While driving past Camarillo Heights Elementary School earlier this month, I had to make a sudden stop to avoid a young boy who was chasing a loose basketball. I leaned out the window and asked him why he and his friends didn't play in the adjacent schoolyard, where it would be safe, rather than in the street. “The schoolyard is locked up, mister,� was his reply.

I wrote to the Port Hueneme City Council to protest the slashing of senior citizen exercise classes by 50 percent, from four classes a week to just two. I wrote personal letters to each of the five council members, but not one had the courtesy to respond.

The director of the department that provides the classes did write to tell me that financial shortages required an 8 percent reduction in the city budget. When I wrote back to her — sending copies to all five City Council members — asking why an 8 percent reduction overall required a 50 percent reduction in senior exercise classes, I received no explanation. This time, no response was received from either the department director or any of the council members.

Surprises never cease with our great President Bush. In his State of the Union address, he stated the same mistakes we have heard over and over, especially the Iraq war. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, as well as Republicans, don’t agree with sending more troops to Iraq.

I saw on CNN News that some of our soldiers coming home from the war are totally disabled, are homeless, can’t work due to severe permanent injuries and are tired of fighting Veterans Affairs for compensation.

Reporter Bob Woodruff, who suffered traumatic brain injury in an explosion in Iraq, had a TV special on his remarkable recovery and on returning injured vets. He also made an astounding revelation: Casualty figures in Iraq are said to be 3,200 dead and 21,000 wounded, with Afghanistan’s far lower.

Woodruff obtained a confidential Defense Department report showing Veterans Affairs has actually treated 205,097 since fiscal year 2002, 976 percent higher than the official figure.

Re: your Feb. 28 article, “Universal health measure revived�:

Sen. Sheila Kuehl's “healthcare� plan is wrong for California.

Before you support her plan to provide care like Canada's or Great Britain's, here are some things to consider:

The Simi Valley City Council should take a look at Toronto, Canada.

I was at a convention several years ago and found street vendors parked on many streets. Each is assigned a specific place in which they can work. Trash containers are in place. I saw no litter. They are regulated by the city, and at lunch, many people come out of the offices to purchase hot dogs or sausages. There are no traffic problems. If the system works in Canada, it could certainly work here.

— Jack Brewer, Simi Valley

A few weeks ago, I saw a man sitting in the median of the Wal-Mart driveway in Simi Valley holding up a sign asking for help.

I just happened to stop right next to him. I was about to get out my wallet and give him a few dollars, but then I noticed he had something in his shirt pocket and had earphones in his ears. He was listening to an iPod. At one time, at least, the beggars in the streets looked like beggars.

How surprising that the Ventura Chamber of Commerce thinks that Victoria Avenue needs more, not less. Has the Ventura chamber ever sought anything other than immediate profit?

I have a suggestion for Victoria. Sell it to Oxnard or Camarillo - the highest bidder, of course - since it most resembles these two cities. You could also throw in the Ventura Auto Mall, with its gaudy towering balloons, pennants and inflatable Godzillas.

Re: Terry Paulson's Feb. 26 essay, “One-sided scientific truths�:

Thanks be to all gods who may be listening that, according to Terry Paulson, eminent climatologist, 90 percent of scientists worldwide are probably wrong. Global warming will be good for us! His reasoning: The plants will enjoy more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, people who live in cold climates won't be as cold, and we humans are so smart that we'll figure out a way to grow more food with less water anyway.

Re: your Feb. 26 article, “Polygamy prominent in Romney’s family tree�:

I found the article interesting, though not quite factual. The Mormon Church issued "The Manifesto" in 1890 that discouraged plural marriages. However, it did not outlaw them. The whole objective of was to gain statehood for Utah.

My great-great-grandfather was one of the original apostles of the Mormon Church. The 1848 migration to Utah could not accommodate all members. Groups were formed to migrate over a period of several years.

The Oscar spectacle was a sorry sight morally.

In the 1939 “Gone With The Wind� movie, Rhett Butler made the famous statement, “Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.� This particular statement caused an uproar, especially in the Catholic Church, which listed “Gone With The Wind� as a prohibited movie.

Now, “The Departed� receives the Oscar for the best motion picture.

Re: Bill Fulton's Feb. 25 Pulse page commentary, “City ahead of curve on Victoria Avenue�:

Although Fulton's story of the poor "timid and scared" lawyers he saw crossing Victoria Avenue brought tears to my eyes, I cannot support his other arguments. I would have shouted to the lawyers, "Cross at the crosswalk, fools."

Published reports have stated that Thousand Oaks Mayor Andy Fox, who is in charge of discipline within the Los Angeles Fire Department, has come under scrutiny for not formally investigating a firehouse prank that escalated into a discrimination case, which contributed to the resignation of Fire Chief William Bamattre. Since The Star endorsed Fox for re-election to the City Council, does it not have an obligation to further investigate these claims and report the facts to the citizens of Thousand Oaks?

— Carole Macdonald, Thousand Oaks

Re: your Feb. 23 Arts & Living section:

I was surprised to look at the movie reviews in Friday's paper and see no review of the film "Amazing Grace" that had opened on Friday. I was even more surprised that the paper didn't include it in the list of films not reviewed, nor did the paper even list it among films opening on Friday. This isn't exactly a big weekend for film openings, so I don't think the paper couldn't spare the space. I couldn't find any review on the Web site either.

Re: your Feb. 25 Pulse page, “Victoria's Ventura Avenue Corridor Plan�:

I've just read the Pulse page regarding the City Council's proposal to destroy Victoria Avenue. I'd heard, here and there, about this “plan,� but I have to admit I didn't think it was something that was actually being considered.

That this so-called “plan� is even being considered blows my mind. How anyone who has driven on Victoria Avenue can even think that eliminating a lane or two is somehow a good idea is beyond me. The incompetence and irresponsibility of government never ceases to amaze me.

I am appealing to anyone in our community who cares about children. When budget cuts took away our school resource officers, our children were left to fend for themselves, parents were left in the dark, and school administrators and teachers have been trying to pick up the slack ever since.

What's with this slicing and dicing of Mitt Romney? I have seen him on Sunday morning news shows and read about him in the newspaper, and all I hear is the Mormon issue. One news show host spent 45 minutes one morning asking him the same question in various forms about his religion.

Not too long ago, the sign “God loves Osama� gained a spot on the TV screen and caught some people's attention, including mine. Knowing the kind of person Osama is, I thought it was absurd and a blasphemy. All I could think about is “God is good, and God is love.� On the other hand, Osama is nothing but evil and hate. I wondered: How is it possible for God to love an evil man?

But then again, I realized that my hatred for Osama made me fail to consider that God's love is for everyone, even for Osama, although he does not deserve it.
Whether we believe it or not, God's love is always there for all of us, but only those who want it get it.

So, the city’s plan for making Victoria Avenue more �walkable� is putting sidewalks between the street’s two outer lanes? The city planners must not be walkers themselves or they would realize that the result would be an opportunity for cars to attack pedestrians from both sides. Bad idea!

— Sandra Sanders, Ventura

Re: your Feb. 25 article, “Feisty Cheney fires long-distance shots from other side of world�:

Vice President Dick Cheney attacks the majority of Americans and the idea of peace. If it were up to the vice president, we would attack North Korea and Iran next, and soon.

I'll bet that all the Americans who are thinking “alternative fuels� are thinking “cheaper.� Guess what? Think “more expensive.�

Alternative fuels will be more expensive because they have to be manufactured. Plus, we will have to pay for the infrastructure to set this system up. Land devoted to biodiesel or ethanol production means that food costs are also going to increase. Don't be surprised if 90 percent of America's land use is converted to fuel production. The result will be lettuce selling for $7 a head, tomatoes selling for $10 a pound, and potatoes going for $12 a pound. Get the picture?

As someone who has had children in this district and who has followed the district since they graduated, I am writing to urge Pleasant Valley School District to keep the alternative schools intact as they move to consolidate schools. Alternative schools offer choice, and that makes PVSD stand out. With choice, you have satisfied parents, and this can lead to better student achievement.

As a veteran of the Vietnam War, coming back to turmoil and protests left me with a bitter feeling toward my fellow Americans of the era. We were called “baby killers,� “murderers� and quite a few other terms I would not like to mention. I was 19 and had served my country as I thought I should.

Let us not do the same thing to our troops in Iraq. They are serving their country, as I and many other Americans did in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. At 60 years old, I am still haunted by names I was called and the rocks and bottles that struck me.

When I was growing up in the late 1930s and early '40s, there was a broad political spectrum. At the far left were Communists and Socialists. In the mainstream were the liberals, Democrats and eastern Republicans. To the right of center were the benign Libertarians, the reactionary Republicans and segregationist Dixiecrats. The extreme right wing included the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party and other fascist organizations.

