventura is an example of leadership to the youth of the Ventura community. I would hate to think that the administration of this community college condones such behavior. I am embarrassed for Ventura and pity them.

— Suzanne Diulio, Anaheim

Proposition 80’s primary impact would be to raise electric rates by discouraging free market competition among power producers and to prohibit consumers from switching to a lower cost electricity supplier.

It purports to return us to the good old days before Enron and others gamed California consumers out of billions. We are asked to accept that this complex initiative will fix everything; all the electorate has to do is approve it on Nov. 8.

Re: Greg Stratton’s Oct. 21 letter, “Doomsayers speak out�:

Simi Valley Unified School District trustee Greg Stratton holds an interesting perspective in his role as a public education advocate.

In his letter, he asked our community to support Propositions 74, 75 and 76, supposedly to stick it to the “government employee labor unions� — you know, the people who teach our children, nurse us when we’re ill, fight our fires, and patrol our communities maintaining law and order.

I heard that the City of Thousand Oaks sent a donation in the $200,000s for Hurricane Katrina aid. I do not understand how a city, whose revenue is accrued from its constituents, can send a contribution on their behalf.

Isn’t the revenue collected from us supposed to be used in our city? I think if a city has such a surplus, it should be used in areas that need help within the city. Or, if the city insists on sending a donation, ask the people where the funds came from — the voters — where they would like to donate.

I take my personal freedom seriously. I am a Vietnam veteran and have been a good citizen and resident of Ventura County for more than 30 years. I don’t smoke every day; maybe on the weekends I will have a cigar.

It seems that there are some people who feel that they should control everything and everybody. What is to be next?

I fought for our country because I believe in freedom. I wonder if the letters for restriction of our freedom are from people who have put themselves in harm’s way to preserve it.

— Peter F. Cicciari, Simi Valley

Re: Arleigh Kidd’s Oct. 25 letter, “Schools would be hurt,� which was in response to Greg Stratton’s Oct. 21 letter, “Doomsayers speak out�:

I, for one, find it refreshing that we have a trustee for the Simi Valley Unified School District who is willing to speak his mind and stand up for his principles rather than being just another parrot for the local teachers union, the Simi Educators Association. Greg Stratton did a very brave thing in publicly supporting Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77. 

Re: Laura Winchester’s Oct. 25 letter, “Inability to govern�:

I have read with interest the numerous letters to The Star focusing on the controversial ballot measures for the November election. It was not until the letter by Ms. Winchester appeared that I felt compelled to write.

Regrettably, Ms. Winchester has chosen to evoke hot-button, emotion-based current events in an attempt to sway votes on unrelated ballot measures. The response to Hurricane Katrina (mismanaged at least as badly by a Democratic governor and Democratic mayor as by the Federal Emergency Management Agency), the war in Iraq, the federal budget deficit and a Republican- controlled federal government have nothing to do with the ballot initiatives facing the state of California in November.

Re: your Oct. 23 article, “Teens at risk from speeding, CHP says�:

I just returned to Thousand Oaks only to read of the tragedy of the young girl dying in an accident Sunday morning in Simi. It made me so sad to read how utterly senseless her death was. I can’t begin to imagine the sorrow her parents, siblings, grandparents and friends must feel. I can’t imagine the guilt the driver must be going through. Still a teenager, with his life in front of him, knowing what he has to live with. It is so sad.

A recent news report from Britain has it that Prince William, heir to the throne, will be entering Sandhurst, the British military academy. His younger brother, Prince Harry, is already a student there, and their uncle, Prince Andrew, is a graduate as well as, most notably, a combat veteran of the Falklands War.

Then there is the Prince of Wales, who commanded a ship of the Royal Navy.

Whatever one thinks of royalty and privilege — and I am not one of those who is a fan of that system — at least there is some evidence that the Windsors have some backbone, both moral and physical.

Attorney Alyse Lazar wrote a letter to the Triunfo Sanitation District on behalf of Save Open Space and those of us who are a part of the ad hoc Oak Park Water Tank Committee.
 
In this letter, she says that Triunfo Sanitation is not complying with the California Environmental Quality Act in its process to choose a site for the Conifer replacement tank in Oak Park.

Of the handout distributed by Triunfo staff at the last board meeting which describes the 16 potential sites, Ms. Lazar says, “The summary matrix does not satisfy the requirements of CEQA.�

The government should not subsidize housing for people living in $1 million-plus homes, even if we “aren’t considered rich in California.�

Like many people, my husband and I took out a mortgage when purchasing a larger home. So now, like many people who aren’t considered poor anywhere, our family lives in federally subsidized housing. The mortgage interest deduction is a government subsidy which pays more for a luxury home than for a modest one, and it pays nothing at all to renters or those who own their homes outright — which is obviously unfair.

I want to voice my support for Ventura Unified School District board member John Walker.
Mr. Walker is a board member who always does his homework, asks the difficult questions and then makes an informed decision. He has the qualifications, background and experience we need to keep our district moving forward.

As a parent of young children, I want to keep his experience and dedication for our district intact. Please join me in voting for John Walker for Ventura Board of Education.

— Leslie Carpenter, Ventura

Re: your Oct. 19 article, “Rencher has been ridiculed, praised�:

I’m wondering if Ventura resident Theresa Holden was born in a nest or a cave because her beliefs are certainly prehistoric.

Ms. Holden says of Ventura City Council candidate Brian Rencher, “He needs to get a job, pay taxes — and then he has a right to say something.�

Re: Arturo Hernandez Jr.’s Oct. 23 commentary, “Smoking isn’t cool�:

Sometimes one must take a stand, feeling so needed to explain to others what and how they should live their lives, what risks they face making unwise choices.

What I failed to see was Arturo, 22 years old, riding his horse or mule or buggy to get from Oxnard to the new Simi mall. Obviously, being so worried about what people breathe in the mall’s surrounding area, he will also protest every single automobile that enters that wasted space called a parking lot, right?

Re: James Stahl’s Oct. 17 commentary, “Chloride issue needs more study; hasty solution irresponsible�:

Other than being among the most self-serving bit of scientific gibberish fostered on us by a public agency official, Mr. Stahl’s commentary representing the position of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts strains all credibility when he suggests that the chloride issue need more study — up to 17 more years’ worth — before we can learn the effects of salts upon water quality and crops in Ventura County.

In this age of supersize, we now have the term megaslide. Sure, it could happen if there was an earthquake. Several things could happen. What will happen is someday I will die, perhaps by way of megaslide, but most likely by some other cause. In the meantime, I choose to live my life in the beauty of La Conchita.

What might these hills be saying in their sliding? How about, “We are being compromised by irrigation,� or, “Terrace us to slow down our sliding.�

In a city noted for its sense of preserving visual integrity, I find it very ironic that some candidates for office in Ventura are placing ugly, neon political signs on every corner. While driving around town, I am becoming increasingly annoyed at this visual pollution.

On the other hand, we have candidates like Mary Haffner, who is running for the Ventura Unified School District board. She has requested that her volunteers place her signs only on their own front yards.

I recently cast my absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 election. I voted for three Ventura City Council candidates.

I greatly appreciate Brian Brennan’s decision to offer to serve the community for another four years. As Robert Frost says in one of his poems, “I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.� I also welcome his decision to once again not use yard signs for his campaign.

Brian’s stewardship of the city’s natural environment will help to ensure that future generations of Ventura residents will enjoy much of what we appreciate about Ventura today.

Sometime in the next few days, the 2,000th American soldier will be killed in Iraq. We will grieve and honor this loss of life. Who will it be?

Will it be a seasoned career soldier, or will it be a teenage recruit looking for adventure? Will it be a man or a woman, since gender equality now gives women the right to die in battle? Will it be a young African-American or Latino looking for a one-way ticket out of the ghetto or barrio?

Will it be the gay or lesbian soldier with their true identity hidden until their final breath? Will it be a married person leaving a spouse and children behind, or will it be a single person leaving a heartbroken mother and father?

Re: your Oct. 23 Pulse page, “Prop. 76: State spending & school funding limits�:

I absolutely plan to vote in the Nov. 8 election, as the propositions must pass so that reason can replace formulas and union influence in the Sacramento process.

