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October 31, 2005

Real reforms

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

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

Extending the length of time required to achieve tenure will do nothing to alleviate the real problems education faces. Proposition 74 is merely the governor’s attempt to punish teachers for having the courage to speak out against his policies. It is his attempt to blame teachers for what is wrong with California’s schools.

Proposition 75 singles out public employee unions for “special” treatment. Teachers, firefighters, the police and nurses will have their collective voices severely diminished by being required to get each member to sign off each year for their dues dollars to be spent for political purposes.

Corporations will not be required to get stockholders to do likewise; only public employee groups will be hampered. Only public employee unions will have their freedom of speech stymied.
This is not reform. This is a shameful attempt on the governor’s part to take power from hard-working, middle-class people who do the real work of the government.

Real political reform would be to limit the amount corporations and unions can spend on elections. Real reform would limit the amount any candidate could spend on an election to amounts that would make it possible for a non- wealthy person to be elected. Real reform would make it illegal to pay for signature gathering for propositions.

Proposition 76 would give the governor more power to cut the budget. It would also do away with the Proposition 98 funding guarantee for schools. This is simply a power grab on the part of the “acting governor.” It would result in more power for him and less money for schools. This is not reform.

Real reform would be to require the annual state budget actually be on time. Real reform would reduce the two-thirds majority required in the two houses of the Legislature to pass the budget to an attainable number that would allow for actual majority rule. Real reform would return control of school districts from Sacramento back to the local level. Real reform would be to find ways to properly fund schools.

There is nothing special about this governor’s special election. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money. There are no real reforms in his plan. On Nov. 8, vote no to Arnold and his ill-conceived, misguided, and imprudent “reforms.”

— Steve Blum, President,
Ventura Unified Education Association

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:22 AM

Amgen’s keen interest

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

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

Users of medications may be the root cause of some of the very high costs of drugs. Many people, it appears, actually urge their doctors to prescribe. Furthermore, many people actually believe that the purple pill is the perfect answer to a stomach problem and fail to insist on a generic medication whenever this alternative is available.

I would hope that prudent consumers would become aware that Proposition 79 is the most appropriate first step in negotiating reduced prices for medications. Our governor is opposed to 79, and that, I believe, is most unfortunate. It may be that he is too closely related to the drug manufacturers.

Review the Proposition 79 literature and give it your full consideration.

— Al Surwin, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:14 AM

Abortion data lacking

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

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

What became more and more apparent throughout this debate on parental notification, and pointed out by Ms. Katie Short, co-author of Proposition 73, is the sorry state of available and reliable statistics on abortion in California. Pertinent data on actual numbers related to teen abortions are not available.

So, in addition to the parental notification requirement, one other major benefit of Proposition 73 is the requirement for physicians “to file a form reporting certain information to the state Department of Health Services.” Recognizing and respecting privacy considerations, this physician-filed report would not identify the teen or parent or guardian by name. An annual report, however, compiled by the department, would be available to the public with statistical information related to abortions performed on minors.

Any meaningful future discussion on teen abortion, then, could make use of real numbers and data collected, rather than using unrelated or indirectly related sources.

Our teen daughters are better served and protected in California when parents are notified and when parents and the public have accurate and reliable information sources. Proposition 73 provides for both.

— Mary Dillon, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:43 AM

Hecht’s strengths

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

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

He has the support from his loving family.

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

John is very knowledgeable about the problems facing the Ventura Unified School District.

As Ventura continues to grow, it is very important that we elect a person who has the ability and vision to find the proper solution to any and all problems and to continue to strive for the very best for our children. I believe that John Hecht is a person who can do this and more for the youth of Ventura. A vote for John Hecht on Nov. 8 is to vote for a person who will not settle for second best for our children and grandchildren, our future.

— Sharon Troll, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:34 AM

Walker is a leader

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

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

John’s experience and leadership abilities make him the perfect choice in this election. His dedication and hard work are evident in all that has been accomplished during his tenure, from the modernization of our school facilities to the fiscal recovery of a once nearly bankrupt district.