Re: your Feb. 25 article, “Feisty Cheney fires long-distance shots from other side of world�:

In a recent speech to the Australian Parliament, Vice President Dick Cheney thanked the Australians for their support in Iraq, while outside the chamber, hundreds of demonstrators shouted "Chain up Cheney" and similar sentiments. Polls indicate 70 percent of Australians oppose the war, and Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch supporter of it, was absent from the chamber for the speech. So, to whom was Cheney speaking?

Two elementary schools and one middle school are slated to be shut down. All exist in the central part of Camarillo between Las Posas and Lewis roads. Our Pleasant Valley School District board is mostly responsible for a lot of this happening.

Re: your Feb. 25 article, “Standing up to the car culture�:

We agree that regular physical exercise, combined with a balanced diet guided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines, is important for children and adults. Unfortunately, targeting high fructose corn syrup as a unique contributor to obesity is misleading.

No single food or ingredient is the sole cause of obesity, but rather too many calories and too little exercise is a primary cause. HFCS is not higher in calories than any other nutritive sweetener. Both sugar and HFCS contain 4 calories per gram.

It is time for a new civil rights movement that recognizes the unborn as persons and protects their right to life. As any ultrasound of a pregnant woman will reveal, the unborn are unique, living human beings. Should they not, like the rest of us Americans, be afforded the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Can we as a nation, truly say we support justice, equality, and civil rights for all if we ignore or fail to protect the unborn?

- Noel D'Angelo, Thousand Oaks

Re: your Feb. 18 Associated Press article, “Details shed a harsh light on convicted agents�:

This article was the first piece of news I have seen that attempts to justify this miscarriage of justice. If, as the article concludes, “the system worked,� then our country is in a sorry state.

Every week The Star receives a multitude of letters staunchly maintaining that no reputable scientist would question the theory of man-made global warming. Where have these people been?

The top climatologists of the United States, Canada and Great Britain have all stated it’s a hoax. Of course, these gentlemen are now in professional exile due to their political incorrectness. India's top climatologist may soon join them. He recently stated that the glaciers in the Himalayas are not diminishing at all, which is contrary to Al Gore's blubbering.

When I was young, we had our gangs - Masons, Elks, Optimists, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus - and many other “gangs,� “crews� or whatever some of the groups call themselves now. None of these organizations, to my knowledge, ever shot, stabbed or beat anyone belonging to another group because they existed or dared to come onto “their turf.� They all try to improve the communities where they have their organizations. Those who do not do so through purchase, grant, rent or any other legally recognized means still claim sovereignty over an area, and then they enforce this claim through physical force or use of weapons. These people are terrorists, not “gang� members.

Re: Richard Larsen’s Feb. 20 essay, “Give meaning to elections�:

It is interesting to me that Mr. Larsen states that abortion and defense of marriage are political “non-issues� and then goes on to spend the entire essay on why they are non-issues. It would seem that if these topics were as he explains — not relevant to the political process — it would be self-evident.

Let me get this straight. You don't need any insurance to open an eldercare facility, and nothing happens until someone dies. The Newbury Park home that was finally shut down is a prime example. Yet some overzealous inspector shuts Ventura’s Caffrodite down for outgrowing her permit that wasn't enforced for more than five years. The coffee shop never killed anyone, yet it will suffer more than the owners of the ill-fated eldercare home. Talk about priorities being out of whack.

— Dave McDonald, Oak Park

My husband and I downsized to a townhouse about seven years ago. We did this because we no longer needed the big house. The state of California rewards senior citizens who do this by allowing us to take our Proposition 13 tax rate with us.

We have been getting special-assessed by our development in order to pay for the constantly rising cost of earthquake insurance. This is not for our personal earthquake insurance, but for our association’s policy.

At the last City Council meeting for Santa Paula, Bob Borrego and Mike Miller both addressed the council members and soundly protested the proposed special election to bring Adams Canyon into Santa Paula's curbline, where it used to be several years ago. They both suggested that the $60,000 for a special election could better be spent in many other areas. They also suggested that the matter should be addressed in the November general election.

Firstly, a special election must be called by law when the proper number of signatures has been certified for a ballot measure.

Re: Janet Abernathy’s Feb. 19 letter, “Fiscal responsibility�:

In the midst of numerous impassioned letters supporting individual schools threatened with closure, Ms. Abernathy rightfully addresses the important issue of fiscal responsibility in the upcoming decisions about school closures.

I would like to offer some positive support to the parents of Los Senderos students. I am a parent of a student at a Ventura charter school that serves K-8 students and is open to all children in Ventura County on a lottery basis. The majority of the families in this school were formerly in a Ventura Unified School District open/alternative program subject to the policies and needs of the school district. We decided to apply and compete for startup grants to establish a charter school subject to state and federal law.

Re: Tyson Heinrich’s Feb. 22 letter, “Insurance is a choice�:

Mr. Heinrich's inane idea that because people are healthy now, they need no insurance, could lead to catastrophic consequences. Insurance makes sure you are covered for those things we can not possibly foresee — the car accident in which we break a leg, or worse, a communicable disease that was passed on through public contact and the cancer that came out of nowhere with no family history.

Are we crazy? We house thousands of criminals in one place, requiring guards and prison employees to watch over them to prevent more violence, and then we remove their cigarettes? This is one of the most arbitrary, mean-spirited things I have ever heard of!

Could it be that Ventura voters rejected the quarter percent sales tax to increase law enforcement because they realize, and the rising crime rate shows, that some of our law enforcement officers are too busy helping each other harass their neighbors to effectively utilize the resources they already have?

— Diane Powell, Ventura

Re: Vladimir Toumanoff's Feb. 18 commentary, “Ojai society passes its own Iraq resolution�:

While no doubt well-intentioned, the proposals in the Foreign Affairs Society of Ojai's resolution are entirely unworkable and border on fantasy.

I am surprised at the closed-mindedness of the parents at Los Senderos Open School. I am offended.

I am very happy with the education my children have received from our "neighborhood" school. Three of my children have been in the Gifted and Talented Education program, and two have been in the honors program at the junior high level and now at the high school level. Their math scores have been top-notch.

I wish the city would stop issuing building permits for these high population-density projects and spend more time and money solving the existing traffic problems. A fender-bender on Victoria Avenue one recent morning put this city into gridlock. It took nearly 40 minutes to travel from Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard to Highway 101 — a trip that takes less than eight minutes even if all signals are missed. The recent building of housing and condo projects has far outdistanced the city's ability to cope with the added traffic. If there is a master plan, I hope to see some improvement in the near feature.

— Sharyn Robinette, Oxnard

Re: Craig Christensen's Feb. 20 letter, “Gallegly embarrasses county�:

Mr. Christensen is the latest to admit to prematurely counting the days until Elton Gallegly retires from Congress. He and the others seem to have missed the story, which I'm sure was carried in The Star, saying Elton is keeping his options open. A quick check with the Federal Election Commission confirms that he remains a registered candidate.

Re: your Feb. 21 article, “Prisoners to stay put�:

I read about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to alleviate overcrowding in state prisons by moving some prisoners out of state being ruled unconstitutional. As a taxpayer, I strongly support the governor's measure to postpone the decision to build costly prisons by transferring those prisoners now. I understand the judge's decision, given the provision in the state constitution that prohibits using private companies for jobs usually performed by state workers. And I also understand the position of Correctional Peace Officers Association position that they want to protect their jobs.

Eight years ago, I came to Camarillo for a variety of reasons, but most important was the reputation of the Pleasant Valley School District. I believed then, as I do now, that PVSD would provide my son with the best possible education.

I enrolled my son in our neighborhood school. He did well, yet, I felt he was not reaching his full potential. After two years, the neighborhood school was closed. My son transferred to another school and did well. However, I again felt he was not achieving his level of capability.

Before going to war, our government leaders have numerous debates between supporters and dissenters. Consequences are considered before a final decision is made. Once the talking is over and troops are committed, it is the duty and responsibility of every citizen to support the mission and the troops. You cannot have one without the other.

We need to praise our excellent military leaders and their troops. These outstanding people have conducted themselves in an intelligent and heroic manner. They have kept our casualties in the Middle East to a minimum. There were times in my service years when we lost more lives in one day than have been lost in this entire conflict.

As an employer, I support the current campaign for universal health insurance. My company is one of the very few private security firms providing health insurance for every employee, at no cost to the employee.

Re: Paul Campos' Jan. 31 commentary, “Dispelling healthcare myths to help reform U.S. system�:

This is what many of us have been saying for years but have been unable to express in a commentary such as this.

Campos could also have said that we spend twice as much as any other country per capita for healthcare and rank 48th in life expectancy from birth. We probably take far more prescription drugs than any other country, but I was unable to find statistics to prove that.

Re: Christina Wilson's Feb. 19 commentary, "Celebrate the nation and all its presidents�:

While I agree with Wilson that Presidents Day is a time to celebrate our great nation, her premise that our success is due to Christianity is overly simplistic. As a high school teacher, I, too, am charged with raising “civic awareness and responsibility,� but I am troubled by her narrative of our history.

I am angry, and I need a place to vent.