As I read the Oct. 23 articles, I was pleased by their tone and balanced arguments. So much of the current rhetoric is filed with distortions and outright lies, but The Star’s staff demonstrated that they can deliver the facts and at the same time help ordinary people to make informed decisions.
 
— Sal Scarpato, Westlake Village

Re: Greg Stratton’s Oct. 21 letter, “Doomsayers speak out�:

I read Mr. Stratton’s letter with great interest. In it, he said that when Proposition 13 passed, school funding did not suffer as people had said it would. Actually, that is not true.

Before Proposition 13, schools were mainly funded by property taxes that were stable. After Proposition 13, most school funding was shifted to the state general fund, which is unstable. Per-pupil funding also fell after Proposition 13. In order to give some stability, voters passed Proposition 98 in 1988.

Re: Gary Anderson’s Oct. 12 letter, “No on Proposition 75�:

After reading Mr. Anderson’s opinion on Proposition 75, I couldn’t help but laugh.

I, too, have invested in the stocks of major corporations, as well as being a past union member. He does have me on the years being a registered voter; I’m only at 33 years.

His point that Proposition 75 is un-American is ridiculous.

Re: Greg Stratton’s Oct. 21 letter, “Doomsayers speak out�:

Apparently, unless Greg Stratton was adversely affected by Proposition 13, it was an unmitigated success, and those who opposed it were simply dupes.

Clearly, property tax reform was necessary back in 1974, particularly for people on fixed incomes, but Proposition 13 has been a disaster for social services ranging from mental health, to fire, police and, yes, schools.

Currently, new teachers in California can be dismissed for any reason during their two-year probationary period. Once “permanent,� they can still be dismissed, but only after due process. They can be suspended from work in the meantime.

Proposition 74 extends the probationary period to five years and takes away a teacher’s right to due process. A teacher could be dismissed after only two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations without even a review of the accuracy of the evaluation.

Proposition 74 could also be improperly used to cut school budgets. Poor evaluations could be used to replace experienced teachers with less expensive ones.

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Oct. 22 commentary, “‘Political jihadists’ are driving newspaper readers away� and Dan K. Thomasson’s Oct. 22 essay, “Call off debt collectors�:

I read with interest Bill O’Reilly’s commentary, but the wonderful thing about it was how a glaring example of the “political jihadism� he described was given just above it — an essay by a “former editor of the Scripps Howard News Service.�

Re: John Gentry’s Sept. 30 letter, “Give union member voice�:

I do not know where Mr. Gentry got his information about public employee unions, but he must not belong to the same one that I belong to, namely, the California State Employees Association.

I have been a member since 1963, when I first went to work for the State of California. I retired on disability in 1995 after 32 years of service.

After several months of weaving around the frustrating sewer installation throughout the streets of Oxnard, I have come to realize that the picture of several workers leaning on shovels, looking down into a large excavation is not just a stereotype!

If my taxes were not paying their salaries, it might not be so annoying.

— Jordan Austin, Port Hueneme

The Hawaii Supreme Court is hearing a case regarding the conviction for manslaughter of Tayshea Aiwohi, who smoked drugs during the final days of her pregnancy, leading to the death of her 2-day-old child.

Judges and lawyers have the benefit of Monday morning quarterbacking and the luxury of time. Tayshea Aiwohi had the luxury of nine months in which to live a healthy lifestyle to assure that her unborn child, or fetus, (take your pick) received a healthy start in life. She chose selfishly.

As a 19-year resident of Ventura and a lifelong Ventura County resident, I would like to encourage all voters in the City of San Buenaventura to cast their vote for Councilman Jim Monahan.

Jim has served the city longer than all the other members of the council if their terms in office were added together. All too often, this kind of experience is thoughtlessly discarded in favor of some “new and improved flavor.� Please retain Jim and his historical perspective on the council.

— William H. Hair, Ventura

Sometimes it seems that we forget where the money comes from to pay the city workers, firefighters, police officers and teachers that we all need and value.

These workers, as well as our streets and environmental maintenance, are funded by sales taxes collected by business from all citizens and various-use taxes on businesses. We need healthy businesses and a strong economy so we can have the jobs and governmental resources we all need.

Re: your Oct. 19 editorial, “Miller’s martyr status fades�:

Judith Miller and the whole contretemps over who leaked what about Valerie Plame makes me wonder why nobody in the media is asking the key questions, namely:

— How is it possible for someone married to a public, political figure to be “undercover�?

— How come the husband of an undercover CIA agent  gets to publish op-ed pieces in The New York Times?

Halloween has become a very popular holiday with adults. It’s fun and healthy for grownups to put on a mask and play once a year, but sometimes adults put up house decorations that are excessively gruesome and even vulgar.

Halloween remains first and foremost a children’s holiday. On this night, our front yards and sidewalks become a children’s playground.

So I ask all homeowners to stop and consider: If you wouldn’t put that yard display up at a playground, don’t put it up at your home. Let’s keep it fun for the kids, too.

— Shelley Johnson, Ventura

Re: William Russell’s Oct. 20 letter, “Smoking at mall hailed�:

I can’t say that I appreciate being labeled an “anti-tobacco Nazi� when I speak out against smoking at the new Simi mall.

After volunteering two years of my high school career as a mentor at junior high and elementary schools speaking out against tobacco use, I feel the decision to allow smoking is backward progress. It is erasing the work that I, and countless other volunteers and groups, are doing to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use.

Now that the City Council has placed the North Park Village plan on the ballot, Moorpark voters can take the opportunity to seize its future.

Without North Park, who knows what will ultimately happen to the more than 3,500 acres north of Moorpark College? The land will remain under Ventura County control. Evidence abounds of the land uses the county allows in unincorporated territory: quarries, golf courses, driving range and a landfill.

Re: your Oct. 16 article, “School zero-tolerance policy debated�:

I think the zero-tolerance policy that pertains to weapons being carried onto school campuses is a knee-jerk answer to the problem of students carrying weapons to school.

I always thought “intent� made a weapon a weapon. I have carried a pocketknife since I was 10, and I would venture the majority of the men and a lot of women in my age group — born before 1950 — carry a pocketknife. A pocketknife and nail clippers are tools. The only time they are deployed is to clean nails, remove/tighten a screw or do some other type of work.

Re: Kathy Long’s Oct. 4 commentary, “Prop. 76 is a bad idea�:

Ms. Long states that “this flawed proposition has serious unintended consequences for all 58 counties� and points out that “counties have been forced to ‘live within our means’ since Proposition 13, and we have done so through tough decisions and fiscal management. The state should do the same and not try to fiscally manage through the ballot box.�

She obviously misses the whole point of Proposition 76.

For the past several years, the nation has watched shameless power grabs by the Republican Party, both nationally and in California, as it spread its culture of corruption.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his conservative GOP masters have done nothing but threaten our hard-working public servants, attempted to eliminate our civil liberties, allied themselves with right-wing extremists and contributed to a divided electorate.

The California Teachers Association and its affiliate local organizations have become monolithic political structures run by very well paid union administrators — administrators who often justify their existence by their political posturing.

Educators in most large districts are forced to join the local as a condition of employment. If you don’t join, you are dismissed.

If the unions concentrated on education and working condition issues, their activities would be justified. But this is not the case. The CTA and the National Educators Association have taken the membership into political areas unrelated to education and working conditions. For many educators, the CTA/NEA social and political agenda is diametrically opposed to the member’s political and religious beliefs and values.

The handling of the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers has been weird.

The president has presented us with various Americans who vouch for her qualifications to be a justice. They’re all men — Texas Supreme Court judges who know her well and assure us she is going to be a legendary justice. Where are the prominent women coming forward to proclaim her virtues?

If she has any girlfriends out there who are as excited about her prospects as these guys are, she should call them up and get them on her case. And while she’s at it, she should get one of them to escort her to meetings with senators, like Fred Thompson did for John Roberts last summer.

