Re: your June 23 editorial, “Another veto for stem cells�:

I strongly disagree with your editorial comments in favor of embryonic stem-cell research. Just because an embryo is not in its final form of a child doesn't make it less human. All of its genetic material is in place. A unique human being is present. Treatments that do not require destroying life are now available, and true successes and cures are coming from adult stem-cell research.

Re: Lorin Wainwood’s June 22 letter, “Why make all pay for research?�:

Wainwood wrote that he didn't want his tax dollars used for embryonic stem-cell research and we were free to go to private companies if we wanted to give a living chance to loved ones affected with Parkinson’s, diabetes and other debilitating diseases.

I would like to see The Star — and all other media for that matter — also list the violent death rate in some of our major U.S. cities when reporting the loss of our men and women in Iraq. I think we would see that our warriors are safer in Baghdad than in, say, Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Los Angeles and yes, our nation’s capital. The loss of our soldiers is never a good thing, but these comparisons may give some perspective to the anti-war harpies.

My son is a U.S. Marine and will deploy to Iraq soon. I will sleep better at night knowing he is on patrol there and not walking the streets of some of our finer American cities.

— Doug Wilton, Oxnard

A year ago, I wrote in these pages about my battles with Blue Cross over coverage of periodic positron emission tomography scans to monitor a GIST tumor, a lethal type of cancer, for which there is a very high risk of recurrence. The company ultimately agreed to coverage, acknowledging that the PET scan is the primary way to evaluate such tumors.

The May 22 edition of The Star carried a long article regarding the overcrowded Ventura County jails. On April 11, The Star ran an article on the same issue, in which Sheriff Bob Brooks expressed his concerns about the overcrowded jail situation and the legal ramifications that could result from the situation.

In the April article, Brooks indicated an overcrowding of almost 200 inmates; in the May article, Sheriff’s Cmdr. Brent Morris indicated an average of 1,750 inmates are housed in the two county facilities, with the two having a combined capacity of 1,492 — a difference of 258. So both men were close in their estimates.

Re: your June 25 article, “Traditions fade�:

I can understand why parades are fading.

Several years ago, my sister and husband came for a visit during the Fourth of July and hoped that we had a parade here in Ventura. I called several city offices and finally found one that knew about the parade. Yes, Ventura had a parade. Yes, they had a band. OK, this all sounded great.

Re: William Sherman's June 19 letter, “Be fair to Israel":

It's difficult to watch our country lose its credibility and reputation for justice behind an imbalanced and failed policy in the Middle East.

It is also difficult to watch as our country builds more fences than friendships and then to listen while defenders of the fence-building attempt to divert attention from this ridiculous behavior by arguing if it is a fence or a wall they are building.

Re: Michael Josephson’s June 21 commentary, “Character counts: Not all bricks are thrown in hate�:

I generally like paradoxes, but the offerings in this column were very inconsistent. The first line — “A successful man known for his philanthropy was driving his new car through a poor part of town� — struck me as insensitive. I immediately began to think of the invisibility of poverty.

I have lived through so many increasingly noisy Fourth of July holidays that I feel it is rather hopeless to ask people to have some consideration for their neighbors and not use illegal fireworks in neighborhoods. The fireworks terrify pets, many of which flee in terror and are killed on the road.

My parents bought a home in Bartolo Square in 1951. Awhile back, my mother wanted to see the old neighborhood. Were we surprised! Cars, cars and more cars. Totally unlike the neighborhood of the early ‘50s when there was one or two cars per household, and the garage was used for those cars.

Now Oxnard is considering allowing Bartolo residents to pave their front yards to ease the parking problem.

Why not enforce the single-family dwelling laws instead?

— Sharon Welty, Oxnard

Why does Southern California Edison really want to put another power-generating plant, a peaker, in Oxnard? Oxnard already has two power plants, at Ormond Beach and Mandalay Beach, owned by Reliant Energy. There are other cogeneration plants in Oxnard owned by private companies.

The Reliant plants will be going away. They are old, inefficient and no longer need to be located on the coast. New power plants no longer need seawater for cooling. When these eyesores are gone, there will be a wonderful opportunity for coastal restoration.
The Reliant plants were owned by Edison prior to deregulation. Now Edison wants to get back into the power generation business in a big way.

Help me understand what is going on in Washington.

Is it true that the vice president is no longer part of the Executive Branch or, by implication, any branch of government?

Then why does he still have an office in the Executive Office Building, fly on Air Force Two, claim executive privilege, enjoy Secret Service protection, pull down a quarter-million-dollar salary, maintain lodging in one or more undisclosed locations and travel in fleets of SUVs, all the while anticipating a well-earned retirement package courtesy of Halliburton Corp?

Kudos, plaudits and a rousing three cheers for the Ventura Public Works Department and its crew for the completion of the long-awaited resurfacing of Harbor Boulevard from its intersection with Seaward Avenue to Peninsula Street. I know a thousand or so of us really appreciate it and managed to survive the circuitous detours while the work was going on. Now we hope that it won't be found necessary to dig any massive holes in it for at least a month!