John has been instrumental in improving the quality of education for all of the children of Ventura.
Please join me in enthusiastically supporting the re-election of John B. Walker for school board trustee.

— Peter Gallagher, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:28 AM

Andrews in attendance

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

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

— Jim Gray, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:25 AM

Why no endorsement?

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

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

He was a leading voice urging passage of a ballot measure to protect city revenues from raids by the state. He collected more signatures for that ballot measure than any other elected official in Ventura County. He spoke at numerous events and organizations. No other candidate or council member was out there doing that.

Police, firefighters and other city employees would face cuts in jobs, pay and benefits right now if that ballot measure had not passed.

Four years ago, Sheriff Bob Brooks said that Mr. Andrews was a strong ally of law enforcement. The only change this time around is that, instead of facing cuts, police and firefighters are now demanding 20 percent salary increases and exorbitant retirement pensions, and they want candidates to promise support in exchange for their endorsement.

Shame on the police and firefighters!

In my view, it is a mark of his integrity that Andrews didn’t get the police or firefighters’ endorsement in this election. What he does get is my ongoing appreciation for his courage and honesty. He also gets my vote.

— Richard Nyznyk, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:20 AM

Don’t blame teachers

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

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

There are thousands of highly qualified, dedicated teachers in our schools across the state working to make a difference every day. To honor them, the governor gives us Proposition 74, which allows teachers to be fired without hearings and extends the probation period for new teachers from two to five years. Five years! Thanks for nothing, governor.

Vote no on Proposition 74.

— Joe A. Murphy, Sr., President,
Oxnard Educators Association, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:15 AM

Hecht backs teachers

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

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

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

As a former city planning commissioner and the father of two children himself, John has pledged to work hard to be fair not only to the students and district employees, but also to the teachers.

The teachers are on the front line when it comes to quality education in the city of Ventura, and it is about time that their voices are heard. John Hecht has assured me that their voices will be heard, and that’s good enough for me.

Please vote for John Hecht for the Ventura Unified School District board.

— Jim Friedman, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:07 AM

No fixes here

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

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

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

Schwarzenegger’s “rebuilding” proposals are based on corporate welfare and unfunded deficits that threaten to leave no California child solvent. His one serious proposal, reapportionment, is tied to an impossible timetable guaranteed to produce chaos and legal wrangling instead of gridlock relief.

His constitutional initiatives make California’s constitution, already the laughingstock of constitutional scholars for its initiative-swollen, gerry-rigged structure, still more inscrutable. They bypass the real source of legislative deadlock — the ability of an ideological minority to block real budgetary planning — and usurp full budgetary powers for himself.

Under continued gridlock, the corporate money he collects rules the roost by enormous margins, while economic and social polarization fills the streets with Hummers and homeless. Proposition 75 guarantees this dominance for the future, leaving the power of corporate lobbyists and opinion makers unchecked.

The governor lays claim to being a super salesman. Indeed, he has sold dubious remedies to the unwary at great profit.

But if Californians want good schools, good cops and firefighters and nurses, livable wages, and effective healthcare, they must say no to the first six propositions on the ballot. In the governor’s special re-election campaign, they operate together as a partisan package, not as bona fida reforms deserving detailed considerations of their individual merits or demerits.

— Allen Dirrim, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:02 AM

Rein in union spending

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

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

The fact is public employees are well paid. Their benefits in most cases are considerably more generous than in the private sector. In addition, they have considerably more job security than those in the private sector.

I blame neither the public employees nor the unions for this situation. The unions have done their job well. Unfortunately, the politicians facing re-election do not have the integrity or intestinal fortitude to hold the line.

There is no doubt that union political power can influence an election. It is time the playing field be leveled. This is not about corporate contributions versus public employee contributions. Corporations are using private money. Public employee unions are using money that originates from the taxpayer to gain more benefits from the taxpayer.

The cost of labor is one of the largest, if not the largest, item in government budgets. It must be brought into line with that of the private sector. Proposition 75 will help bring things into balance because the unions will indeed lose some influence. If, in the future, public employees feel they are not being fairly compensated, then they will gladly contribute to the union again, so they are really not losing out.