Forest City Enterprises needs to reconsider its decision to make the Simi Valley Town Center a smoking environment. The majority of Simi Valley residents I have spoken to object to this. There has been much negative discussion about the decision to have smoking on the premises. Simi Valley is primarily a bedroom/family community. The majority of families prefer to live and shop in a smoke-free environment. Travel around our community, you will notice an absence of smokers.

Both “Desperate Housewives� and “Law and Order� run in the same time slot on Sunday evenings. My wife and I are fans of both series.

For the last few weeks, we have been watching “Desperate Housewives� and taping “Law and Order.� We began to realize that the number of commercials running during “Desperate Housewives� was excessive. This last Sunday, I timed the total amount of minutes of commercials, and it totaled about 18 minutes.

So, next Sunday, we will be watching “Law & Order� and taping “Desperate Housewives.� And, of course, we will speed through the commercials on “Desperate Housewives.�

Re: Timm Herdt’s Oct. 19 essay, “A scorecard on abortion?�:

Magicians would applaud Mr. Herdt’s sleight of hand by diverting attention from helpful consequences of Proposition 73 for minor girls to those poor old judges who may have to answer to voters for their decisions.

Nice try, but no cigar!

Proposition 73 is the least we can do for a segment of society on which we have pretty much declared “open season.�

Re: your Oct. 20 article, “U.S. may be in Iraq in 10 years, Rice says�:

Your headline was entirely misleading. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “said� no such thing.

When Secretary Rice was asked by a senator whether U.S. forces would be in Iraq five years from now, or 10 years from now, she wisely declined to place any timetable on troop withdrawal.

The accurate headline would have been, “Secretary Rice declines to forecast troop withdrawal,� but that wouldn’t have been nearly as demoralizing, would it?

— Cory Christensen, Simi Valley

The next election has a union issue on the ballot, and there have been several letters critical of unions in this paper. Where is the management’s responsibility?

Which airline is among the most unionized? It is Southwest. Which airline is the most profitable year after year? Southwent, again. What happened to the General Motors plant in Fremont, near Oakland, after it was closed down and then reopened with Toyota management? It went from terrible quality and unprofitability to turning out trucks and other vehicles, Toyota and GM, of high quality.

On Nov. 8, we will be picking three members for the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education. Often this election gets little attention or voter interest. This year, however, the election takes on a much greater importance because of the state budget crisis and, consequently, a budget crisis for our local schools.

We need to elect the best candidates who will provide vision for the future and tight fiscal control to make every dollar count. While there are many good candidates running, one stands out above the rest: John Hecht.

I’d like to take this time to thank all the union representatives — teachers, the clerical workers who have called my wife at least five times, and even the California State Firefighters Association, which is not a union — for helping me decide how to vote on Proposition 75.

Kevin Nida, CSFA president, feels that Proposition 75 so threatens unions’ ability to contribute to the political process that he is just beside himself. They’ve lost their trust in the governor because he’s pushing the proposition. The poor union bosses won’t have as much money to spend on their favorite cause. They will actually have to ask their members how they want their money spent.

Over the years we have seen public policy in California continue to get worse.

From parents not having a right to know when their daughters seek an abortion, to massive deficits and a broken system that guarantees incumbent protection and continued gridlock, California will continue down the path to ruin unless real reform takes place.

We cannot trust the same people who got us into this mess to get us out of this mess. That is why I urge all voters to vote yes on Propositions 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77.

Re: your Oct. 13 article, “DePasquale says he’ll resign in March�:

Maybe I’m being an overly sensitive Italian-American, but when I read in The Star that one city leader, Rotary Club Past President Dale Parvin, referred to another city leader, Moorpark Unified School District Superintendent Frank DePasquale, as “boy,� I became upset, especially when he referred to his so-called friend as a “nice Italian boy� and occasionally calls him “Godfather.�

I find none of it funny or quaint. I’ve been subjected to too many incidents where my ethnicity has been insulted.

Re: The Star’s Oct. 6 article “Democrats ask Wagner to bow out�:

As a longtime Democratic activist and a candidate myself, for the 24th Congressional District, I feel compelled to respond to this article.

The bullying by a few against one runs against the very core of why I am a Democrat. I would not be able to run in good conscience if I did not stand against such tactics, even if they are against my opponent.

It is time to get back to basics, time to learn the fundamentals of what it is to become a responsible driver. Parents, teachers, friends and neighbors, no matter what your politics or religion or taste in the arts, we all need to carry out our most important job: child safety — in this case, safety on the road.

In teaching our children to drive a motor vehicle, do we teach them how not to drive, as well? This week’s news informs us of yet two more tragic losses. What can we do to prevent these young, hopeful lives from being cut short so terribly? They are mostly preventable with instruction and guidance from us, the parents.

Re: Holly Kunkle’s Oct. 17 letter, “Santa Rosa Road plan a bad idea�:

I agree with letter writer Holly Kunkle.

I have commuted on Santa Rosa Road for more than two years. The only congestion is during rush hour — the traffic is free-flowing at other hours of the day or evening.

Adding four more stoplights would stop this free flow. Besides, I count 14 streets connecting to Santa Rosa between Moorpark Road and Yucca. What about the other 10 intersections?

Re: James R. May’s Oct. 18 letter, “Gun control unfeasible�:

May was right on when he wrote, “Gun control only affects law-abiding citizens and only makes them more likely to become victims.�

In the book titled, “Guns and Violence: The English Experience,� Bentley College historian Joyce Malcolm notes:

I just had the “pleasure� of opening my property tax bill from the county. I guess it was a pleasure, at least relative to what it could have been. Had it not been for Proposition 13, property taxes would be based on 2 percent of current value, rather than 1 percent of what I paid for my house. So my taxes would have been more than $10,000 instead of $3,000! Proposition 13 was a help to all of us and a lifesaver for those on a fixed income.

That thought caused me to remember the election in which Proposition 13 passed. There were horrid predictions of dire consequences. Schools would be closed, cities would shut down and life as we know it would be destroyed.

Re: Rowland Nethaway’s Oct. 18 commentary, “Let’s take faith off Meirs’ résumé for the Supreme Court�:

Faith has a very important role in today’s society. Everyone has faith, whether it’s organized into religion or not, and that faith is part of who a person is. If their faith doesn’t affect the way they act or the decisions they make, their faith is not real to them and, therefore, doesn’t matter. A person’s faith is not something that can, or should be, casually discarded for the sake of a political campaign.

When our governor ran for office, he chose to trumpet his stand on specifically selected “hot button� items. Remember Indian gaming?

The idea was to appeal to our built-in resentments and prejudices to get our “uninformed� knee-jerk votes. It worked, didn’t it?

This time, he is attempting to sell us on his pet propositions by lying. He thought that we would swallow his whoppers regarding teachers who are awarded “permanent� employee status and “cannot be fired, no matter how incompetent they are.�

It is heartwarming to watch the people of our nation reach out to those whose lives have been devastated in the Gulf Coast region due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Our son and his friend drove a truckload of supplies to the area and told me it is impossible to understand the magnitude of the problem unless you see it firsthand.

The needs in this area will be on going for months and even years ahead. Many people have chosen to assist by contributing financially to organizations that are actively involved in helping to rebuild lives and communities and should be commended for their generosity.

Re: Joe Howry’s Oct. 16 essay, “Star endorses to inform�:

It was forthright of Mr. Howry to explain The Star’s goal in presenting endorsements at election time. Certainly most papers do it, so it’s a burden we readers have to accept.

Newspaper endorsements attempt to bypass the pure process of democracy by enabling voters to make ballot choices simply by copying the “opinionpaper’s� picks rather than by figuring out the issues for themselves.

Re: your Oct. 18 article, “Initiative would provide free preschool�:

As a kindergarten teacher, I agree that preschool for all incoming kindergarten students would be most beneficial.  However, there is a step missing: Given the academic standards that the state has set for kindergarten students, kindergarten should be made mandatory.

Presently, students with excessive absences or tardies cannot be sent to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB), as students under 6 years old are not subject to SARB. The learning of many students suffers badly when they have excessive absences and tardies. However, under present rules, there is nothing the schools can legally do to address this problem. Until the attendance problem is resolved by the state Board of Education, local districts are helpless in this matter.