— John C. Funk, Ventura

Kudos to County Counsel Don Hurley and the Ventura County Board of Education for taking a good hard look at the law and determining that the Legislature exercised common sense when it established interdistrict transfers laws! Fillmore’s school board misapplied the law, and it is now time for them to “follow the law,� as they have been pleading for others to follow. Continuity of education, established curriculum and established social circles are supported under the education code. Public education should be celebrated, not turned into a competition over dollars.

Re: Jim Carlisle’s June 22 TV-Radio column, “Ranting and raving in equal portions�:

Mr. Carlisle is most obviously not an Angel fan, because if he were, he would have some clue about the Angels' announcers. Rex Hudler is goofy and off the wall, but he is in no way worse than the monotone Jose Mota. In fact, when Mota is announcing, we listen to the radio instead!

Re: John Blumenthal's June 20 letter, "Stem-cell question":

I would sooner die of any illness than be the recipient of any cure derived from the death of embryos or have our tax dollars going to embryonic stem cell research.
I am not morally opposed to stem cell research of the non-embryonic variety, as there have already been great strides made.

Mr. Blumenthal is free to donate to any privately funded research that he feels will meet his goal of killing babies to cure an illness. I have the right to be happy that President Bush vetoed the use of tax dollars to fund such research.

— Claudia Satori, Newbury Park

Re: your June 21 article, “Bush vetoes stem cell bill, urges ‘responsible’ research�:

Once again, the media is not differentiating between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells — as in, no one had to die to get them.

There have been no cures or successful treatments derived from embryonic stem cell research, despite decades of attempts.

There have been more than 40 treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes derived from adult stem cells.

As a faithful reader of The Star, I would like to see a comprehensive report on emergency rooms. I read that one-eighth of individuals do not have health insurance, and I presume they rely on emergency rooms for healthcare. I have heard of people waiting hours for care, so emergency rooms must be understaffed and underfunded.
With St. John's Regional Medical Center being closed temporarily, will that cause another emergency?

I have been fortunate never to have used an emergency room, nor have my family members.

— Irene Level, Ventura

It is alarming to read that Ventura County’s children are ranked only 46th in the state for health coverage. Even though Health Care for Kids is helping to cover children, it is still a far cry from universal healthcare for all.

It is time for Californians to insist that quality healthcare be affordable for all.
Thousand Oaks residents can learn more about comprehensive healthcare at a free educational forum on Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Thousand Oaks Library on Janss Road.

Re: your June 21 article, "Church is attempting to bypass SOAR law":

Cornerstone Community Church’s proposal to build a 60-acre church complex on land protected by Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources has come at a good time. County issues with rising population, threat to agriculture acreage, traffic agonies, affordable housing and quality of life need an idea of this magnitude to help define the road ahead.

I love all these letters from the biking public informing drivers of the "rules of the road" and how important it is to be respectful of bicyclists. Now I have a safety tip for them.

When a road, such as Black Canyon, is posted for no bicyclists, don't ride on it! I travel that road on a daily basis, and not a week goes by when I don't encounter a bicyclist struggling up the grade on a road barely two lanes wide with lots of blind curves and steep drop-offs. Not only are these people endangering themselves, but evasive maneuvers by the selfish automobile drivers to save the lives of those bicyclists just might cost them theirs. Respect goes both ways.

— Judy McLaughlin, Simi Valley

Re: Dawn Williams’ June 11 letter, “Day-laborer site wastes money":

Dawn Williams' letter took Thousand Oaks City Councilman Andy Fox to task for supporting the expenditure of $100,000 for a day-laborer site, labeling it "blatant corrosive spending and fiduciary irresponsibility."

Re: your June 11 article, “Bush gets a warm welcome in Albania�:

During his visit to Albania, our glorious president — or should we call him King George? — declared that Kosovo, which is part of the independent and sovereign country of Serbia, should get its independence. Kosovo constitutes 14 percent of Serbia and is the birthplace of our Orthodox religion. Why doesn’t Bush support the independence of Palestinians and annexation of Jerusalem to them? Let’s not forget Tibet.

Re: Dan Walters’ June 5 article, "Overhauling a tax break":

Walters picks out a minuscule property tax break to the farmers called the Williamson Act. He calls it an outdated, egregious example of a tax loophole and writes that it should be abolished.

Re: your June 13 article, “Police search yields 200 prescription pills�:

The referenced article reveals one more clear case of the Ventura County criminal justice system’s favoritism toward white female criminals.

Emily Randles was arrested on suspicion of selling prescription pills to a 16-year-old. Police reported the district attorney’s “intent� to file felony charges in this case. However, Randles — who could be charged with endangering the health and safety, contributing to the delinquency and illegally dispensing prescription without a license to a minor — was released “on her own recognizance.�

On June 15, a number of family members and I attended the Oxnard High School 2007 Commencement Exercise at Houser Field. We were appalled by the opening ceremonies of this program.

According to the printed program and an announcement by James Edwards, principal, after the processional and the presenting of colors, there would be a moment of silence and the National Anthem. The program indicated the audience should stand.
The colors were presented by the Oxnard High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, as stated by the principal. About half of the audience stood; half did not. Then came the unthinkable!

Re: your June 20 article, “Thou shalt heed rules of the road, Vatican tells drivers�:

The Vatican has just published the Ten Commandments of driving. This must be as important as the original Ten Commandments, or the Vatican would not have gotten world coverage of this critical document’s release.