Recently, I got another one of those letters about supporting our troops. You know the kind I'm writing about. This letter had a picture of a flag-draped coffin, a Marine in full dress standing guard next to it and a young woman sleeping on a mattress in front of the coffin.

Perhaps you got this letter, too.

It began like this:

Re: your Feb. 13 editorial, “Tracking down a wanted killer�:

I have waited a week to write this letter hoping that someone at the paper was on the ball.

The editorial concerning the naming of a ship after the enlisted Navy man who was murdered by Arab terrorists stated that he was the first enlisted person to have a ship named after him.

Older ex-GIs know this is wrong.

I’m a teacher. I’ve been teaching for 15 years, and I’ve seen a lot of things that have gone right and many that, for whatever reason, have gone wrong.

Midway through first grade, my son wasn’t doing well. He didn’t want to go to school, not because he was lazy or didn’t like school. He’s a smart kid and a good student. He just wasn’t thriving in his school environment.

Fortunately, we got a call from Los Senderos Open School in Camarillo. The caller said there was a midyear opening. If we wanted it, it was ours. Although we didn’t know it at the time, it turned out to be one of the luckiest days for our family.

I am a former member of the committee that selects the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame's inductees, and, for that reason, I know this year's class has probably been selected by now and will be announced soon.

The county Sports Hall of Fame concept is a good one. However, it is impossible to take seriously any organization with that title here in Ventura County if it does not include Ventura Raceway promoter Jim Naylor. The VCSHoF here does not include Naylor, and I know he was nominated years ago.

The recent cold weather and freeze have forced county farmers to lose produce, costing them millions of dollars, and have left many farmworkers hungry, desperate and broke.

Is it just me or are there others in our fair city who think the City Council has gone completely out of their minds? I am, of course, referring to our city fathers’ brilliant plan to remake Victoria Avenue into a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use, Parisian boulevard version of its current configuration.

I can just picture it now. Men and women, hand-in-hand, leisurely strolling up and down the picturesque strip of upscale shops and restaurants abutting the street, with its plentiful supply of parallel parking spots adorning the tree-lined street.

Why are people taking so much drugs? I wonder why because it causes many diseases, heart attacks, cancer, and it can make you very sick. If people stop taking drugs they won’t have sicknesses, they will just be smart and healthy. So I’m just asking why people are taking so much drugs.

— Diego Kress, 9 years old, Fillmore

Re: Thomas Elias’ Feb. 16 commentary, "Judicial reform might allow juror questioning":

This commentary points out only one of the flaws of our current justice system. Too often crucial evidence is prevented from being introduced because judges overcontrol what is, and what isn’t, allowed to be heard by the jury. But there’s more going on here than just this one issue.

Elias’ statement — "As long as the rules let judges protect themselves and their flaws from public exposure, the Judicial Council will never reach its laudable goal of opening the courts to public scrutiny and understanding" — is only the tip of the iceberg.

Re: your Feb. 16 editorial, “Housing vote late, but vital�:

In its coverage and support of the Citrus Place project, The Star might also have answered the following questions:

— Did this project conform with Ventura’s avowed philosophy of smart growth? One of the principles of smart growth is that residents be able to walk to whatever they need, in the interest of keeping cars off the crowded roads as much as possible. It did not appear that these residents can get so much as a quart of milk without driving for it.

Re: Brian D. Schwan’s Feb 7 letter, “Warnings to the gullible� and Gary Bunch’s Feb 7 letter, “It’s just junk science�:

Was it chance or clever placement that put in Reflections Mathew Henry’s quote, “None so blind as those that will not see,� on the same page as the rants denying global warming of flat-earthers Schwan and Bunch?

— Jan Moore, Camarillo

Re: Christina Wilson's Feb. 19 commentary, "Celebrate the nation and all its presidents�:

What a gross distortion of American history and a sad, sad state of affairs when it comes from someone who is apparently "teaching" impressionable 7-year-olds who don't yet have the critical faculties to question Wilson's evidence or conclusions.

Re: your Feb. 20 Business article, “Health and well-being: Institute aims to help people live better, longer lives�:

I don't know about health, but the people who can afford to pay almost $1,200 a day to learn how to make a salad are certainly well-being. I can only think about how many people in Darfur could be fed with that money. I understand that we may not have an obligation to feed them, but one would think that the Christian ethic would enable people to know which choice to make between feeding the 10,000 versus pampering themselves with a $1,000 salad.

— Philip Yows, Westlake Village

Re: David Nankivell’s Feb. 19 Senior Speaks column, “Maybe it’s time for Kaiser to fix some problems with healthcare�:

Mr. Nankivell normally has some interesting and informative things to say about senior matters. However, this column is a joke.

Re: Fred Romero’s Feb 19 letter, “So why’s it so cold?�:

Several years ago, Romero wrote a rambling diatribe criticizing liberals and dismissing global warming as “junk science.� I suggested then he enroll in an environmental science class. I can tell by his recent effort he decided against that.

Instead, he continues to demonstrate high-stress, dualistic, either/or, black or white thinking. Romero suggests the “liberal media� are wailing about “the threat of a superheated earth,� as if only liberals believe human activities have exacerbated climate change.

Re: your Feb. 17 article, “County’s growth pace is key issue�:

The UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast points out the dismal outlook for housing and the social implications of no growth in the county. When will the Board of Supervisors begin to react to this economic reality?

Affordable and entry-level housing in Ventura sounds altruistic, and I’m sure that the members of the City Council consider themselves charitable and liberal in approving of it. But, in fact, they all simply caved in to the developers who were just looking to make a profit.

The people of this city have made it clear time and again that they want to maintain the small-town atmosphere here and they are concerned with traffic and overcrowding.

The Constitution of the United States, along with the Bill of Rights, is still one of the most revered set of national documents in the world. Specifically, the "freedoms" of religion, press and speech were the bedrocks of this exciting experiment. Unfortunately, they have all but met their demise.

Do you recall what the world looks like when you are standing at the top of a mountain? Do you remember the smell of the pine and oak you passed on your way up? What about the blue sky that seems more vast than you could imagine? Everything seems to be so free and alive. It’s another world. For a moment, you are one of the many different creatures that make up the universe. The Earth, as you know it, has stood still for a moment. Then, the sun begins to set. “Until another day,� you whisper and descend from that world into the brightness of city streets.

On March 12, 2006, American troops broke into a home in Iraq and shot dead a father, mother and two small daughters; the 14-year old daughter was raped and set on fire. One of the American soldiers has admitted to the killings.

Our troops have committed other equally nauseating acts in Iraq during the past four years.

Amnesty for our 11 million illegal aliens is a great idea; it just falls short of a better one. During the 20 years since we last exercised this brilliant solution, we’ve had a steady stream of hopefuls jumping the border to wait their turn for the next one. Such inconsideration is unnecessary. If unlawful status can be corrected by declaring it legal, then why not declare all entry into the United States legal? Let’s not timidly send out invitations by fits and starts. Let’s just do it in one fell swoop.

Re: your Feb. 17 article, “Camarillo fireworks fight is over�:

At the Feb. 14 Camarillo City Council meeting, the council wisely voted to discontinue the use of Freedom Park for the Fourth of July fireworks display. The close proximity of the Ventura County Animal Shelter had resulted in the animals’ suffering from severe distress due to the explosions of aerial bombs.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush expressed a desire to use alternative fuels to push gasoline use down 20 percent in 10 years and producing 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2012. Unfortunately, Bush is putting his weight behind the wrong fuel.

The overwhelming evidence that the current global warming is caused by fossil fuels used by ordinary people isn't new news. Yet it's just always apparent that the fastest way to get home in time to take care of other business is driving your own automobile. Many find public transportation just not that reliable.

In order to increase public transportation, there needs to be more people demanding it. What needs to be done is to make more people unable to drive so demand will increase. I know this sounds cruel at first, but keep on reading. The minimum age to drive should be moved up to 18.

Re: your Jan. 29 article, “Illegal immigrants caught in jails�:

This article lighted an anger and deep fear inside of me. The legal system not knowing who is being incarcerated and where they are from is a frightening thought. Many illegal immigrants can commit a crime, be thrown in jail and be released before immigration discovers and deports them.

Bravo to the Camarillo City Council on its decision to finally show its compassion by ending the trauma caused the animals at the Ventura County Animal Shelter during the annual Fourth of July Fireworks display!

Camarillo parents and residents are willing to usher in of a new era of responsible educational spending. We are willing to look at reasonable options informed by fact and designed with objectivity.

What we will not abide and will not silently sit back and accept is the complete lack of transparency in the current school review process, the contradictions in the “rationales� and “criteria� for the scenarios presented, and the obvious and predetermined bias against certain schools, namely Los Senderos Open School.

Re: Nan Drake’s Feb. 18 commentary, “Mulch matters�:

It is confusing for her to refer to the "green waste barrels." The yard waste barrels are brown! The household trash barrel is green and not the one she wants us to use!