The forces of nature have a way of redesigning the earth in ways that are too powerful for man to resist. Man must therefore adjust his lifestyle in response to these changes.

Entire islands have risen from the sea, and others have disappeared as nature flexed its muscles. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, droughts, infestations, poverty and overpopulation have made parts of our planet virtually uninhabitable.

But, as a feature of our advanced and enlightened civilization, it has fallen on the shoulders of society, as a humane function, to resist these forces of nature, even if it means exhausting our already dwindling natural resources and available funds to do it. 

I voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger because he said he was a wealthy man and would not be bought off by special interest groups. Upon winning the election for governor, he redefined those special interest groups to be firefighters, police officers, nurses and schoolteachers. Meanwhile, he has collected millions of dollars from drug and insurance companies.

Now Schwarzenegger is attempting to silence the voices of these working-class people through the election process. If he succeeds, the pensions of these public employees become more vulnerable without their ability to protest. Don’t be fooled, Arnold has no interest in protecting anybody’s paycheck. I, for one, will not be suckered in by this politician again.

— Kelly Lynn, Ventura
(The writer is a firefighter and paramedic. — Editor)

A young freshman in my class years ago was quiet, noninvolved and almost hostile in his attitude. He didn’t interact with his peers and failed to hand in assignments. I started to spend just a few minutes a day at his desk just trying to “shoot the breeze.� He indicated an interest in football. At lunch, I introduced him to the freshman football coach. He joined the team and his attitude in class started to change. He started to interact within the classroom. Later, he worked on a group project and did quite well. I mailed home a brightly colored card that stated, “Good news from Hueneme High,� on one side and positive comments on the other. I used the card periodically as a reward and motivational device.

I am voting for Mary Haffner for the Ventura Unified School District’s Board of Education because she represents an intelligent, passionate and creative voice for our children. Our schools have been forced to absorb drastic budget cuts. PTAs and PTOs have worked hard to increase our fundraising to ensure that our children’s education is not adversely impacted.

At my child’s elementary school this year, the PTO will pay $8,000 to buy math books and $2,500 to pay our reading teacher, in addition to paying for all field trips, assemblies, playground equipment and copier and paper supplies.

Re: Holly Kunkle’s Oct 17 letter, “Santa Rosa plan a bad idea�

I appreciate her frustration. Her solution is valid as well. The supervisors are definitely the people to contact. However, the contact should be about improving highways 23 and 118. Santa Rosa Road is not the issue. The supervisors have allowed a road to become a freeway. It is a quick fix. It gets all of the commuters off their backs.

Uncontrolled urban sprawl with houses packed on top of each other with no forethought about how these people are going to get to work, to school or to shop is a problem they have refused to address. Where does all that tax revenue generated by the sprawl go? Where are the added lanes on 23? Where is the straightening of 118?

I thank the developer for not caving in to the anti-tobacco Nazis and allowing smoking in open common areas of the new mall in Simi. If smoking had been banned, I would never have gone there and would have encouraged my friends not to go.

A lot of my nonsmoking friends are put off by the loss of freedom in this country by people who just can’t seem to mind their own business; some folks simply can’t stand to see you puffing, even if it’s outdoors and they don’t have to breath any smoke. These are the new fascists —you will live the way we want or else. Thanks for allowing individuals to decide, not having the decision made for them by Cancer Society busybodies.

— William Russell, Camarillo

As a former mayor and council member, I am very aware of the financial challenges the city will be facing over the next two to four years. In the past, the city has been able to provide more service with fewer resources. The city will remain on this path for the next few years.

It is critical we elect candidates who have extensive financial experience. Ed Summers is one such candidate. He has a vast background in banking and finance, which makes him uniquely qualified to tackle the tough budget challenges the council will face in the future.

Summers has an impressive record of public service, so I am not surprised he is now running for City Council. I know Ed and I can tell you that he is running for all the right reasons.

I encourage you to vote for Summers on Nov. 8.

— Jim Friedman, Ventura

We have lived in Lynn Ranch since March 1998. We were shown our house by our real estate broker in January 1998. In response to our inquiry about future development of the open field with the hill directly across the street from us (west of Calle Pecos), we were told with absolute certainty it was owned by Rockwell Science Center and no development would ever occur. Subsequently, we discovered some of our neighbors had been told the same thing.

We never would have purchased our house without this assurance.

Re: your Oct. 17 article, “Republicans talk issues, eat barbecue�:

I read with some interest the article on the recent Republican barbecue at which they huddled together feeling they were under attack. Really?

Please explain to me the purpose of the first six propositions on the ballot in the upcoming special election. Explain to me the need to modify the state constitution to define abortion as “causing the death of an unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born�: Proposition 73. Explain to me why they want to place barriers on a pregnant teenager to obtain a legally and medically safe abortion. And they feel they’re under attack?

Re: Gerald Arcuri’s Oct. 17 letter, “Radical Islamists’ intent detailed�:

Unfortunately, logic has not been taught in the West since the time of Aristotle and Socrates.

Physics states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Logic suggests this is not only true in physics but also applies to political theory.

Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida were trained and supported by the CIA as resistance to the Soviet military invasion of Afghanistan. Logically, the CIA should have realized that such a movement would see no difference between Soviet forces in Afghanistan and American forces in Saudi Arabia. It was the presence of Americans in Saudi Arabia that was the direct cause of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Voters of California worked long and hard to pass Proposition 98, which guaranteed a minimum funding base for education in public schools. Now, our “terminator governor� wants to terminate that base, just as he “terminated� his promise to repay the $3 billion in money he borrowed from education last year. Please vote no on Proposition 76, or the children of California will see their dreams of a quality education terminated as well.

— Patricia McGovern, Ventura

Many people plan to vote for Proposition 75 because they think teachers and other public employees have no option to withdraw their dues from the political activities conducted by their professional associations.

Currently, any teacher joining the California Teachers Association can check a box on the membership form that will ensure no portion of their dues will ever be spent on political action. If they missed that check box when joining, they need only contact their local association to restrict their dues from that point forward. Teachers are aware of this, and about 10 percent of California’s teachers have opted-out.

Justine Fischer is a political activist/lobbyist for the State Parent Teacher Association. Fischer’s complaint about the special election being “expensive� begs these questions: How much did her television commercial cost? How many PTA conferences/lobbying trips has Fischer been on in 11 years, courtesy of student fundraisers? What was the cost of the color card stock mailers against Proposition 76 with the PTA message, “Dear Friend of Education�?

How about the whopping $50 million mortgage the California Teachers’ Association just took out on its Burlingame headquarters to finance this campaign? Who is being tapped to pay for that? It’s our teachers who had an extra $60 taken out of their paychecks who bankroll this political fight, whether they back it or not.

Proposition 75 targets only public employees because public servants lead the charge to protect public safety, education and healthcare from the governor’s extreme proposals. Wealthy individuals and special interests like big drug, oil and tobacco, who are bankrolling the governor’s political agenda, are left untouched.

— Livia Wyant, Fillmore

The real story about Proposition 75 is in. Lewis Uhler, the measure’s lead sponsor, admits he was asked by one of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s top political aides to guide the initiative’s campaign to silence those who oppose the governor’s agenda.

Proposition 75 sponsors don’t really care about union members’ rights. I feel the next step will be more harmful to our educational system.

— Marguerite Segovia, Santa Paula

Face it. Proposition 75 is just a giant piece of duct tape slapped across our mouths so that the governor’s anonymous corporate donors can protect their own political investments. And Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of their investments.

His attempt to give California’s good citizens the political pink slip and kick them out of the election process is an attack on your family’s future. If the Sacramento cyborg succeeds, you’ll have no say in what laws his East Coast bankers hold over your heads. That’s all Schwarzenegger wants: to prevent working families from having a fair say about who gets elected and to let his behind-the-scenes money men control the state’s agenda.

Re: your Oct. 14 article, “Building in Santa Paula is damaged in blaze�:

This article states that additional fire engines were called to the scene of the fire at the former Mupu Packing House “after the Ventura County Fire Department received several calls of smoke.�

Calls for fire service in Santa Paula are the responsibility of the Santa Paula Fire Department. Santa Paula has had a fire department for 102 years. I would hope that The Star might be aware of this fact. Our department is 22 years older than The Star and its predecessor newspapers.