Even though I am not a theologian, I will give you my interpretation of the new commandments:

1. Drive carefully.

Californians wont like this article: http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/120863/article.html

Gasoline came out on top. It's cheaper than ethanol, plus ethanol usage is harder on a car’s engine. You can count on replacing or rebuilding your car engine every 50,000 miles.

— William Wolny, Oxnard

I would like to ask for the support of the Ventura River Greenway project by The Star, the Ventura City Council and the public at large.

The river has been neglected as a public resource since I bought my condo more than 20 years ago!

Re: your June 17 Business section article, “Without license�:

This article regarding insurance policies for persons in the country illegally who own vehicles is misleading and conveys a false sense of security to those affected.
The statement, "Though driving without a valid license is illegal, it is often not punished if the driver is insured and his registration is current," is completely without foundation and patently false.

Re: your June 9 article, “ERs in states of emergency�:

I read this front-page article and was most disappointed by The Star’s failure to attribute a major cause of the problem to the illegal alien. The Star’s sub-headline stated, “Fewer doctors, more uninsured patients cited as causes.� Why did The Star not point out how many of the almost 190,000 emergency room visits in 2006 were by uninsured patients? Of that number, how many were illegal?

— Jerry Horwitz, Newbury Park,

Would opponents of stem-cell research accept a stem-cell cure? I suppose that many would. The dirty deed would have been done!

I have a few questions myself. Why are California taxpayers funding embryonic stem-cell research when private industry doesn’t seem interested in investing their millions in it? Perhaps California tax money is disposable, but stock investors need more evidence that this will be successful research.

Re: Amy Montano’s June 20 commentary, “Trucks do more than ‘blast humans’�:

Ms. Montano’s commentary was in response to my June 1 letter regarding the presence of military vehicles at Touch-A-Truck.

I am glad to know that some military vehicles are used for constructive purposes. However, the military, by definition, does in fact refer to war, the weapons (including vehicles) used in war, and the people who use them. Indeed, when one joins the military, one accepts the possibility of being ordered to kill and maim human beings, and even to destroy entire communities.

I don’t think most Americans would object to giving the 10 to 12 million non-criminal illegals work permits for five years that would then be renewable. We object to flooding the voting rolls and the current policy of chain immigration if they are given amnesty and citizenship.

If Congress would split the pending legislation into two parts — one on closing the border and one on authorizing work permits for those who are not criminals — then maybe some progress could be made.

— Bill Gourlay, Westlake Village

Re: your June 14 article, “Does your heart go pitter-pat for Harry Potter?":

Absolutely not. I have no desire to read the books and was only mildly amused by the first two movies, in which I could predict almost every plot point. I'm tired of hearing about this boy wizard. Other authors have written books about boy wizards, too.
Instead of overhyping one author, Scholastic and the other major publishers need to put their money and efforts into promoting new writers who are struggling to get their first novels into print.

— Sally Carpenter, Moorpark

Re: your May 27 editiorial, “FUSD puts cap over kids�:

The editorial stated, “County schools superintendent Charles Weis said parents know the school district they are getting when they buy their home or move to a community.�

It is not only circumstances in life that can change, requiring a family to request an interdistrict transfer. The values underlying a district’s decision-making process can change as well.

Re: Mickey Meile’s June 14 letter, “Pollution attack�:

This letter was pretty much a copy of the information put out by the Oxnard Shores Neighborhood Council, just in a little more of a foaming-at-the-mouth style.

Nobody really wants a power generating plant in their backyard, but unfortunately, they are necessary for today’s energy demands. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, solar power takes 35 to 45 cents a kilowatt hour to generate, versus 3 to 5 cents burning coal, so alternative sources are going to take some time to develop.

I just returned from my son’s high school graduation, a ceremony almost ruined by inconsiderate people and their air horns. After 12 long years of schooling, parents and family members endure a few hours of sitting on cold, hard bleacher seats, so far away they can barely recognize their child, just so they can hear their child’s name spoken over the microphone. They scan the listing of names, counting it down, sit up a little straighter and get their cameras ready.

And then it happens.

Re: your June 15 article, “Gallegly against immigration reform�:

How preposterous for a U.S. congressman to make up scary lies just to affirm his racist position.

Take a look at the “comprehensive nonpartisan report� at http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/CIR/cir024.htm if you want to know what the bill really says. I searched for any clue related to “guaranteed amnesty� or the lie that “24 hours after an illegal files an application he will be granted legal status.� Guess what? Nothing!

The ultimate “sentence� for Paris Hilton, which would offend few people: no more publicity — name or photo — in any publication for five years. I personally would vote for “life,� but....

— Ted Phyler, Ojai

Re: Carol Lindsey’s June 11 letter, “Mall needs better shops�:

Target coming to our Pacific View mall is just another nail in the coffin for the mall because, as Ms. Lindsey said, we already have a Target. What we really need is a good department store to fill the space of the now-closed Robinsons-May.

Re: your June 8 letters, “Cyclists, motorists, safety�:

I have been riding my bike daily on the streets and roads of Ventura for the past 40 years. I have to say that most motorists in Ventura are considerate of bicycle riders. Nearly all of the bicyclists like myself drive cars and try to be considerate of other drivers. The writers of the complaining letters seem to be in a hurry and are frustrated because they have to slow down.