— Linda Stallard, Camarillo

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “Fluoridated water�:

Many dentists oppose this. Many do not like forced “medication,� and a significant number of communities within and outside the United States have removed fluoride from their water systems, some because it caused rotting pipes.

On November 9, 2006, the American Dental Association issued an alert advising parents to avoid fluoridated water when reconstituting infant formula. Does this sound like fluoridating water is good for infants and very young children?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration is encouraged by the interest shown by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, in healthcare reform; additional information may help inform her thinking regarding the governor’s reform proposal.

The majority of employers today — including small businesses — provide health coverage to their employees. The cost of that coverage includes a “hidden tax� associated with the shifting of unpaid medical bills from California’s 6.5 million uninsured residents to paying individuals. California businesses pay $14.7 billion each year in additional premium costs. In 2005, health insurance premiums rose at more than twice the rate of wages and inflation, driven in part by this cost shift.

Universal coverage for all children, improving and expanding public programs for the most needy and providing assistance for the working poor sounds great for California, but what happens to the people who don't need health insurance? If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a health plan requiring all individuals to have a minimum level of coverage, what happens to people who choose not to have any health coverage?

Re: Nan Drake’s Feb. 18 commentary, “Mulch matters�:

As a lemon farmer, I have some experience with "green waste" mulch. I have watched mulch being spread on thousands of acres of Ventura farmland, and if it came from a city source, it was contaminated with trash. The city’s green waste is derived from people who are not farmers, who are uninformed about the process of producing and using mulch and who have not accepted the fact that what they put in the green barrels will eventually return to their dining table.

Shame on Bank of America! Why should illegal Hispanics be able to get a credit card with no Social Security number? All U.S. citizens who bank with Bank of America should close their accounts and go elsewhere.

What do you think is going to happen when the illegal Hispanics don't pay their credit card bill? It will mean higher bank fees for all of us. This is discrimination, because all of us hard-working U.S. citizens could not go into a Bank of America and get a thing without the proper documents.

Would those who find it a good use of our tax dollars to spend all week in Congress debating the Iraq war resolution offer a better plan to resolve the situation? There isn't a person who likes the war in Iraq, least of all President Bush. But there is not a person who has another solution to the situation. Have any of those who find the current situation unacceptable noticed the lack of domestic terrorism since 2002? Can any of these same people lay out a plan that will result in the same outcome?

Lay out a plan that makes more sense than the current strategy, that ensures the safety of the Middle East and domestic safety, and pick up the Nobel Peace Prize.

I want to thank the Simi Valley City Council for protecting us citizens from the following:

— Those people who pose a danger to our community by operating clean and safe hot dog carts in business areas where other food places are not within walking distance and time is short.

— Those awful people who sell flower arrangements on street corners, preventing me from conveniently buying a rose or a bouquet for a loved one on the way home. (I know what an eyesore those flowers can be.)

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce supports appropriate levels of local regulation of all business activity in order to promote fair business practices, ensure capture of business tax receipts by the city for benefit of all local residents and businesses, ensure safe and environmentally compliant business practices and ensure a healthy and safe work environment for workers.

The Simi Valley City Council recently passed a resolution banning all street merchants from selling their wares on city streets. I find this to be an interesting decision given the fact that the new law does nothing to ban the homeless who sit on street corners and in shopping malls begging for money from passers-by. At least the street peddlers are trying to make an honest living selling their goods, as opposed to the homeless who just ask for money while not actually contributing to society.

Re: Colleen Cason’s Feb. 16 column, “Simi Valley heading toward a beige-out�:

Cason lambastes the Simi Valley City Council for taking a proactive approach to the growing problem of illegal street vendors. I realize that some of the vendors operating in Simi Valley may have the required permits, but many do not. Unfortunately, the article doesn't address the problems that those selling produce, corn on the cob and other food items bring.

Re: your Feb. 13 article, “Simi teen killed by cable over road�:

When will the police or landowners do something about the illegal riding on these hills? They ride illegally to get to the hills. Isn't one death more than enough?

As a homeowner, I have been subjected to this illegal activity since I moved here, and no one seems to care. Well, a boy has died, and it is now time to do something about it.

— Louis Fols, Simi Valley

Gen. Nancy Pelosi seems determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by dictating strategy in Iraq. The House speaker is doing this purely to achieve political advantage. She doesn't have any concern for the safety of the Iraqi people, the United States or the world. By all military measures, the Iraq war has been won. The enemy army has been completely destroyed. The United States controls the land and the air. What remains to be done is to bring security to the people of Iraq, which will also bring more security to the region and to the rest of the world. We owe the Iraqi people a secure country. We should let the real generals make the necessary decisions to accomplish this final objective, not grandstanding politicians who want failure for political gain.

My condolences go out to the Thousand Oaks family of Lance Cpl. Anthony C. Melia, who was tragically killed in Iraq.

Now, with the total number of American soldiers killed in Iraq at more than 3,000, and with only more body bags coming our way, does anyone in Ventura County still think that this zombie in the White House still deserves his job?

Does anyone think they voted for the wrong guy in 2000, and again in 2004?

One of the hurtful charges against the congressional "nonbinding" resolution opposing the escalation of the disastrous war in Iraq by the GOP loyalists is that the resolution "demoralizes our troops." In November, a large majority of the Americans who went to the polls expressed their opposition to this war, and those they sent to the Congress have only responded to this mandate by voting for this resolution. If the troops are demoralized by the desire of our people to end this terrible war and get out, then they have misunderstood the will of the people. No one, but no one, has stopped supporting our brave armed forces in harm's way. We just want the slaughter of our forces to stop, and to get out, somehow. Adding more troops only means there will be more who will be vulnerable to those opposing us.

— The Rev. John P. Fuller, Oxnard
(The writer is a retired Episcopal priest. — Editor)

Can anyone believe that the citizens of Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme have allowed one of the planet’s worst disasters to occur for 40 years? Burning metals caused a clear sky in the morning to become polluted by noon. In Port Hueneme, burning eyes resulted. From the port, in the morning, you could see to Mugu Rock to the Santa Monica Mountains to Camarillo, but at noon the view was gone because of the burning of metals at Halaco.

Re: Joe R. Howry’s Feb. 18 essay, "No winners at News-Press":

My boss tells me how she wants me to do my job. Naw, I don't want to do it that way.

My boss tells me what to do on my job. Naw, I don't want to do that. I know more than my boss, anyway.

Re: your Feb. 18 article, “Ventura’s rise in gang activity is mostly graffiti�:

After reading the article, I felt the need to share what’s happening to our quiet, little and peaceful community of Somis. Farmworkers, blue- and white-collar workers and retirees make up the population of Somis. But what’s happening? There’s a turf war among gangs for our Somis.

That Elton Gallegly, the Republican representative for Ventura County in the U.S. Congress, is an ultraconservative is well-known, as his voting record in support of President Bush’s agenda clearly demonstrates.

However, even I was stunned when I learned that our congressman had voted Jan. 10 against increasing the minimum wage — the Federal Minimum Wage Act — that hasn’t been increased since 1997. During that period, from 1997 to 2007, inflation has increased considerably. Those people at the bottom of the economic ladder working a 40-hour week at the current minimum of $5.15 for the entire year would have an annual income of only $10,210.00.

Re: your Feb. 17 article, “Gallegly, Capps are poles apart�:

God bless Elton Gallegly. He understands the Islamofascist threat and the near-term danger it poses to our country. And he votes accordingly. Friday's shameless vote by defeatist poll-driven politicians assisted by the mainstream media will be condemned by history. Remember 9/11 and pray for our brave soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors.

— Dick Schneider, Oak View

Re: your Feb. 17 articles, “House OKs resolution criticizing Iraq policy" and “Gallegly, Capps are poles apart":

Once again, U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly embarrasses Ventura County. His vote to support still another escalation of the obscene war in Iraq demonstrates his contempt for the people of America and his own constituents. Yes, even in his grotesquely gerrymandered district, the people have long since lost confidence in the president whom Gallegly so blindly follows in undermining the security of the United States. Shame on Gallegly. We are counting down the nearly 700 days remaining until he retires into the political oblivion he so richly deserves.

— Craig Christensen, Ventura

This letter is in support of Los Senderos Open School remaining open in philosophy, as well as the school doors staying open so that the school can continue its exceptional educational practices.

My daughter is in kindergarten this year. Last spring, I entered her in the lottery for all three alternative schools, assuming we would decide based on our opportunities. She was lucky enough to be chosen for two of the three. I interviewed and observed the classes of Los Senderos and another alternative school. I also visited three private schools in Camarillo. I was overwhelmed by the exceptional learning environment provided by Los Senderos.

Our family would like to express how privileged we are to be at Los Senderos Open School. We were able to attend LSOS as a result of the lottery beginning the 2002-03 school year. We attended the Pleasant Valley Co-op Preschool, and it was a natural transition to attend an elementary school that fostered an open philosophy.