The South Oxnard Revitalization Program has done such a great job in improving the looks of this part of our town.

However, there is a building on Saviers Road that was destroyed by fire several months ago, and it is still there. When does anyone plan to do something about this mess? It is really an eyesore.

I talked to members of the South Oxnard Revitalization Program, and they say it is now the responsibility of code enforcement. However, code enforcement is after cars left idling on the streets. Don’t they think this is just as important?

— Joyce Dickson, Oxnard

Without addressing the arguments in favor of or against Proposition 73 — Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy — I would like to point out a problem with the text of the proposed law.

Section 32 (4) reads, “parent or guardian,� and it means either parent if both parents have legal custody, or the parent or person having legal custody or the legal guardian of a minor.

Elsewhere in the proposed law there are 21 references to the singular word “parent.� There are only three plural references, and these all refer to “after the fact� matters.

Without fanfare last month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered an outrageous action that flew in the face of the flooding catastrophe in New Orleans. The governor replaced — fired — the entire California State Reclamation Board.

The Reclamation Board oversees flood control along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in conjunction with federal, state and local governments and had resisted levee-protected development.

Re: Alicia Reynolds’ Oct. 16 commentary, “Little girl’s idealism no match yet for life’s harsh realities�:

If I were a doctor, I would definitely prescribe a mood elevator for Ms. Reynolds. That woman’s perception of the world and its inhabitants is a chronic downer. In the old days she could have made a fortune as a star crepe hanger. I am not advocating that she “look on the brighter side of life,� I am begging The Star to end her days of taking up space with her simple-minded blather of hopelessness and despair of the human condition.

I am writing to express my strong support for Mary Haffner as a candidate for the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education.

As a member of the Ventura Educational Partnership, I sit on several committees with Mary, including two that focus on nutrition and the arts. I have seen her in action, and I know that she is both passionate and effective in her support of public education.

While I hope that folks will have time to attend one of the upcoming candidate forums over the next few weeks, I know that it is not always possible given our busy lives. If you can’t meet the candidates in person, please do talk with your friends and neighbors. They may know the various candidates and can speak firsthand as to their involvement within the schools.

Re: John K. Carter’s Oct. 12 letter, “Foundation of lies�:

Mr. Carter states in his letter about the United Nations: “The U.N. instruments are based on the false premises that government is the source of our rights and may, therefore, determine what these rights are. The U.S. Constitution asserts that our rights come from God and cannot be modified by government.�

Gee, I thought just the opposite.

Re: your Oct. 15 article, “3 more birds with West Nile virus found�:

As more and more instances of West Nile virus are identified in Ventura County, the importance of mosquito control increases. (I see that my property tax bill includes an assessment for this.)
I live adjacent to the flood control channel that runs along Ponderosa Avenue in Camarillo. Every year at this time, the channel becomes choked with weeds, creating areas of stagnant water. It is likely that these are breeding areas for mosquitos.

Re: Michael Josephson’s Oct. 12 commentary, “Taking off moral blinders�:

Regarding this commentary about radar detectors being bad: The problem is the speed limits are set too low, which makes honest people break a law.

The fact that when you are on the freeway and see many people going over the limit safely is why the fast-lane speed should be set at 85 mph. There are many of us who want to drive that fast and should be able to.

It was with great dismay that I read the following quote from Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett: “If you’re going to come here and create 1,000 jobs, you need to create the affordable housing for these people. It’s just common sense.�

My first reaction was that he must be joking.

After all, in the same newspaper, I read of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that a single new business in Oxnard will be contributing to the local government through taxes.

Finally, the ultimate wisdom of Mr. Bennett struck me.

We should all support immigrants. Why don’t they have the privilege to vote or to get their driver’s licenses? They’re humans, just like us.

Therefore, I don’t see what’s wrong for them to have their licenses. Almost all of them work in the fields, restaurants, construction, etc. They should be rewarded for their hard work, not punished. Yes, they’re being punished — in the fact that they are prohibited from obtaining their license.

— Monseraht Lua, Oxnard

Voting next month is really going to be easy for everybody because everything should get a yes vote!

Propositions 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 on the Nov. 8 ballot will finally give the vote back to us taxpayers.

We all know that those knuckleheads in Sacramento spend very foolishly year after year. They are really going to be surprised to find that the unexpected $1.2 billion they found this week isn’t going to be spent on frou-frou this time. My vote will see to that.

— Ray Holm, Thousand Oaks

The “president� recently had a “conversation� with some of our servicemen deployed in Iraq. Problem is, like everything else surrounding this “president� and his “administration,� it was fake, phony and devoid of substance.

The administration policy in Iraq is now so empty that the president has to resort to writing a script for himself and his “conversant.� GIs, who are not allowed to express their own sentiment, are required to read from the prepared script. God help the GI who departs from that script.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Oct. 10 essay, “Nightmare at the border� and Susan Gulbrandsen’s Oct. 14 letter, “Immigration laws complex�:

I had just sat down to respond to Terry Paulson’s distasteful essay when Susan Gulbrandsen’s equally invidious response slapped me in the face. One was mildly offensive, the second downright repulsive.

Is it naiveté or just plain hypocrisy? Maybe it is simply a matter of mass hysteria brought about by Sept. 11 and the consequent need to conveniently lump all brown people together as criminal, terrorist “aliens.�

Although I don’t live in Simi Valley, I work there. I often have evening meetings in Simi, and I was really looking forward to visiting the new mall between work and meetings to enjoy a meal in the common area and do some shopping, especially as Christmas approaches.

If smoking is going to be allowed, I’ll just have to spend my money where I live instead of where I work.

— Allison Barton, Camarillo

Re: Frank Hansen’s Oct. 13 letter, “Take a good look at Wal-Mart�:

The way things stand now, Wal-Mart can walk in and take over the Kmart store on Victoria Avenue in Ventura regardless of the impact to the city and its residents.

The Coastal Commission and the city of San Francisco have taken steps to insure a “proper� redevelopment review of large-scale projects for their impact and how they might increase original use.

Why is there such concern that Iraq has diversity of views and religion? Why do we expect that country to be a homogeneous group of people? Why not create a constitution that is modeled after what our forefathers created for us?

I suggest the “United States of Iraq.� The diverse groups are largely co-located in specific, localized regions already. Create a federal government that is minimalist and serves for those necessary governances that are nearly universal for all Iraqis (see Bill of Rights), and leave the rest to the “states.� I believe we have all embraced the concept of “states rights� to varying degrees here in the United States.

I’ve been thinking about buying a new car. I live in Ojai and make the commute to Point Mugu each day for work. That requires I drive the city streets of Ojai and share Rice Road in Oxnard with all those large semitrucks going to and from the harbor. And that’s where my dilemma lies.

Do I buy a small economy car and hopefully navigate around the numerous potholes and ruts in the road or a big SUV and drive over them? Should I happen to fall into one of those bottomless potholes while driving the economy car, I believe the money I’d be saving on gas will get spent at my local dental office repairing the teeth jarred loose, plus the cost of constantly getting front wheel alignments. One of the new-car selling ideas might be to have a mouth protector come as standard equipment with each small car purchase.

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Oct. 8 commentary, “Who’s looking out for the Christians in this country?�:

If Harriet Miers had a judicial record to review, perhaps her church affiliation wouldn’t have come up, but she doesn’t. Her religious beliefs may be all anyone has to go on, and they can be important.

Re: your Oct. 8 article, “Rent increase angers retirement village residents�:

The increases which the new owners are perpetrating upon the elderly residents of Castlehill Retirement Village in Thousand Oaks may be legally acceptable, but any thinking person soon realizes that the increases are morally reprehensible.

How can the new owners even remotely believe that a 45 to 65 percent increase be appropriate?
The residents of Castlehill should be congratulated in standing up to the new owners. No one should have to take a huge rent increase like that imposed upon them.