Why are the corporations in my own backyard and others in the United States sending our jobs to China? By these actions, are we or are we not also becoming enslaved?
Corporations are part of my community, and they should be serving the community. Instead they slash and burn: They lay off and then rehire people at lower wages. People without jobs and less buying power also affect other businesses in the area.

The proposed closing of Pacific View Community Day School in South Oxnard is a rash decision that will have a significant impact on the students and the community at large.

No fiscal savings can justify displacing more than 100 students who receive both educational and socio-emotional services from Pacific View. The proposed “outsourcing� of their education at a county facility will hamper the progress these students have achieved. These are not “throwaway� children; these are our community children, and they should be treated as such!

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for bicycle safety�:

Your front-page picture shows a group leader riding well out in the traffic lane and well inside the fog stripe. I seem to recall from the last time I boned up to renew a drivers’ license that there is an ordinance requiring bicycle riders to ride as closely as is practical to the curb.

Re: your June 8 article, “Retirees sought to teach math, science�:

This Associated Press article on getting retirees to teach as a second career speaks to our emotions but definitely not to our reason.

Re: your June 8 letters, “Cyclists, motorists, safety�:

As a nearly 60-year-old bicyclist who has bicycled since a kid, I was disturbed to read the anger of motorists toward bicyclists in The Star! My riding averages six days a week and consists of periodic long road trips, exercise and running errands to conserve fuel.

It’s time for a compromise on illegal immigration. We are all part of the problem, and there is enough blame to go around.

We, as a nation, have benefited from cheap labor. At this time, however, it has spiraled out of control. Corporate profits are up, and wages are not. Hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed. Migrant workers pay very little in taxes and require the most in government services, meaning less money for other badly need programs and higher taxes. It’s time to stop this insanity before it’s too late.

I remember the late 1970s and early ‘80s when Americans deplored the apartheid system in South Africa. The British were condemned for setting up a puppet government, placing black South Africans in squalid bantustans, giving them identification cards and using them for cheap labor. The diamond trade was boycotted as we learned of how native blacks were imprisoned, tortured or killed if they protested their racist treatment. Meanwhile, the British bilked the economy and drained South Africa of its major resource, blood diamonds.

Re: your June 6 article, “A big push for cycling safety�:

This article has generated a great deal of interest, and I appreciate that The Star published an article covering this issue.

Several of the letters to the editor support a desire to keep cyclists off the road. Having been an avid cyclist for a number of years, my experience has been that the more a cyclist acts like a motor vehicle, the better the chance that cars will see the cyclist.

Not too long ago, it seemed the city of Simi Valley was all fired up trying to deal with the problem of unlicensed street vendors selling everything from flowers and strawberries to corncobs on a stick. I recall reading about the process and a few public hearings, but as recently as this past week, I still continue to see evidence of questionable street vendors out and about with what appears to be little or no regard to what the law says.

Re: your June 6 article, “A big push for cycling safety� and the photo accompanying it:

As an avid cyclist who rides thousands of miles on Ventura County roads every year, and having just completed a ride across the country, I agree that the cyclists in the photo should be riding on the shoulder. If we did not see the back two riders on the shoulder, it could have been that something was preventing the front two from riding on the shoulder, but apparently that wasn't the case.

Re: your June 11 article, “Eliminating DARE an unwise decision�:

In that article, you cite that the city of Moorpark has enjoyed the enviable distinction of being the safest city in Ventura County for more than a decade. Preliminary crime statistics were released recently by the FBI, which prompts Morgan Quitno Awards to issue their 13th Annual America’s Safest Cities (and most dangerous cities) report.

"Oh my God, that's my baby," screamed the distraught mother of Paris Hilton as the sheriff led her 26-year-old daughter off to spend the next unknown days in jail.

This happened because Mrs. Hilton did not allow her daughter to grow up and learn civility and responsibility, depriving her of tools that parents teach their children.

Re: your June 10 article, “Resident has vision of new city by the sea�:

I had to laugh at Jonathan Ziv’s idea that I should vote to join his new city. Too many people from Los Angeles have moved here and want to create some new trendy name for Oxnard.

The Hollywood Beach area has turned from a cool beach area into boxes built lot line to lot line, and then everyone wants to scream when people visit the area.

Re: Adam Goldstone’s June 11 commentary, “What view is blocked?�

One has to wonder why Mr. Goldstone would be so upset over such a common-sensical approach to view protection. The initiative is similar, though not as restrictive, to what most other California cities have done or are in the process of doing. I understand that when one’s income is tied to development, the suggestion of even the slightest moderation can feel threatening.

Re: your June 9 article, “ERs in states of emergency�:

It's amazing that an entire article can be written about overcrowding of emergency rooms and not even once mention the problem of illegal immigration. Here we are in Southern California, and not to think that there's not a link between overcrowded ERs and illegal immigration is intellectually dishonest. Whatever happened to journalistic integrity?

I was amazed to find out that Oxnard is being targeted again as a dumping ground for pollutants. I was shocked when I heard that there was no environmental impact report for the peaker power plant being proposed just north of Oxnard Shores on Harbor Boulevad in Oxnard.