The open philosophy is unique and an excellent alternative choice to traditional schools. Some of my favorite ideas that the open philosophy represents are learning centers, teaching skills in team building, cooperation and mutual respect, students being involved in decision making and execution of procedures and rules and a nonbehaviorism — rewards and punishments — classroom management style.

I'm trying to understand why a school district would close a school with the fastest-growing enrollment, one of the highest API scores in the district, an environment where students are obviously flourishing and the parent volunteer hours — 13,000-plus hours — are through the roof. Imagine a company with a department having a long waiting list to be hired, producing better results, running just as efficiently as the rest of the departments, and, to top it off, having all its employees and their families willing to give their time and talents to see the results grow even more — and yet, the company says it needs to shut this department down.

Apparently, the parents at Los Senderos Open School have organized a letter-writing campaign in an attempt to exempt their school from the list of schools being considered for closure. Such actions only serve to heat up the debate and divide the community during an already difficult time.

Re: Marie Miller’s Feb. 13 letter, “Inaccurate editorial�:

Ms. Miller complained of the unfair, inaccurate editorial about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desire to replace a C-20 Gulfstream executive jet with a 757. Ms. Miller states that the facts were misstated, and the only reason for the replacement was to have a plane that could fly from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco nonstop. The Air Force Web site confirms that the range for the C-20 is 4,715 miles, and the required distance is less than 3,000 miles. Depending upon the configuration, the plane can hold 12 to 16 passengers. I flew in a similar executive jet from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., to Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos. The trip was very nice.

— Lewis Kanter, M.D., Camarillo

Just north of Fifth Street on Harbor Boulevard, there is some type of development happening.

I'm 57 years old now, and I've been here all my life. Back in my early teens, that property was an oilfield waste disposal site, and it was used many years. I remember going by and seeing vacuum trucks spreading liquid waste back and forth. After that, a road grader would spread that waste so it could dry and be absorbed into the ground. It had a smell that was very foul, and who knows what it contained. I drive up and down Harbor a couple of times a week, and the smell is as strong as it was in the 1960s and the ground is black!

Who in the future is going to pay the lawsuits? Who will be responsible or accountable when the suits start flying? Also, it's right under the flight path of Oxnard Airport!

— Eddie Hoag, Oxnard

I have read many negatives about Time Warner and experienced first-hand fixing the problems my parents had dealing with them. We opted to choose the new Verizon FIOS cable service. The question now is how can we get KEYT Santa Barbara to offer its channel to Verizon customers? I called KEYT and they were not even familiar with the new cable service. Verizon installers told me potential customers have cancelled connecting to Verizon because KEYT is not part of the package. I hope other people will also contact KEYT to bring their channel on board to Verizon. Time Warner just might lose more customers if an alternative is offered.

— Mel Ulrich, Camarillo

"Garbage in, gospel out." — James P. Hogan

The computer games people play, the politicians who have backed scientific findings, and the media that uncritically publishes them have raised alarms over global warming to a fever pitch. But how real are these claims?

Consider this. In breathing, each person exhales about 3 million cubic liters of carbon dioxide each year. With the present world population, that’s roughly 18 quadrillion (18 followed by 15 zeros) cubic liters (or 30 billion tons) of carbon dioxide release annually. Concerned? Well, I’m not going to hold my breath.

As I drive Highway 23, I get increasingly angry. Residents along here take so much pride in preserving the natural beauty of the area that I am dumbfounded we have gotten sucked into building sound walls. What are we thinking?

A wall on one side of the freeway reflects noise and creates the need for a second wall on the other side. One short piece sets a precedent for a longer piece on the same side, which, of course, creates the need for a matching piece across the highway. The next thing you know, we have transformed a scenic road with beautiful vistas into the equivalent of driving down the Los Angeles River bottom. What are we thinking?

Has anyone noticed how little discussion there is today in the news about global warming ever since the weather has taken a turn for the worse?

On the West Coast, we’ve had temperatures so low that yard plants and citrus crops have frozen in shocking numbers for the first time in years. Back East and in the Midwest, the cold weather has resulted in humongous delays in transportation, snow drifts have been measured at 8-feet plus, icy roads and traffic accidents are the norm, and people are complaining that they can’t recall such a cold winter in decades.

Re: your Feb. 13 editorial, “Tracking down a wanted killer�:

I thank The Star for reminding people that the killers of Navy Seabee Robert Stethem remain at large and must be brought to justice. It is imperative that time not become an excuse for failure to resolve such a case.

Announcement: Bank of America, seeking dramatic profit enhancements, has begun offering credit cards to illegal aliens.

Followup announcement: B of A, formerly the Bank of America, will now stand for Bank of Aliens.

But not with our help.

— Bob & Irene Dingman, Thousand Oaks

If any chief executive officer in America had made the number of egregious errors that President Bush and his appointees have made in the past six years, he would have been summarily fired by the company. After 9/11, Bush either was not intellectually curious enough to challenge a hapless CIA or he lied to the American people about a link between Iraq and the tragedy, both firing offenses.

With disregard for world opinion, he either fell for cooked books or he ordered them manipulated to get congressional approval for an action in Iraq that has now mushroomed into a fiasco that has squandered American lives, fortunes and the credibility and reputation of the United States. Once again, it’s a firing offense.

In contrast to my more usual tendency to be critical, I'd like to thank each and every city official and employee involved in the installation of the new stoplight at the intersection of Lynn/Olsen Road and Wildwood Avenue in Thousand Oaks. This is a long-needed improvement that will make it much safer for those living in the Wildwood area to enter and leave Lynn/Olsen Road, as well as make it safer for those drivers who choose to ignore the speed limit while driving on Lynn/Olsen Road.

— Alex (Mike) Keller, Thousand Oaks

Los Primeros Structured School is a premier school in the Pleasant Valley School District and has been for 30 years. This K-8 alternative school has given parents in this area a choice in the educational program they feel will best serve their child. The school does not have declining enrollment; in fact, it is always at capacity with a waiting list of potential students. It has operated this way since the beginning.

I am writing in regards to Camarillo’s annual fireworks display. I am outraged and angry that Camarillo city officials would continue to hold this needless display literally next door to the Ventura County Animal Shelter. As a volunteer who has tried to calm the terrified animals during the fireworks display, I have seen first-hand the terror and anxiety it causes these poor defenseless animals who are already suffering because they have not yet found a permanent home. Domestic animals and homeless outdoor animals are terrorized as well.

I am a proud parent of two Los Senderos Open School students. Because my husband is a California state employee, we have the option of living anywhere in the state. One of the main reasons we live in Camarillo is Los Senderos Open School.

LSOS is what I like to call an exceptional educational experience. The open philosophy where all students are encouraged to strive to do their best without rewards or feeling that someone did it better, the wonderful programs and the outstanding parent participation are what I feel makes LSOS stand out above the rest.

In reading all of the letters in The Star on behalf of the schools being considered for closure in Camarillo, I am frustrated by the fact that parents who are writing are listening but not hearing what Pleasant Valley School District Superintendent Kenneth Moffett is saying about our district.

This is not about education. It is not about test scores, parent volunteer hours, waiting lists or choice in alternative education methods. It is about being financially responsible.

Re: your Feb. 8 editorial, “Wake-up call for colleges�:

This editorial is an excellent example of the fact that, sometimes, statistics can be misleading. While it may be true that “three out of four first-time students at California community colleges fail to transfer to a four-year university … or earn an associate's degree or certificate,� the fault does not lie entirely at the door of the California community college system.

Crime statistics are now coming out, and they show an increase in crime. The cause for the increase is an unknown, but the reality is that unarrested individuals do become emboldened to continue their activities.

Such people, when behind bars, cannot harm the public. Whether you believe in punishment or rehabilitation, you cannot argue with that point.

Camarillo’s choice schools must be saved! “Must� is a strong but appropriate word, because closing these schools represents a huge slide further down the slippery slope of compromise. We willingly accepted less art, less music and less physical education because we were told they are luxuries. Where does it end?

It is hard to remember, but there was a time and there are still places where these things are valued, maybe in places where they are educating children who will compete with our children for jobs.

Re: your Feb. 13 article, “Oxnard man faces sex abuse charges�:

I do not understand why The Star felt it was necessary to include the names of family members in this article. Including their names opened them up to public humiliation, and it only deepens the wounds a situation like this may cause. This article was about a grown man, and the inclusion of his family members was despicable. As far as referring to him as an “Oxnard man,� perhaps The Star should recheck its facts. The accused has not lived here as a resident since he graduated from high school.

— Deborah Goddard, Oxnard

I am totally in favor of giving California a voice in selecting presidential candidates by moving our primary to February 2008. In recent years we have just been used as an ATM for out-of-state campaigns after the fact. Similar to our tax dollars, other states get the return on our investment.

— Leslie Cornejo, Oxnard

Re: Richard Larsen’s Feb. 13 essay, “The ’08 presidential race�:

I was disappointed by Richard Larsen's "declaration of noncandidacy" for 2008. Clearly, he has a grip on the real issues facing our country, which, of course, is the first step in actually resolving them. I've just about lost hope the present political circumstances can produce even a rational discussion of these issues, let alone any intelligent resolution of them. Please reconsider, Richard, for all our sakes.