Re: your Oct. 7 article, “Moorpark College smokers must do their thing in the parking lots�:

Why are the citizens of Simi Valley, where a new mall is allowing smoking, not being given at least the same kind of courtesy? In case anyone is not aware, cigarette smoke kills, and secondhand smoke is also as bad. There are many people like myself in Simi Valley who have allergies to smoke that can trigger asthma attacks.

With the expected congregation of young people at the new Simi Valley Mall, will the stores be providing oxygen and medical help as needed?

Re: Wendy Dager’s Oct. 13 commentary, “Feeding the frenzies that bring about anxiety�:

Once again Wendy Dager takes another stab at the television media for something she doesn’t research, which most good journalists do, but instead just shoots from the lip without knowing the facts.

The intense coverage of high-speed chases, wildfires, and other breaking news stories are aired at the request of the TV audience. During news events like these, ratings double and triple. It sounds to me like we’re giving people what they want, otherwise these stations would be losing money.

Re: Tim Heyne’s Oct. 13 letter, “Why gun laws are needed�:

This letter called for discussion on “sensible� gun control measures. The problem is there are virtually no sensible gun control measures.

Gun control typically is associated with increasing crime and violence. A key example is Great Britain, where they have progressively increased gun control, yet their crime and violence has also increased to the point where their rates of crime and violence lead the First World countries.

If it is not proper to express concern about the impact of Harriet Miers’ Christian fundamentalist views upon her ability to function as a justice of the Supreme Court, why is it acceptable to cite those same views as an argument in support of her nomination?

Presidential adviser Karl Rove’s insider assurance to Dr. James Dobson of Miers’ fundamentalist credentials — presumably to indicate that her religious convictions will influence her judicial practice — is one more example of the importance of the separation of church and state to the continued health of American democracy.

— Phillip Gold, Westlake Village

President Bush claims to be firmly against abortion, but his principles on the issue do not seem to apply to the countless pregnant Iraqi women and their fetuses who have been slaughtered in the Iraq war and the subsequent insurgency. He would probably call it “collateral abortion,� but obviously, at least to our president, some fetuses are more sacred than others.

— John Blumenthal, Westlake Village

I want to urge all residents of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park to pay attention to the agenda of Andy Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin. They are pushing a plan for a $450,000 park at the Olympia Farms/Two Winds Ranch site that is not desired by Dos Vientos homeowners who live across the street, nor the equestrians who ride on a trail system in that area, nor hikers and residents who come in the evenings to enjoy the quiet of this open space.

Only a secret agenda conceived with developers could prompt this plan. Only a planned housing development could benefit if electricity, sewage systems and large paved parking lots are brought to this area.

On Oct. 12, I had the fortune to view the Oxnard Elementary School District Board of Trustees meeting, particularly the discussion on emergency and evacuation plans. The speaker said, in effect, that in light of Hurricane Katrina-type devastations, many parents are asking if our children are safe while in school. 

Much like in healthcare, the way to ensure that the children are safe is by preventative measures, such as addressing those issues that can cause emergency events.

On Oct. 12 at California State University, Channel Islands, folks packed a hall to hear the Rev. Greg Boyle speak about his decades of work to alleviate the gang syndrome.

This scholar and living legend has transformed the Los Angeles gangs in the face of near intolerable odds: the lack of meaningful work, poverty, racism and profiling by police. All this creates self-hatred — at the core of the gang mentality.

Re: your Oct. 6 article, “Democrats ask Wagner to bow out�:

That article and pursuant letters to the editor seem to have left a misconception about the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee. I would like to set the record straight.

The California Democratic Party is an umbrella organization for more than a dozen Democratic committees and clubs in the county. The Central Committee, which charters Democratic clubs in Ventura County, has no legal connection whatsoever with the four local Democratic Assembly District committees — districts 35, 37, 38 and 41.

Re: Delton Lee Johnson’s Oct. 13 letter, “Quality development needed�:

Mr. Johnson does not seem to care for low-income housing. However, I am certain that the Hurricane Katrina victims who received benefit from the $10,000 collected for them from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church have a far different view of the low-income residents from our community. 

— Robert Borrego, Santa Paula

Re: your Oct. 6 Wheels article, “Safety tips all older drivers should know�:

I commute each day on Highway 101, which is mostly three lanes but includes, in several places, a fourth lane for slow-moving trucks. I have no problem with the content of the article, but I think it should apply to all ages.

While traveling to work, I don’t see many “older drivers� applying makeup and talking on the phone while traveling 60 miles an hour.

I write once again to alert my neighbors to a critical decision that the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission is about to make in regards to Mount Clef Ridge on Oct. 24. Mount Clef Ridge borders Wildwood Regional Park, one of our community’s shining icons. 

The project asks that the city grant special use permits in regards to grading. It also calls for encroachment into a critical wildlife movement corridor. Our city’s general plan calls for protecting wildlife movement corridors. Should we sacrifice our city’s standards? 

I am drawing a line in the volcanic soil of Mount Clef and am saying no. 

I came through college in the late ’60s. If there’s one thing I learned, it is that you must speak up to your elected representatives.

Santa Rosa residents will vote on a plan that will potentially double the commute of people who travel on Santa Rosa Road. The ill-conceived plan would add four stoplights and bring about the synchronization of all six stoplights at 45 mph. The constriction of traffic will send commuters onto the already dangerous Highway 118 and the congested Highway 23.

In the Oct. 13 Wall Street Journal On-Line Opinion Journal, the lead article’s title is “Zawahiri’s Lament.� The article makes clear that the liberal contention that there is no connection between the war in Iraq and the war on terror is completely hollow. As proof, the article cites the recently declassified letter from Ayman al Zawahiri, al-Qaida’s No. 2 man in Afghanistan, to Abu Masab al Zarqawi, al-Qaida’s No. 1 man in Iraq. The intent of radical Islamists is spelled out in black-and-white for anyone who is willing to read it. A hyperlink to the text of the letter in English on the Web site of the director of national intelligence (http://www.dni.gov/letter_in_english.pdf ) is included in the article.

Thank you, Moorpark City Council, for your diligence, very careful review and strong decision to place the North Park Village plan on the ballot so we voters can make the final decision.

The North Park Village plan has been in the environmental and public review processes for years. Through input from residents, the Planning Commission and City Council, the plan is improved from what we first saw in 2001.

Re: your Oct. 6 article, "Democrats ask Wagner to bow out":

Let me get this straight. Last year, 96,397 Democrats cast their votes for Brett Wagner. But when five local Democrats ask Wagner not to run for Congress next year, it makes section front news in the Star.

This kind of reporting can really tarnish a newspaper’s reputation. My advice to Democrat Tom Parker is: If you have a better candidate than Brett Wagner, run him or her in the primary.

My advice to The Star is: less local gossip and more reporting about what our current congressman, "Elton Giveaway," is doing in Washington.

— John L. Johnson, Ventura

It’s the education, stupid.

Unconscious and subconscious racism continues throughout our schools all over the country. The problem isn’t just along the Gulf Coast.

Forget testing, start teaching. Education equals excellence.

Re: your Oct. 12 article, "Winter heating costs to soar":

Strange how our natural gas in California comes from such places as Canada, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, yet Hurricanes Katrina and Rita down south are driving natural gas prices up in our state. Well, hold on to the seat of your britches because you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Just wait until liquefied natural gas hits California.

— Eugene D Hubbard, Oxnard

Re: your Oct. 10 article, "Campaigning councilman says he is not a politician":

Ventura City Councilman Neal Andrews says, "The future of this city rests on re-establishing our economic vitality."

Hey, when did we lose it? Everywhere you look there are new shops, full parking lots, overfed citizens and traffic jams. Andrews, a self-proclaimed budget watchdog, says we need more city personnel, more revenue, more businesses. He should know that every study of municipal growth has shown that more growth results in a higher burden on each taxpayer.

State lottery officials have been scamming California for too long.

The first thing they did to get this passed was to use our children as pawns by telling the voters that one-third of the money was going to schools. Who knew that when this was passed, it would mean the money would replace what the state was already supplying?

Let us take just one game day of the week. The lottery can collect several million dollars from hard-working Californians in cold hard cash. And if there is a winner, it will pay out in payments over 20 years or cash out the winner with only half of the total winnings.