Re: Carol Lindsey’s June 11 letter, “Mall needs better shops�:

I enjoyed this letter. The writer complained that there were not enough expensive shops at the Pacific View mall, and that Robinson’s-May will be replaced by the second Target in a few blocks. This indicates that the folks who are expected to shop there are not rich and enjoy discounts. And, as she said, if you can afford $3 or more per gallon, you can always drive to Santa Barbara and Simi and Thousand Oaks, which have very expensive shops.

Re: Alan Rosin’s June 11 letter, “How are commentators chosen?�

I was excited to see that part of my fan club still remembers me. It has been 15 years since I have written for a newspaper, but apparently I have not been forgotten.
Mr. Rosin brings up a point about fairness but, in the case of The Star, I think he is wrong. I have found The Star to be fairly balanced. They seem to try and give most viewpoints equal time.

Re: your June 6 article, “County, union far apart on salary�:

I work for the Ventura County Public Health Department as a smoking cessation facilitator. We also provide the residents of Ventura County with free nicotine replacement therapy products and provide prevention education throughout the schools in Ventura County, both the private and public sectors alike.

Re: your June 7 article, “Last Moorpark DARE graduation�:

I would like to express my deep concerns. I am a 20-year resident of Moorpark and have two children who have graduated from the DARE Program under the guidance of Deputy Tim Lohman.

Re: your June 6 article, “Port Hueneme to consider gun law�:

Does the Port Hueneme City Council really think this will do any good for their city at all? There are already laws against straw purchases, so having another one would seem redundant.

I was hoping the rumors of Target going into the Pacific View mall were false, but I guess that's what we're going to get. Where is the imagination? Do we really need two Target stores?

You can make it two, three or four stories and it's going to be the same. Since I moved to Ventura a long time ago, I've waited for the mall to become someplace I want to shop. I don't think Macy's should be our high-end store for shopping. Thank goodness we have the choice of going to Santa Barbara, Simi Valley Town Center, The Oaks or the Promenade at Woodland Hills — now those are what you call good shopping malls.

— Carol Lindsey, Ventura

If anyone is actually surprised that Paris Hilton got out of jail so quickly, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell. I guess it's really true that if you are young, rich and pretty, there are different standards of treatment. Ordinary citizens would have ended up in a medical ward at the jail if they were really “sick.�

— Roberta A. Orvis, Ventura

What are the criteria by which The Star's Opinion section selects local area commentators?

Forget immigration reform — been there, done that! Just enforce the laws already on the books. Nothing else is needed. This will save untold millions of dollars and lives!

— Don Schweitzer, Ventura

Re: your June 7 article, “Details emerge on fire station photo shoot�:

Could you have written and published any more of a “non-story� than this? Our brave firefighters cavorted and had a laugh with some scantily clad ladies from a nearby — and perfectly legal — business, all in the testosterone-enriched environment of a fire station. And they interviewed 17 different people and got more than one version of the story? Anyone who is surprised by any of this must be from a different planet. Also, it must have been a really slow news day.

Re: Patrick Hunter’s June 6 commentary, “Eliminating DARE an unwise decision�:

I found myself agreeing with all Mr. Hunter stated. I am a fifth-grade teacher at Glenwood Elementary School in Thousand Oaks, and my students have completed the 10-week Drug Abuse and Resistance Education program taught by a Ventura County deputy this past year.

This is a wonderful program that has been offered to fifth- and/or sixth-grade students for many years. I was disheartened to hear that the program is at risk of being cut.

Re: your June 8 article, “Hilton ordered back to court after release�:

I wonder why our children don't respect the justice system. I wonder why they openly flaunt authority. Could it be that they know we have different tiers of justice, depending on who the person is? A poor girl from East Los Angeles who violated probation like Paris Hilton did would have served 45 days in jail. So now we have her “locked up" in a penthouse suite, and I am willing to bet that she will get caught violating that sentence.

Re: your June 7 article, “Civic Arts Plaza fuels economic engine�:

This article on the money Thousand Oaks gets from the events held at the Civic Arts Plaza didn't mention the millions of dollars that went to architects, designers, contractors and attorneys for all the repairs necessary to fix all the roof leaks and traffic flow problems. It is clear the parties involved with the decision-making while planning and building what I think is a very unattractive complex were unqualified at best. While the teenage baby-sitters may be cashing in, as the article points out, the people of Thousand Oaks are paying the price.

— Tim Daugherty, Newbury Park

During the budget study session for the city of Thousand Oaks’ next two fiscal years beginning July 1, it was determined that the city is spending more than it is taking in, resulting in a recommendation to use $40 million in reserve funds. Mayor Andy Fox is quoted as saying, "Revenues and expenditures have come to a collision point." Fox has recommended community study sessions to help the city keep pace and stay ahead of the problem and bringing in financial experts to participate in the sessions.

As long as Planned Parenthood is performing abortions here in Thousand Oaks, we no longer can consider ourselves to be one of America's safest cities. If the smallest among us, the unborn, are being killed at Planned Parenthood — or any other abortion facility, for that matter — then how can we truly say that Thousand Oaks is a safe city? If it is not safe for some, then it is not safe for all.