— David J. Habib Jr., Westlake Village

I came to Camarillo in 1966 with my sister, who had contracted with the Pleasant Valley School District and who taught for several years at El Descanso. My daughter attended Los Nogales, and my granddaughter now attends Los Senderos Open School at the former Los Nogales school. For all of these years, I have never seen a school where parents are as involved at every level, where the principal is familiar with every parent and student, and each child is encouraged to reach their highest potential. The teachers my granddaughter has had the privilege to know have been outstanding. This is a superior school, and the parents within the school district should have choices. Los Senderos is one of them. Please keep this school open.

— Bonnie Miller, Camarillo

The Pleasant Valley School District in Camarillo is faced with some daunting challenges. Its teachers are among the lowest paid in the county, and their benefits also rank among the lowest. It has too many smaller-sized schools in mature neighborhoods, and property values have risen so high that young families cannot afford to move here. The student population is economically diverse, coming from affluent, middle-income and lower-income families. Now, the district must make the difficult choice of which schools to close.

I am writing this as a plea to save our school, Los Senderos Open School. I understand that it is being considered for closure.

Los Senderos is more than just a school to our family. It is a community that we could not find at any other school. We entered the lottery and were thrilled to be selected because we believe in the special philosophy of this school. I believe that the open philosophy is the best way to teach our children.

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “School closures debate has parents on edge�:

Two years ago, my wife and I visited numerous Camarillo schools in order to find the right one for our soon-to-be kindergartner. At Los Senderos Open School, we found a positive environment, motivated teachers and involved parents utilizing a philosophy that valued creativity and independence. Since then, we’ve been extremely happy that we chose to send our daughter there.

We have an 8-year-old son currently attending the third grade at Los Senderos Open School in Camarillo. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to send our child to a school that not only nurtures his talents, but also utilizes them to enhance his learning capabilities. We choose to send our son there for the programs and opportunities offered, and for the open school philosophy that fosters a child’s desire to learn.

I am a parent of two children at Los Senderos Open School. I chose the open school philosophy for many reasons. Most importantly, it does not use competition or reward systems to encourage the children to learn. I think that detracts from the fun and motivation for learning. It is exciting to learn something new, and that is what Los Senderos Open School is about.

We, the Athwal family, have one son, Prempal, who is a fifth-grader at Los Senderos Open School and a daughter, Riya, at the Montessori School in Ventura. We had moved from Oxnard in 2003 for our son's education, not really thinking of our daughter’s future, but knowing she would follow her brother. We chose Los Senderos for the open philosophy. When Los Senderos was approved for K-8, we celebrated because we did not have to worry about where to send our children to school for a few years and planned the future until Prempal has to go to college in eight years.

The Pleasant Valley School District needs to keep its K-8 programs at the three alternative schools of choice: Los Senderos Open School, Los Primeros Structured School and Santa Rosa Technology School. There are many families who feel an overcrowded middle school with 1,000-plus students is not an option for their children.

This letter is in support of not closing Los Senderos Open School. As a parent of a student in this exceptional learning environment, I would like to address several key points as to why this school should remain open and continue growing in its current capacity.

My son is a third-grader currently at LSOS. Previously, he was labeled as a problem student at another Pleasant Valley School District campus. After countless hours spent with the principal and counseling with my son to convince him school was important and fun, I searched for a different environment to educate him.

Re: Cami Pinsak’s Feb. 4 commentary, "Open school in Camarillo too precious to lose," and Gloria Miele’s Feb. 7 letter, "Keep LSOS open":

I echo their statements.

Re: your Feb. 14 article, “Simi votes to ban street vendors�:

With the Simi Valley City Council voting to ban all street vendors, the least they can do is pay back all of the money the legitimate hard-working vendors spent on all of the various fees, permits and anything else they spent to legally do business in Simi Valley.

— Mike Lorraine, Simi Valley

Re: your Feb. 13 article, “Simi teen killed by cable over road�:

What an outrage! The headline should have been, "Simi teen killed by property 
owner."

When I read this, my heart dropped, and I gasped at the cruelty of the person who came up with the ignorant idea of stringing up steel cable across a bike trail. This senseless loss of life is simply horrible.

In July of 2006, Centex Homes, a nationwide development company based in Texas, cleared nearly 28 acres of wetland with disking equipment, damaging habitat. The area is located along Highway 101 off the Borchard Road exit.

The city of Thousand Oaks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Fish and Game were supposed to investigate whether any wrongdoing was done by this action, yet no information has yet been disclosed publicly. It is time for the people to find out what happened.

I attended the Simi Valley City Council vote on the new street vending restrictions. I stood up and voiced my opposition to the proposed statute. Also, I e-mailed Mayor Paul Miller. The City Council heard our objections and, with little debate, moved quickly to pass the street vending ordinance in unison.

As a business person — currently not operating — I find this decision appalling, as it restricts individual freedom and the pursuit of happiness as defined in the U.S. Constitution.

Re: your Jan. 2 article, “Ventura police, citing lack of resources, cut services�:

I read in my favorite paper that the Ventura Police Department now refuses to respond to security system calls between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., announcing “thumbs-up� for the prowling predator. The Police Department says there are too many false alarms that cost money they don't have.

Re: Scott Harris’ Feb. 11 commentary, "Maybe President Bush was right about Iraq�:

Scott Harris is wrong in comparing Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler. While both were evil, only Hitler was a threat to western civilization. Hitler almost defeated all of Europe, while, even with chemical weapons, Hussein could not defeat a weak Iran.

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “School closures debate has parents on edge:�

As a Camarillo resident and parent of three children in the Pleasant Valley School District, I appreciate The Star’s coverage of the 7/11 Committee and the closure scenarios it is exploring. However, the real story — the district’s continuing fiscal mismanagement and disingenuous communication — was not examined. Interim Superintendent Kenneth Moffett was quoted as stating, “We’ve had more schools than we should have for a long time.�

Re: Scott Harris’ Feb. 11 commentary, "Maybe President Bush was right about Iraq�:

Finally, a rational, common sense, level-headed approach to our situation in Iraq. A real breath of fresh air in the midst of an ocean of derogatory, irrational, vitriolic and hysterical articles and letters denouncing our commander in chief as a non-thinking, irresponsible political pawn.

Give me a break.

Re: Thomas Friedman's Feb. 10 essay, “Yes, we can find the fix�:

Mr. Friedman’s suggestion that putting a $3.50 per gallon floor on gasoline prices will help us break our dependence upon foreign oil might or might not work, and it will require a lot of political wrangling before it ever becomes reality.

It will be a sad, sad day when the Rainbow House fades into history. This facility has rescued many lost souls over the years. Pat Williams and her dedicated crew are to be commended for their outstanding service over the years. The powers that be in the Oxnard and Ventura County governments should hang their heads in shame for letting this special resource fade away.

— William J. Farrell, Camarillo

Re: Elton Gallegly’s Feb. 7 commentary, “Don’t penalize nation’s legal residents and citizens�:

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly represents and has represented what’s best for the majority of Ventura County residents for the last 20 years. Those who don't like his record should vote him out of office.

The fact that Republicans lost a majority in Congress nationwide doesn't mean heavily Republican Ventura County has changed!

Re: your Feb. 11 article, “‘Toxic Tours’ reveal L.A.’s sickening sites�:

We’ve all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, a refinery photo that accompanied this Associated Press story is an example of a picture that misinforms. It appears to be a photo of steam being released in a refinery — not smoke spewing from a smokestack, as the article suggested.

From years of experience, the presence of steam indicates that the process is operating normally. Steam is used as a heat source and is also a byproduct of the overall refining process. It is not toxic.

Re: your Feb. 13 article, "Police at schools urged in Ventura":

It was appalling to read that police are needed in Ventura's middle schools. To make matters worse, there was little response by the City Council at its meeting. The mayor basically blamed the public by stating the voters didn't approve a ballot that would have provided more money for public safety. That sounds like the same excuse our federal government uses for not providing border and port security.

Re: your Feb. 13 article, “Oxnard man faces sex abuse charges�:

I was amazed when I read this article regarding somebody I had known very well while growing up in Oxnard: Michael Joseph Pepe. I was astounded and saddened by what this article reported. I won't go into the details of the story because it really is a sad and terrible story, and that is not what I am writing about here.

Re: your Feb. 11 article, “California’s coverage�:

This article couldn't have come at a better time, as my husband and I are currently dealing with this issue.

Up until a year and a half ago, I carried the health insurance for myself and my husband, and then I was laid off. We are a middle-class couple. After searching for another job, I, like many others, decided I would start my own business. This meant, however, that my husband and I would both be self-employed.

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “Fluoridated water�:

In regards to the soon-approaching fluoridation program for Ventura County, I expect that many local citizens will voice their displeasure at being fed fluoride whenever they drink tap water.