Re: your Oct. 13 article, "Crowd celebrates Ormond Beach land purchase":

I attended the celebration event of the Ormond Beach wetlands restoration project Wednesday. I was thrilled to learn that there are now 276 acres of coastal wetlands, dunes and agricultural lands preserved forever for the public trust. Thanks to all who contributed their money and tireless efforts to make this dream a reality that my children’s children’s children will be able to enjoy.

An Ohio congressman is on record as saying, "The president has made the United States into ’one of the worst despotisms on earth,’ and [this war] is an ’utter, disastrous, and most bloody failure.’"

If the words sound familiar, they’re taken from David Herbert Donald’s biography, "Lincoln." The congressman, Clement L. Vallandigham, was talking about the Civil War, the one about which The New York Times had predicted victory in 90 days. Abraham Lincoln soldiered on.

There is nothing like a catastrophe — or a near one — to shine a hard light on urban planning shortsightedness.

By the afternoon of the first day of the Topanga fire, there was a line of cars stretching halfway up Black Canyon Road because the fire authorities — out of necessity — closed the 118 freeway in both directions, the Santa Susana Pass Road and Box Canyon Road. This forced traffic onto Black Canyon Road, where it came to a stop because a train blocked the crossing at Katherine Drive. The train was blocked because it could not enter the Chatsworth tunnel because of the fire on both sides of the tunnel.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Oct. 10 essay, "Nightmare at the border":

I believe the essay articulated many good points but glossed over important considerations.

For starters, noting Americans won’t stand for deportations of the millions of illegal aliens, "most of whom are positively contributing to our society," needs a reality check. Yes, there are contributions, but there are enormous costs, monetarily and in the form of social problems. We are creating a growing underclass; far too many of this underclass represent offspring of the 1986 amnesty recipients.

Last year, members of the Santa Paula community came together to develop a vision for our city. This Santa Paula City Vision Plan has many recommendations on programs and initiatives that can help Santa Paula achieve its vision as a beautiful, safe and economically thriving community that maintains its small town atmosphere and retains agriculture as an important part of its community and economy.

One of these programs is to support and enhance the city’s Santa Paula Beautiful initiative. Now in its third year, Santa Paula Beautiful strives to involve all Santa Paulans in maintaining the beauty of our jewel of Ventura County. The city sponsors two volunteer community cleanup and planting days in the fall and spring of each year. The next community work day is Oct. 22. In addition to opportunities for individuals and community groups to participate in general cleanup and planting activities, this year the city is also focusing on its volunteer community cleanup program. This program matches residents who are unable to regularly maintain their properties with community volunteers who will come to homes to perform yard work or minor home improvement projects. This aspect of the Santa Paula Beautiful program is perhaps the most exciting in that it allows neighbors to help neighbors keep our city attractive for residents and visitors alike.

We encourage everyone to participate in this important community event as we move forward to implement our vision for Santa Paula. If you or your local group would like to assist in any of these projects, please contact the city’s Public Works Department at 933-4212. Together, we can assure a future for Santa Paula that is truly beautiful.

— Robert Borrego, Anna Marie Manzano, Zahid Shah and Carmita Wood, Vision Implementation Committee, Santa Paula

Wal-Mart’s plan to take over the Ventura Kmart site on Victoria Avenue has been in the news again. Many people have spoken out against this plan, claiming Wal-Mart is "bad" for the economy. Is this the same Wal-Mart that had its fleet of trucks heading to New Orleans with $3 million worth of goods before the winds and rain were over, that provided more than $17 million to hurricane relief efforts and that provided $9.2 million in cash assistance to hurricane impacted employees.

Why aren’t these people rallying against Target, Kmart, Sears, Lowe’s, McDonalds or any other minimum-wage retailer.

The local "Stop Ventura Wal-Mart" coalition doesn’t want Victoria Avenue to become "Big Box Canyon." Seems a little late. Did this coalition have a problem with Ralphs abandoning a perfectly good building for a new one down the road? Did it have an issue with Vons tearing down and rebuilding a bigger market at Telegraph Road and Victoria? Did this coalition have any problems with the ugly, tall strip mall at Telephone Road and Victoria?

The coalition says: "Ventura is a place that values its quality of life and its long-standing businesses, and one whose city leaders would, under normal circumstances, say no to the retail giant." Are these the same city leaders that said yes to Lowe’s and to 24 Hour Fitness? Both are ’big box’ retailers.

Has the coalition asked local retailers if they would rather be in a center with a new Wal-Mart or a dilapidated Kmart? Wal-Mart would be replacing an existing big box retailer. Also I imagine Wal-Mart would have more employees than the existing "hanging by a thread" Kmart.

To exclude one retailer from our city makes us look elitist and arrogant.

— Frank Hansen, Ventura

The city of Santa Paula is about to make a major land-use decision regarding Fagan Canyon that will impact those who live here for many generations. Are the citizens of Santa Paula willing to become the perpetual provider of high-density, low-income housing for the county?

Are we willing to accept massive additional traffic dumped onto existing streets that were never planned for it? Or will we have the courage to demand higher-quality units, a housing mix having a semblance of balance with other cities, reasonable limitations on increased traffic, some degree of consistency with past planning, and a far better future for our children? The decision is ours.

I once heard Oxnard’s director of planning say that residential development seldom pays enough in taxes to offset increased demand for services. The services that he had in mind include elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, health services, child care, mental health, jail operation, police, fire, building maintenance, library, parks, street sweeping, street repair, recreation, social services, senior services, planning, public works, animal regulation, water, sewer, trash, attorney expenses, administration, and many, many more. He also said that high-density residential never pays. Oxnard’s planning director was highly respected and he had it right.

Tourism, along with high-quality commercial and industrial development can bring benefits. High-quality residential can also benefit a city because it generates higher tax income and, more importantly, far lower demand for services per unit. Quality residential brings residents with real money to spend in local shops.

We are about to make a major decision with consequences that go on forever. We are being bamboozled by propaganda from the developer and his supporters. But the decision is ours. Will we have the courage?

— Delton Lee Johnson, Santa Paula

Re: your Oct. 8 article, "On track for improvements":

On the front page of The Star there’s an article on how the Regional Railroad Authority plans to increase Amtrak safety by preventing suicide-prone people from getting near the tracks. A homeless young man is interviewed to tell us why hopeless people intentionally want to get hit by a train.

So we have people in our own community who are so heartbroken and depressed that they want to die on the railroad tracks. Could we offer them some help? Maybe food, clothes, help getting a job or a safe place to live (other than the park or a river bottom)? Maybe some psychiatric help? Maybe assistance from a church?

Naw, just spend $250,000 for a consultant study on "how to keep people away from the tracks." Also, put up more warning signs.

— Tom Novinson, Ventura

Re: your Oct. 8 article, "Calabasas firm takes over park project":

I must point out that contrary to popular belief, the North Park Village and Nature Preserve will only serve those that can afford 1 million dollar houses, hardly an amount a person working in business development's "labor pool" can afford. This housing project will be unaffordable for the average person currently living or working in Moorpark.

Also in the article, Michael Slater of CB Richard Ellis referenced that Moorpark is "somewhat out in Timbuktu." If Mr. Slater extended his business interests to Moorpark he would find that we are not a town at the edge of a desert, but a wonderful small town hoping to stay that way, without the North Park Village and Nature Preserve.

— Thomas C. Duck, Moorpark

The nursery industry is rapidly becoming the largest agricultural industry in Ventura County and already ranks second in the California farm economy. More important, this industry is growing. Contributing billions of dollars to the economy of the county and state requires a steady supply of potential employees who are educated and ready to make a career in our industry.

When we look at the higher education system in California, we see a great opportunity to attract students into the field of horticulture. The decision to eliminate funding for the program at Ventura College does not recognize the need for qualified employees in this field.

Over the last several years, we have faced increased competition for new employees and even today are searching to fill several career positions in our Fillmore nursery and are going well beyond Ventura County to attract applicants. We are a company that hires locally. We contribute to the local community, the local economy and the local culture. Today, we find ourselves recruiting from colleges outside the county and even more challenging, from outside the state.