— Noel D'Angelo, Thousand Oaks

I was at first pleased that the billions spent on homeland security by this administration paid off in that loyal American Muslims were actively engaged as informants in protecting our country. It later developed that, were it not for a convicted addict seeking a reduced sentence, all those billions would go for naught, and we are more vulnerable than ever.

A note to our intelligence community: Openly solicit loyal American Muslims to act as agents to prevent terror originating in their own communities. This will have a threefold benefit:

Since the state of California cannot seem to come up with a “humane� way to end the life of death row inmates, I suggest we hire Dr. Jack Kevorkian to do what doctors and psychiatrists have been unable to do for more than a year now. “Dr. Death� to the rescue, and we taxpayers stop providing room and board for those due to die long ago.

— Sharon Welty, Oxnard

Re: Dan K. Thomasson's June 2 commentary, "Does prosecutor have vendetta against Libby?"

Mr. Thomasson is having trouble understanding what Scooter Libby has done to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to make him so angry. It may be easier to understand if some facts that were accidentally left out of the commentary are included in the discussion.

When we look at history, we can see that the personalities involved in disputes were one of the deciding factors as to the outcome of the disputes. In our current situation, we have a president who is belligerent and arrogant, which creates much resentment worldwide.

Now, President Bush wants to install a missile shield defense system in Eastern Europe, and Russian President Vladimir Putin objects. President Bush declares, "The Cold War is over," just as he is prepared to start it anew.

In the third "debate" among Republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani exposed a stunning misunderstanding of history and the theology of his own religion. He said, "We have great gifts in this country that come to us from God. We have a country in which we have freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom for the individual, the right to elect our own officials."

Re: your May 27 editorial, "Fillmore puts caps over kids�:

I am writing to applaud the Ventura County Board of Education for its willingness to reconsider interdistrict transfer appeals filed by Fillmore parents.

After hours of arduous study of the State Education Code, two local attorneys have clarified the issues surrounding Fillmore Unified School District's transfer policy. It has become apparent that FUSD erroneously applied the "3 percent cap" to all transfer requests. This had the effect of rendering oversight by the County Board of Education impotent and tied the board's hands in reviewing appeals.

Re: your June 5 article, “Farmer in Ventura won’t use fumigant�:

It is major news that a “farmer in Ventura won’t use fumigant." We all owe Ed Terry a big "Thanks!" Whatever his reasons, he is pursuing a more ecologically sustainable and public-health-minded method for growing strawberries. He sets a better example than our agricultural commissioner.

— Zack Griffin, Ojai

Re: your June 6 article, “County, union far apart on salary�:

The good fiscal oversight of Ventura County government is something we should all appreciate. In general, county administrators and members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, except for one, have placed the public interest first and have made every effort to maintain sound fiscal accountability.

Re: Alan McKenzie’s May 29 commentary, “So thankful for Democrats�:

McKenzie is complaining about the additional $24 billion that was added on to the $95 billion that President Bush was seeking for the war effort in Iraq. McKenzie was quick to state that out of the $24 billion added, $6.4 million of it went for House expense accounts and salaries, $75 million went for peanut storage (in Georgia, not Iraq), $100 million went toward the Democratic and Republican conventions and, lastly, about $3.5 million went for tourists to tour the capital.

Thousand Oaks needs to grow into its big shoes.

I'm aware that the city is making major road changes and scrambling to catch up with its growth, but hopefully transportation will soon take priority.

First, I'd like to see Thousand Oaks return the direct bus service to Los Angeles International Airport we used to enjoy, and perhaps add service to Burbank Airport. It would be nice if Metrolink had weekend schedules. It seems that for a city of more than 100,000, we're far behind other cities our size nationwide. As for out-of-state visitors, the least expensive way to and from LAX is $88 per person.

For quite a long time, we have followed the unbelievable antics of Mike Dunn, who was unfortunately elected to the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. His latest action, when he made inappropriate contacts with a district job candidate, reeks of stupidity. It becomes even clearer that there is only one action any sensible voter can take. We must do whatever it takes to help promote a “Recall Dunn� campaign.

Dunn is an embarrassment to our community, our schools, and to the voters of Thousand Oaks. Where do we sign the recall petitions?

— Sally & Ken Hibbitts, Westlake Village

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for cycling safety":

What is wrong with this picture?

A narrow, two-lane highway, double yellow lines prohibiting passing, blind curves the norm, no bike path. On Highway 150, a popular route for bicyclists, people ride their bicycles two and three abreast, blocking traffic, waving for motorists to pass them.

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for cycling safety":

I am all in favor of cycling safety, though I gave the sport up many years ago. I do, however, find that the subject matter has as much to do with today's cyclist as the vehicle driver. The Star photograph is the absolute classic, and I wish the article had been written in a different manner.

Take another look at how the cyclists are riding. It is obvious the front two cyclists are not only in the vehicle lane, but are probably riding two abreast for a portion of the way. The trailing two riders are also riding two abreast.

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for cycling safety":

Cyclists need to be aware and practice "defensive cycling.� I can't tell you how many times I've had to steer around a group of cyclists riding side by side into the vehicle lanes. They act like they own the road and they are invincible. They need to understand that most drivers have no concept of what it's like to ride in traffic. Drivers are anything but courteous, and the cyclists compound the problem. Most drivers and cyclists don't even know the law.