Re: Colleen Cason’s Feb. 11 column, “Fur is set to fly over Camarillo fireworks�:

We are writing about the city of Camarillo’s Fourth of July fireworks show that may again be held near the Ventura County Animal Shelter.

Re: your Jan. 2 article, "Ventura police, citing lack of resources, cut services":

I think it is very irresponsible to advertise that the police will not check out homeowner alarms between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

As a homeowner, I put in an alarm to protect my home and belongings. I pay the alarm company a hefty fee monthly to monitor my house. If the Police Department doesn't come when my alarm goes off, what good is it in having one? Why did I invest in it in the first place? If the criminals can read, then why wouldn't they schedule their thefts during these hours?

Preoccupied with insurgency in Iraq, we are marching toward ambush in the Middle East. Situated in the world’s greatest petrol patch, disintegrating Iraq is a hair-trigger for global tragedy. Arms to turn more oil fields into battlegrounds are now in theater.

Re: your Jan. 14 article, “A place of promise�:

This article on the female juvenile offenders imprisoned in Ventura's Youth Correctional Facility was especially touching to me. My closest friend ministers to some of these girls. I also am involved in helping troubled youth. Recently, I also have read reports on the increasing gang violence in Ventura County.

Re: your Feb. 14 article, “Simi votes to ban street vendors�:

Don Rubenstein believes that since not everyone can open a storefront, it should be their right to open a business on public property. I want his home address so I can open my sidewalk fertilizer business in front of his home.

It is not a person’s right to free use public property for monetary gain. We should be supporting the local stores that invest the capital and pay their taxes and, yes, take a huge chance in the business world. Sidewalk vendors hurt these store owners by siphoning off clients and increasing the costs for legitimate businesses.

As an avid runner and horseback rider I am regularly in the hills and frequently on the trails of Boney Mountain. After each of the big rains for the last few winters, there has been terrible destruction to our trails by some horse riders. On two separate occasions, I witnessed the ruts created by horses while the trails are wet and muddy cause an accident.

One time an elderly person stepped in one of the horse-hoof craters and fell to the ground in shock and pain. On another occasion, a runner caught his foot in a horse-hoof crater and needed help out of the hills for his badly sprained, possibly broken, ankle. I regularly navigate these holes hoping to avoid an accident.

Re: Scott Harris’ Feb. 11 commentary, “Maybe President Bush was right about Iraq�:

Harris has written an essay of significance on the situation in the Middle East, perhaps the only essay with an appeal to reason that you will see in this decade in America. I regularly read his contributions and will admit I have disagreed in the past with his reasoning, in print, in these pages. Yet, he is to be commended for his thoughtful analysis in this instance.

Re: your Feb. 14 article, “No Social Security number? Bank of America has card for you�:

Bank of America has decided to issue credit cards to illegal immigrants. Spokespeople for the bank will tell the public that it's good for the business community. They want the public to forget that issuing credit cards to illegal immigrants will enable Bank of America to rake in more profits. Issuing credit cards to illegal immigrants also blurs the line between immigrants who live here legally and those who do not.

Re: Deborah Bechtel’s Feb. 6 letter, “‘Law & Order’ a must see�:

Bechtel has confused reality and factual information with a television show designed to entertain viewers with fictional dramatizations based on writers’ imaginations.

The real facts are as follows:

Re: your Jan. 25 article, “Students must decide soon�:

While the article correctly notes that Ventura High School offers “a wide variety of clubs and sports,� it fails to mention that VHS also offers an excellent college prep program. VHS graduates are currently attending top universities around the country, including Harvard, Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Amherst, University of Chicago and the military academies, along with University of California schools. Last year, our seniors were awarded more than $1 million in college scholarships.

Re: Scott Harris’ Feb. 11 commentary, “Maybe President Bush was right about Iraq":

We know the Iraq war is an incredible mess. We know we were led into it by manipulation of the information regarding weapons of mass destruction. We know the United States supported Saddam Hussein in his war with Iran and then supported Iran when it was felt Saddam was getting the upper hand. We know about Saddam's use of weapons on the Kurds, but Mr. Harris does not mention the first Bush administration’s effort to switch blame to Iran.

Re: your Feb. 11 article, "Developer looks skyward":

Harvey Champlin, one of the developers of the proposed tower, says he moved to Ventura from Santa Barbara to be close to his family and because of the development opportunities in Ventura County. Santa Barbara has strict building and development ordinances because, like us, they want to protect the charm and feel of their city. That's why there are no 46-story towers on their beach.

Re: your Feb. 11 article, "Developer looks skyward":

Harvey Champlin should look either southward or northward and leave our skyline out of his plans.

He is a true spin doctor. He asks, "How serious are you about protecting ag land and protecting hillsides?� His detachment to this area is obvious with his use of "you" rather than "we."

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “Taxpayers group says Matheney may need to resign post�:

The Star continues to avoid fairness and integrity in its reporting. It continues to convict by media. It gave disproportionate coverage to a group identified as 200 as if they were a legitimate representative group of citizens. The stories about the Public Guardian’s Office continue to exaggerate and ignore the background and the integrity Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Matheney showed in disclosing the problem.

I, for one, think that Barack Obama's lack of experience in "old boys" politics is a good thing.

Unfortunately, politics has gone from a noble calling to a blood sport. The average person may enter Washington politics, but by the time they leave or are forced out of office, they are ready for Forbes 500 membership, having amassed personal wealth far beyond what they could have made in the private sector.

Re: your Feb. 9 article, “Gallegly introduces numerous immigration bills�:

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly's rail against immigration came several months late. Normally his position on this subject comes just prior to the election, only to be forgotten for two years when, once again, he will express his dismay and fall back to sleep at his desk. Mr. Gallegly needs to wake up and get real. Eleven immigration bills? How about one — one that makes those here illegally illegal.

— Bill Armstrong, Camarillo

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Feb. 10 commentary, “The perils of articulating one’s thoughts about Obama�:

Let’s examine Mr. O'Reilly's rant.

He states, "Who knew some African-Americans would find the ‘a’ word offensive?" I've always felt that O’Reilly lived in a parallel universe, but there really is a historical reason why some, perhaps most, African-Americans are sensitive to the things white people say.

If your Valentine's Day present is a bronze heart with the number "422" engraved on it, just know that it represents the heartache of families whose loved ones perished on Flight 261 seven years ago at 4:22 p.m. This heart-shaped piece was taken from the sundial memorial at Hueneme Beach Park near the site of the disaster where family members hold a reunion each year to honor their loved ones. Please have a heart and find a way to return it.

— Audrey Albert, Port Hueneme

Re: your Feb. 8 article, “Crime rate in Ventura on rise� and your Feb. 9 article, “Ventura takes swing at public artwork�:

They say the crime rise is partly due to scarce resources. We only have four members on our anti-crime unit. With a 13 percent increase in crime from 2005 to 2006 and 335 violent crimes in 2006 — rapes and robberies topping the list — the mayor admits the city needs a funding source for fighting crime.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

Disgusting. Friday I find a straight reprinting of a GOP talking point over the cutely coined "Pelosi One" blaring from the top of the editorial page.

Re: Robert Borrego's Feb. 12 letter, “Are councilmen ‘Pinnacle puppets'?�

Mr. Borrego fails to tell everyone that if the Adams Canyon project had included low-income housing or farm labor housing, he and Mike Miller, who is employed by Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. and is also the leader of the local Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources group in Santa Paula, would be in full support of this development, just as they were in support of Fagan Canyon and are in support of the Limoneira project.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

Shame on The Star for its unabashedly partisan, not to mention erroneous, editorial criticizing new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for “demanding� a larger plane than former Speaker Dennis Hastert’s. If The Star had done its homework — a minimal requirement when an editorial is being written, I believe — and spoken to someone from Ms. Pelosi’s camp or at least read the article that appeared in The Star the same day, it would have discovered that the seat capacity of the airplane is not the problem. The plane used by Mr. Hastert simply cannot hold enough fuel to fly nonstop coast to coast. That is why a larger plane is needed.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

I'm very disappointed that my favorite newspaper prints an editorial without "fact-checking." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not ask for Air Force 2 or the like to travel from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. As a matter of fact, the request was made by the sergeant-at-arms. Where do you get your information, Fox News?

— Phyllis Dimant, Oxnard

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

The Star is correct; however, along with the rest of the media, it mischaracterized the Gulfstream executive jets, the G-III and the G-V, as "commuter jets." They are far from that. They are the premier corporate executive jets. Chairmen of boards ride them, and they are long-range aircraft, covering from 4,200 to over 6,200 miles — enough to reach San Francisco. They cost from $25 million to $40 million dollars each, but it is true that they don't have marble bathrooms or private bedrooms.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

I was dumbfounded when I read this inaccurate and defamatory editorial about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The fact that it was not a letter from a subscriber but a piece written by the editorial staff made it all the more ludicrous. Would one not expect an editor to actually research the facts in order to present the truth and not some politically biased piece of yellow press fit only for the tabloids?