This proposition is about the cost of government. It is unfortunate that The Star did not see it that way.

— David Shepard, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:51 AM

Loyalty admirable

I have to admire their loyalty.

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

Take former CIA chief George Tenet. When no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, and when it was made clear that there was no connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida, President Bush needed an alibi for taking us to war, so Tenet fell on his pick. He took the fall to save Bush by saying that the administration relied on bad intel furnished by his CIA and intelligence community in general. He resigned in disgrace. For this, Bush awarded him this nation’s highest civilian decoration.

Now comes Scooter Libby. He, too, has resigned in disgrace after allegedly perjuring himself in the Valerie Plame outing investigation. You wonder why he lied? I think I know.

After Sept. 11, Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the inner circle of the administration were in a frenzy to use that attack as a justification for invading Iraq and whacking Saddam. They rejected any and all intel which said that Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction and no ties to Osama Bin Laden. They were grasping at straws. They listened to a self-serving Iraqi thief who told them what they wanted to hear. They latched on to a false rumor that Saddam was looking to buy yellow cake in Niger. Cheney, the second most powerful man in the world, ordered the CIA to check the story out.

For whatever reason, the CIA choose former Ambassador Joseph Wilson to go to Niger and have a look-see. He came back and reported that the story was bogus.

Now the claim is made that Wilson’s report never reached Cheney’s desk.

Stop and think for just an instant. Can you believe that when the second most powerful man in the world orders an investigation that the results of said investigation would not reach him? Oh, come on! Well, maybe the report didn’t actually land on his desk. Maybe he was just briefed on it in the hallway by some underling. But to believe that Cheney didn’t get the message before Bush’s State of the Union speech, wherein he lied to the nation and the whole world about it, one would have to be either a complete fool or a true neoconservative believer. I know, some would say I am repeating myself.

So Scooter lied to save his boss Cheney. Just as Tenet lied to save his boss, Bush. Both men went down in flames to save their bosses.

Yes, I do admire loyalty.

— Patrick S. O’Malley, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:38 AM

Time to leave U.S.

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

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

If Ms. Herbert really thinks that public schools produce only “mindless scholastic drones” who are “dumb as a box of rocks;” that the middle class is being looted to support illegal immigrants and parasitic politicians; and that “pompous self-righteous socialists” are just “blathering about marriage for homosexuals,” what is she doing here?

Why doesn’t she leave? If she sticks around, she might end up in the hospital with a heart attack and have to have her life saved by one of those immigrant, homosexual, public school graduates. A fate worse than death!

So I will start a fund to save poor Ms. Herbert.

We’ll buy her a plane ticket to Afghanistan where she won’t have to worry about homosexuals, illegal immigrants or public schools. They hate all of that over there. They also hate women, but hey, you can’t have everything.

— Alison Mizraji, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:28 AM

Honesty, integrity

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

— Bill May, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:12 AM

More than just 2,000

The candlelight vigil marking 2,000 deaths in the Iraqi war was significant. But as we pursue our various efforts for peace, let us not forget that “the 2000” are major media numbers that have been manipulated into misnomers.

Let us not forget the civilian contractors who are not counted in the death toll, or the 7,000 soldiers listed in critical condition who have been flown out of the country to die in Germany, also uncounted.

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

And so, it is not only 2,000 deaths. It is 3,000 with severed limbs. It is the thousands with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological disturbances.

It is also the 15,000 troops (according to Gulf War Resources and the Veterans Administration) who have died from untested experimental vaccinations and depleted uranium poisoning. It is the 240,000 troops from the first Gulf War who are now permanently disabled. It is the prognosticated 400,000 more troops who will return from this war contaminated with experimental vaccinations and depleted uranium.

And, it is the millions of Iraqi children who have died from sanctions and now 14 years of war. It is the more than 100,000 Iraqi dead. It is the 12,000 being abused in prisons without legal recourse. It is the victims of cancer surging to 12 times the normal level because of the weapons our government is using.

It is the flimsy, “fixed” excuses for an immoral, illegal war that has led the people of our country to beliefs beyond treason.

As Stephen Crane wrote, “Weep not, maiden, for war is kind.”