In the majority of accidents, the cyclist is at fault.

Re: your June 6 article, “A big push for cycling safety�:

Every time I see something about bicycles, I get hot under the collar. It seems all the writers feel bicycles have the right of way and motorists must yield to them. I see it the other way. Motorized traffic should have the right of way and bicycles should stay out of their way. If the law says otherwise, it should be changed.

The Star published an article awhile back about electric vehicles not being allowed on public streets if they cannot keep up with traffic. Why not bicycles, too?

Re: Dan K. Thomasson's June 2 commentary, "Does prosecutor have vendetta against Libby?"

I find it hard to believe that Mr. Thomasson is attacking counsel Patrick Fitzgerald for prosecuting "Scooter" Libby, calling it graphically unfair and ridiculous.

Fitzgerald threw the book at Libby because he was the scapegoat given up by Vice President Dick Cheney and presidential adviser Karl Rove to take the fall.

Re: Nicole Johnson’s June 1 article, “Media miss plan for alliance in the Americas�:

I have been concerned about the Security and Prosperity Partnership, also known as the North America Union, for some time now, and I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Johnson’s commentary. I keep hoping that some smart "mainstream" investigative journalist will pick up on it and run with it, but to no avail. Not even the so-called "patriots" of the media who publicly say they are for the people of the United States have mentioned a word about what is going to become the biggest attack on the sovereignty of this great nation.

Re: your June 4 article, “A day among the oaks�:

What fond, whimsical memories weaved through my mind as I read Rip Rense's recollections of growing up in Thousand Oaks in the 1960s.

Although I grew up at the same time in the city of Los Angeles, my childhood delights are just as vivid and endearing as his. I might also add that in my father's waning years, we often had wonderful — and, for me, enlightening — conversations about his childhood and the fun he had. We, too, agreed that in its own unique way, each of our childhoods was much nicer then.

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for cycling safety":

Shame on Brad Thorn, pictured leading the group of Channel Islands Bicycle Club members, as he and another cyclist ride out of the bicycle lane and in the lane of traffic. So this is how they advocate bicycle "safety?� Looks to me like they practice a "do as I say, not as I do" philosophy. Motorists, beware!

— Gail Johnson, Newbury Park

Re: Nicole Johnson’s June 1 article, “Media miss plan for alliance in the Americas�:

This commentary is a much-needed signal to the public of what is going on behind the scenes in our national government.

It had been some time since I had driven up Carlisle Canyon from Westlake Village. My concern has been heightened over the years as the Lake Sherwood area has been developed — first from a local resident and environmentalist who is now deceased, and later from current residents in the area — about the potential impacts of the development of the Lake Sherwood building on their homes and the environment.

Re: your June 2 article, “Park District releases EIR on plans for park location�:

This article mentioned only area residents' concerns about traffic and noise. While traffic and noise are certainly issues that need to be addressed, they pale in comparison to multiple safety issues, which the environmental impact report did not adequately study.

In what year did this occur?

“The people of England have been led in Iraq into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honour.

“They have been tricked into it by a steady withholding of information. The Baghdad communiqués are belated, insincere, incomplete.

“Things have been far worse than we have been told, our administration more bloody and inefficient than the public knows.

Re: your May 29 article, “Military's mental healthcare faulted�:

Can you imagine the horrors that drove Marine Maj. John Ruocco, and hundreds of soldiers and veterans like him, to the despair of suicide? If so, you can begin to imagine the desperation driving suicide bombers. While the military's mental healthcare may not be up to the task of mending broken souls, the "problem" is not with the military. The problem is insistence on the use of deadly force when persuasion fails. It's the war, stupid.

— Peter Wilson, Simi Valley

Re: your June 6 article, "A big push for cycling safety":

Doesn't anyone notice that half of the photographed bicyclists are in the lane of traffic, not in the bicycle lane? The two cars attempting to pass them must cross into the opposing lane of traffic to get by. It doesn't look like they're practicing "safety" to me. It happens all the time, and motorists are blamed.

— Bob Johnson, Thousand Oaks

Re: your June 6 article, “School board votes to censure member�:

Conejo Valley Unified School District board members Michael Dunn and Tim Stephens and Superintendent Mario Contini got together and wrote school board protocols so that the board would work together more harmoniously. All board members signed a pledge to abide by the protocols in March.

Re: your June 5 article, “Plea switched in fatal crash�:

It has been two years now since Ashley Ponce caused the death of seven people, long enough to have deadened the horror to a great extent. It is her great good fortune or her lawyer's that the case has taken so long to come up. I don't think she would have gotten probation had she been subject to a jury trial.

Pleading guilty is another clever ploy to exonerate herself. Even Paris Hilton is serving time, and she didn't kill anyone. Probation in this case seems very unjust.

— Margaret Shea, Camarillo

With all the bashing of President Bush, you would think the world is coming to an end — or at least our world.

However, consider this: With Bush in the White House, 90 percent of the people have health coverage and 95.6 percent of the workforce is employed. The number of Americans employed is the highest ever in the history of our country. We have not experienced one terrorist attack on our country. The terrorists are under constant attack and cannot stick their heads out of their holes without taking fire from us.