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

Does The Star have an agenda to try and sway opinion of readers, or did it just neglect to check the facts before it printed this editorial? Aren’t things bad enough in our country without this kind of distortion? Even the White House is defending House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because they know she didn’t ask for a bigger plane. What in the world would The Star have to gain by printing this piece of garbage? Is it trying to compete with Fox?

— Carolyn Crandall, Camarillo

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

Is The Star serious? Aside from its vicious attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, The Star has its facts wrong. The speaker of the House is third in line for the presidency, and, under our Constitution (remember that?), the speaker is entitled to be transported back and forth to his or her home state with enough
fuel and range to make the trip nonstop. Dennis Hastert, our morally
corrupt Republican speaker, lived in Illinois and thus only required a short-range airplane, while Pelosi lives in California, therefore requiring a larger airplane.

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “Taxpayer group calls on Matheney to resign�:

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors should certainly conduct an audit of all the agencies under Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Matheney's control. But unless other problems are found, I oppose the Ventura County Taxpayers Association’s call for his resignation.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

The editorial writers at The Star should be more careful with the facts.

This statement about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — "She is demanding that the Pentagon supply her with an airliner-size jet, the military version of a Boeing 757, to fly her to and from her San Francisco district." — is wrong.

Re: your Feb. 9 editorial, “Needless fight over bigger jet�:

It is not often that I have to worry about The Star being akin to the New York Post, so what a surprise it was to read this editorial. May I ask when the editorials are written and turned in for publication? It is a legitimate question because by 11 a.m. Thursday, I already knew Nancy Pelosi had nothing to do with requesting a bigger plane. The House sergeant-at-arms, Bill Livingwood, did. This fact was further confirmed throughout the day on most news channels, and The Star even had an Associated Press article on the matter Friday.

Re: your Feb. 10 article, “Fluoridated water�:

What these people are doing is medicating me without my consent — something no one has the right to do. Take a look at who's pushing for fluoridation. They're all medical and dental professionals. This is self-righteous beyond belief! Is there no end to the arrogance of those who see themselves qualified to tell the rest of us what to do?

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Feb. 10 commentary, “The perils of articulating one’s thoughts about Obama�:

Bill O'Reilly states the obvious point and then misses it. How can the folks, as he put it, attain a “certain comfort level� with any African-American, politician or otherwise, when every statement pertaining to their qualifications or abilities is preferenced by a racial description? This continuing kind of scenario was recently played out in this year's Super Bowl.

Leave it to a Republican like our governor to come up with a boondoggle designed to line the pockets of his wealthy insurance company contributors and then call it "healthcare reform."

There is no doubt that there is a healthcare crisis. There are now 47 million uninsured Americans, up 7 million since 2000. Annually, 18,000 deaths in these United States are attributable to lack of coverage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rightly accuses us of making the world unsafe. He is not alone.

Consider the remarks made in February 2003 by John Kiesling, a departing Greece embassy employee. He wrote to the secretary of state advising, “ We have begun to dismantle the largest and most effective web of international relationships…. Our current course will bring instability and danger, not security.�

Saturday night I attended a dinner party at the Gardenia Restaurant in West Hollywood when motion picture and television stars Betty Garrett and Julie Wilson introduced a very talented singer, Perry Wood. Although he bore a striking resemblance to Frank Sinatra and his phrasing was equally effective, his voice was even stronger, with greater range.

During his one-hour presentation, Perry sang songs of composers such as Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Irving Berlin and Burt Bacharach, among others. All the lyrics were meaningful and poetic, and the melodies were such that, if you couldn't remember the words, you could always hum them.

Re: your Feb. 8 article, “Some doctors let moral beliefs cloud treatments, study says�:

Morality does not cloud one’s judgment but enlightens it. These moral doctors take into account the dignity of the human person and the harm that many treatments can cause. I would not like to leave decisions about my life and health in the hands of anyone who has a problem with the Hippocratic oath, which begins, “First do no harm.� Would you?

— Dorothy M. Hage, Newbury Park

The proposed liquefied natural gas project is being used as a polarizing political wedge in the Ventura County community by those who do not have the good of the community in mind. Many of the most vocal LNG opponents either don’t live in the county or are affiliated with organizations or elected officials that have a political agenda. Over the last year, I’ve seen several anti-LNG rallies organized by people who are running for office or who hate corporations like Wal-Mart. I think this is wrong, especially when the socioeconomic card is pulled or ridiculous scare tactics are used.

Shame on Pleasant Valley School District for opening a brand new school — Rancho Rosal in the Village at the Park — the first week of January, only to announce one week later that they are tentatively closing three schools for the upcoming school year.

As a parent of one of the schools on the chopping block, Los Senderos Open School, I find the actions of the school district horrific and completely unacceptable. The entire population in the city of Camarillo needs to be aware of the disservice their very own school district is trying to do to our children who will be our future leaders, future doctors, future teachers, etc. Try putting what is best for the children first!

— Kelly Ogg, Camarillo

Re: your Feb. 8 article, “Solution for homeless sought� and your Feb. 7 article, “Homeless urged to leave Arroyo Simi camp�:

First of all, I do lack objectivity: I am currently the chair of the board of directors for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. But after reading these two articles in The Star, an obvious solution leaps out at me.

BHP Billiton's Cabrillo Port liquefied natural gas project has failed to gain community support for many reasons. Some of the most important are:

— The creation of Cabrillo Port is driven primarily by buying influence, rather than by adhering to California’s established industry laws and quality environmental standards. Research shows that buying influence is how BHP Billiton operates its business throughout the world.

Re: your Feb. 6 article, "Lack of housing expected to get worse in county":

This article is about a report commissioned by the Building Industry Association that essentially says that we should build out Ventura County and turn it into another Los Angeles, with no open spaces and with lots of traffic, congestion, pollution, and all of the other things that are the reason we want to live here rather than there.

Is it surprising that builders want to continue building, even if the people who live here don't want it? They have fat wallets to buy studies and to make political contributions, and they are chasing large profits.

Re: Ralph Burquist’s Feb. 6 letter, “U.S. needs LNG�:

I was amused by the letter from Mr. Burquist, of Simi Valley, in which he discusses "extremists� who act like BHP Billiton is “proposing a nuclear facility."

The problem as I see it is twofold. First, a liquefied natural gas facility may not be a nuclear facility, but it sure can blow up like one. And second, why should we have to put an eyesore in our harbor? If it's as harmless and attractive as Mr. Burquist says, he'll have no objection to placing it next to his house in Simi Valley, right?

— Ed Blumenstock, Ventura

On behalf of the crew of the brig Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain and the board and staff of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, I offer the most sincere appreciation and gratitude for the welcome afforded us by the noble people of Oxnard and Ventura County in the great state of California. You are a most hospitable and generous community. As the tall ships ambassador for the state of Washington, we can only hope we returned your fair favor in kind.

Re: your Jan. 31 article, “Pension benefits viewed as fiscal risk�:

The Star and the public should not be misled. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System is on very solid financial footing, providing reasonable pensions while saving taxpayers billions of dollars through excellent investment performance.

Re: your Feb. 1 article, "March of the musicians":

Thanks to The Star for the excellent interview with Chris Jay from the Army of Freshmen.

Back in the late ’90s, when we first met Chris and AOF, they were something like minor gods to us. We went to their shows, played bad covers of their songs and talked about how we wanted to have a band like AOF someday. Chris was always kind to us, encouraged us and booked our bands when he worked at Teltron Cafe. The list goes on.

By refusing to debate the Iraq war and the president's so-called "surge,� Senate Republicans are conclusively demonstrating their contempt for American voters and the message they sent in November. They are confirming the suspicion held by some that their allegiance is to President Bush rather than to those who elected them. Continuing to support a failed president and his failed policy is not patriotism.

Their action should significantly improve the very real possibility of Democrats increasing their majority in both houses of Congress while taking back the White House next year.

Re: your Jan. 30 article, “Ventura backs ‘smart growth’ regulations for Victoria Ave.�:

Few news stories have left me with the empty feeling that I had after reading the story in The Star about the City Council of Ventura proposing to return Victoria Avenue from Telephone Road to Moon Drive back into a country lane.

Victoria Avenue is presently one of the best functioning roadway arteries in Southern California. And, now, the City Council wants to reduce it back to a country lane.

Re: your Feb. 5 article, “Consumers wary of salad greens, new poll reports�:

There's an old saying that goes, "Penny wise, pound foolish." The E. coli outbreaks of last year are a primary example of just this situation. Ever wonder why you never hear about such contamination events in Europe? The answer can be found by looking into the history of fighting food-borne pathogens 30 years ago.

Two sayings come to mind when I think of all the gullible people who will buy into the dire predictions of the report on climate change: "Don't believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see," and "Trust those who seek the truth, but be wary of those who say they've found it."

Is global warming real? Absolutely. So is global cooling. Both have happened in cycles since the beginning of time.

Are humans contributing to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Yes, again.