In the past, we have offered both financial assistance and professional expertise to help keep horticulture program running and our commitment remains. College officials should reconsider all of the options available to retain and promote the horticulture program at Ventura Community College.

— Robert L. Crudup Jr., Newbury Park

(The writer is president of Valley Crest Tree Co., of Calabasas, which has a nursery in Fillmore. — Editor)

Re: Adrienne Nathanson’s Aug. 19 letter, “‘Emeritus’ an honor, not an ouster�:

I hope Ms. Nathanson will share with us how honored she is when the Reagan Library ousts her! Since they deny age discrimination, who knows what will prompt the next round of “emertius exit honors?� I wonder how well young docents can perform their duties when they have to look over their shoulder wondering when the ax will fall?

— Nancy Dee, Former docent coordinator, Oakdale

Re: Larry Janss’ Oct. 11 letter, “Drugs vs. guns�:

It appears that Mr. Janss can’t differentiate between a sporting goods store and the legal term “specific intent.�

I agree with the right of a person to terminate his or her life when living becomes unbearable, but to try to draw a line from ammunition sold in a gun shop to administering a lethal injection is silly. The argument, or logic, is not even adult. Specific intent to deprive a human of his or her life by injecting a lethal dose of a drug requires specificity to deprive that person of life.

— Dottie Biller, Moorpark

In the wake of the uproar over William Bennett’s remarks about abortion and crime, I cannot help but wonder: Where is the outrage by black leaders over the morally reprehensible lyrics of rappers who sing (?) about murder and rape, while calling each other the N-word? While I agree that Mr. Bennett’s words could be misunderstood as offensive by those who neglect the context, come on, folks! He was speaking against abortion as a means of lowering the crime rate. Meanwhile, rappers who celebrate violence, sexism and racism are called artists.

I am surprised that a Japanese auto company, Nissan, has the nerve to use the theme song from “The Bridge on the River Kwai� in its TV commericial. 

Thousands of American, British and Australian soldiers were forced into slave labor to build roads for the Japanese, which included the bridge over the Kwai River in Burma, now Thailand. Many were tortured and killed. This is a real slap in the face of these soldiers.

— Gary B. Kellogg, Newbury Park

Several weeks ago, I heard that the company which manages our new, long-awaited mall was going to allow smoking on-site. I e-mailed the manager requesting that this policy be reviewed, and hopefully changed. The response to my request was that they had researched this very carefully and they set their policy to please the majority of people.

The majority of people in Simi Valley do not smoke! The majority of people in the whole state of California do not smoke! What are they thinking?

Re: your Oct. 7 article, “T.O. widower says gunman killed ‘most peaceful person’� and Chris Biller’s Oct. 11 letter, “Laws can’t stop evil�:

I expected to generate discussion through the Oct. 7 article on my stance supporting sensible and stricter gun control measures. Discussion of any pertinent and vital issue is good. What I didn’t expect was to be patronized and dismissed like some poor uninformed grief-stricken puppy, as suggested in Chris Biller’s letter.

Re: the photo caption in some editions accompanying the Oct. 12 article, “Fewer deputies spread thinner�:

This article is informative and well-written, except for the caption of the deputy on the phone. Did The Star have to mention the high school he was calling? Why couldn’t he be calling a local school to check on the student? Why did The Star have to name the school in a negative way?

Re: your Oct. 5 article, “Reward offered for deputy referrals�:

At first glance, this seems like a good idea to help acquire personnel in a department that has need for help. But why $1,000? Why not $500? With a department in such need of monetary necessities every year, why? Who decided this was an appropriate amount? Where is the money allocated from, and how is this going to impact next year’s budget?

Re: Joe Howry’s Oct. 9 essay, “Falling for gotcha politics�:

Right on! It is certainly refreshing to see someone in the media get it right. Whether or not Bill Bennett should have said what he said, at least the media should have given the entire picture to its readers/listeners.

But to have someone actually admit that things were not done right — that is wonderful!
Kudos from an avid reader of The Star. Hats off to honesty. Hurray for The Star’s courage to be right!

— Tom Mew, Ventura

Re: Joe Howry’s Oct. 9 essay, “Falling for gotcha politics”:

A number of neoconservatives must have jumped all over poor Mr. Howry since The Star printed the ill-advised comments by the problematic Bill Bennett.

We all agree Mr. Bennett was not advocating the abortion of all black babies, since he is against abortion. But what Bill Bennett did say was that, if the “morally reprehensible” advocates of right-to-choose were to target all black babies, there would be a drop in the crime rate (the latter, a good thing). And because that fine distinction was not made, Mr. Howry is blubbering all over himself while Mr. Bennett refuses to apologize.

Re: Joe Howry’s Oct. 9 essay, “Falling for gotcha politics”:

Hooray! Just when I was beginning to lose all respect for the media, along comes a very honest acknowledgement from an editor that renews my hope that there is still some semblance of objectivity in our print journalism, at least. It is rare to find such an acknowledgement of overhype by a journalist.

The Bill Bennett uproar created by the Web group, Media Matters for America, will certainly not be retracted or corrected, but Mr. Howry’s essay goes a long way towards giving us hope that we can look for, and find, objectivity in The Star, at least.

Re: Grace Nishihara’s Oct. 7 letter, “We’re all prejudiced”:

I don’t want to get into a discussion regarding William Bennett’s comments. But, the terminology used in describing “people of color” has a lot to do with the era in which they were raised.

I am a child of the ‘70s. At that time, the proper term was “black.” I believe this was true from the late ‘60s to the mid-’80s. Remember “black power?”

My parents were children of the ‘40s and ‘50s, and they used the term “Negroes” and still do. Prior to that time, we all know what “N”-word was used.

As a non-union member, I would like to know why I am being asked to vote on something only union members should be voting on.

If public employee union members do not wish to send their monies, then they should be voting on this — not people who have no conection to the group.

— Mike Yates, Ventura

Re: your Oct. 6 article, “Sea otter relocation program may end”:

I find the quote by Steve Shimek, executive director of the Otter Project, absolutely appalling. He places the value of sea otters over “sushi topping.”

Behind that “sushi topping” is a commercial fishing community that works extremely hard in often very difficult conditions to support their families. They contribute to the history and culture of our community. They provide jobs, from deckhands to processors, wholesalers and distributors. They bring in revenue to our cities and state. Tourists enjoy the harbor that much more when they are unloading their catch, and they provide fresh seafood to our community and worldwide — all this with constant uphill battles against increasing regulations placed on their industry.

When the president of a country that is at war with religious fundamentalists proclaims that he is “driven by a mission from God,” it is like the zealot calling the fanatic “mad.” Cut from the same cloth, they are indistinguishable from the other.

As the imams are commanded by their prophet to destroy all infidels, our own leader has been told by God to attack Iraq and Afghanistan, bring peace to the Middle East and secure a state for the Palestinians. 

Really?

Re: your Oct. 7 editorial, “Giving a boost to Iraq mission”:

This editorial encouragingly quotes the president telling us, “In Iraq, there is no peace without victory. We will keep our nerve and we will win that victory.”

Pardon me, but what is the definition of victory? How will we recognize and measure progress toward this victory?

I am not sure why The Star sees this latest spin as a commitment.

— Frank Ward, Oxnard

I support the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. Its political action committee, however, lost me with its recent advertisements in The Star that prominently mention “the day that changed everything.”

Explanations are moot at this point. We burned those bridges a long time ago. Logic and talking points are already familiar to those polarized on this and other issues. Suffice it to say that fear-mongering doesn’t make me run for comfort to the authority figures. It just makes me angry at the fear-mongers.

— Darryl Pearce, Camarillo

I hope the residents of our community had the opportunity to see with their own eyes the fire command center during the Topanga Fire.

We live very close, and the activity was amazing. The amount of equipment and people was amazing. They love their jobs — you can tell because they were all smiling, as tired as they were.

If you didn’t see this for yourself, they were on the soccer fields, surrounding the school district offices. They were on Janss Road, in the library and recreation center parking lots.