Re: your June 3 article, “Halaco recycling plant 40 years later�:

Let's all take a deep breath and try to think coherently about the Halaco debacle. Remember that when Halaco came to Oxnard, there was no Clean Air Act, no Environmental Protection Agency, no Coastal Commission. The site was the abandoned city dump that had its own pre-existing pollution problems. It was not a pristine wetland.

Re: your June 5 article, “Plea switched in fatal crash�:

Where is the justice in probation being likely for the woman who caused seven people to be killed in a crash? Is this the result of an easy judge? Is this the influence that the American Civil Liberties Union has brought upon our country? How can a previous drunken-driving charge be unrelated? How is it possible that this woman may serve no time for sending the victims of her accident to an early grave? They got a death sentence.

In my war, the battle for world domination, more than 10 million Americans served at one time or another.

Among the hundreds of men I served with, only George Keerwar was a family man. He had a wife and two small daughters. He, like myself, was caught up in the draft, six months before Pearl Harbor. Fortunately, George and I survived the battles we were engaged in, including the Battle of the Bulge. I know that I am a throwback.

Re: your May 24 article, “SCAT to expand Route 12 service�:

It’s good to see that if the government feels it is worth it, for whatever reason, services can be expanded.

Re: Colleen Cason’s June 3 “Cason Point� column, “High court handles the fairer sex unfairly�:

Colleen Cason was right on the mark, although I think she missed slightly by suggesting that this absurd Supreme Court ruling was focused on women in the workplace. The fallout will impact people of all genders, races, religions, etc., who may face such wage discrimination.

Our eldest son graduated in 2005. Grandparents and other family members flew in from around the United States for the event. We were more then disappointed when we were unable to see our son accept his diploma or hear his name being called.

Our youngest son will graduate on June 14. I am asking parents and guests to please be considerate at the ceremony and adhere to the following:

— If you must yell and scream when your graduate’s name is called, please only yell once. It is impossible to hear the next graduate’s name when you continue yelling and screaming.

Re: Nicholas Yanuzzi’s June 4 letter, “Setting the record straight�:

To Mr. Yanuzzi and the rest of the 28 percent of folks in the country who fully support our wrong-headed "war on terror" in Iraq: At least three completely independent and bipartisan panels found not a shred of evidence linking Saddam Hussein or Iraq to 9/11.

Re: your May 31 editorial, “Room to grow�:

Did anyone read this editorial before publishing it? What explanation is there for the mundane ending? What is the intellectual redeeming value of such a statement? I am continually frustrated by the juvenile quality of these editorials.

— Mark J. Savalla, Port Hueneme

Re: your May 30 article, “Clothes encounters�:

Judging by the picture on the front page, I would disagree that Pacifica High School and other schools in the Oxnard Union High School District enforce the dress codes they adopted.

The boy in the photograph appears to be wearing very baggy pants, and it appears that his underwear showing. Female students wear very revealing clothing that is certainly not appropriate for a school setting. Boys often wear pants below their bottom, held up only by a belt.

Re: your May 18 article, “School board rejects charter proposal�:

There was never a question in my mind that the proposal for a charter school at Los Senderos would be rejected, and it was. Haven’t people anything better to do than to complain about their child’s education? Enough is enough.

The union representing the bulk of county workers, Service Employees International Union Local 721, formerly known as SEIU Local 998, is now negotiating for a successor agreement to its current contract with the County of Ventura, set to expire at the end of this month.

Re: your May 19 graphic accompanying the article, “Delayed Hwy. 101 bridge limps toward finish�:

I was maybe confused or puzzled. There are to be an active 12 lanes replacing six or seven. How is congestion going to be relieved when there are still six lanes south and six lanes north of the new “big bridge?�

— Charles Dart, Ventura

Re: Ken Curry’s May 30 letter, “Insensitive to veterans�:

Memorial Day is in honor of the soldiers who died, not for the veterans who are living. Veterans Day, Nov. 11, is for the soldiers who are living. So Mr. Curry’s day for veterans comes every Nov. 11.

Nobody is being negative. This is the truth and always has been. I’m sorry that he feels differently.

— Judy Lakkis, Thousand Oaks

Re: Tom Teepen’s May 22 commentary, “A compromise Americans need to stand behind�:

Where does The Star get these guys?

How many times has The Star used others to express its opinion so its readers do not associate it with these views?

Freedom carries a price, and citizenship is not free. Amnesty for the millions of illegals would most likely bankrupt my grandchildren.

— Bill Gourlay, Westlake Village

Do we really need another Home Depot in Thousand Oaks to fill the vacant Kmart building on Hampshire Road? Don't we already have a Home Depot in Thousand Oaks — or Newbury Park, if you like?

If I remember correctly, when Home Depot moved to its current location, it was going to turn its old location near the corner of North Ventu Park Road and Hillcrest Drive into an Expo Design Center. What happened to that plan?

Shame on the Simi Valley Unified School District.

It has a student who is 16 years old and was kicked out of his house in November. Many phone calls have been placed to the school site and to the district concerning this student, who was and still is homeless. The response to those phone calls was, “We cannot do anything for this student because he is attending school and he is not failing any classes.