— Grant Marcus, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:04 AM

Public union is public

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

— Rich Simpson, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 08:54 AM

October 28, 2005

Hecht ideal for board

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

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

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

John serves on the city Planning Commission and was past chair. He is president of his own environmental consulting firm where he deals with business issues on a daily basis. John has been active in our school district and has the support of educators throughout California.
John can bring to the board a collaborative approach that includes the City of Ventura, our business community and the Ventura Unified School District.

Please join me in using one of your three votes for the passion and experience that John Hecht can bring as a school board trustee.

— Ed Wehan, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:08 PM

Support local businesses

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

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

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

This is why a business-friendly climate is needed for Ventura. Without a business-friendly environment, everyone’s taxes will increase in the form of water rates and assessment fees for parks and services. You will see a decrease in response time for police and fire, dirty streets, closed-up vacant stores and shorter hours for libraries.

Please join me in supporting a strong slate of candidates who will support business and, in turn, be supporting the citizens of Ventura.

Vote for Jim Monahan, Brian Brennan, Neal Andrews and Ed Summers for City Council.

— Robert J. Alviani, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:02 PM

School board is proud

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

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

Some highlights from the 2005 Accountability Progress Report for the Ventura Unified School District are:

— Two VUSD schools reported Academic Performance Index scores above the 800 mark for the first time, Lincoln School and Cabrillo Middle School.

— Eight other schools’ API scores remain above the 800 mark: Juanamaria, Loma Vista, Mound, Pierpont, Poinsettia, Portola, Serra and Foothill Technology High School.

— VUSD includes the two schools with the highest API scores for their grade spans, Mound School and Foothill Technology High School.

— Of special note, E.P. Foster exited Program Improvement status due to sustained academic progress. VUSD’s three identified PI schools — Montalvo, Will Rogers and DeAnza — all reported substantial API growth. Montalvo achieved a 24-point growth from 2004 to 2005. Montalvo also met all federal adequate yearly progress criteria. Montalvo was granted “Safe Harbor” status by the California Department of Education because of its demonstrated academic progress and may be eligible to exit Program Improvement status if similar progress continues.

Although we still have work to do, it is important to commend all involved for their diligence, dedication and passion for public education. A thank you goes out to staff — including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, teachers, principals and administrators — who work together with parents and our community to fulfill VUSD’s first governing idea, “Every Student Can Learn.”

— Debbie Golden, President, Board of Education, Ventura Unified School District,
Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:57 AM

Photo inappropriate

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

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

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

It is certainly clear who Mohammed Ballas and the editor of The Star wanted the reader to feel sympathy for. Is The Star’s policy really to ignore the innocent victims and glorify the killer?

— Tobi Ruth Love, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:43 AM

Propositions harmful

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

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

Proposition 75 is an attempt to silence teachers, police, firefighters, nurses and school board trustees, like me, from trying to inform the public, while allowing opposition groups to continue having unlimited access to campaign funding. It is simply not fair.
Proposition 76 will drop the school funding minimum by $4 billion for future years and overturns voter-approved Proposition 98 school funding guarantees. Proposition 76 gives the governor the power to cut school budgets in the middle of the year without consulting anyone else. This is a bad idea that will dramatically harm public education in this state while doing nothing to improve or reform our public schools.

Join me in sending a message to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that we want him to repay the $4 billion he borrowed and promised to repay to our schools, and that we resent having to spend more than $50 million for this unwanted special election. Send this message by voting no on Propositions 74, 75 and 76.

— Rob Collins, Trustee, Simi Valley Unified School District,
Political science instructor, College of the Canyons,
Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:34 AM

Proposition 75 not needed

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

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

I don’t know if CSEA uses my dues for political purposes, but I do know it has a political fund. CSEA members may contribute to the fund if they wish. There isn’t any obligation involved. The contribution is strictly voluntary. Why, then, did the governor place this proposition on the ballot?

In the 40 or more years that I’ve been a member of CSEA, I don’t think I’ve ever heard any member complain about the political candidates CSEA endorsed. CSEA officers interview political candidates before each election to determine which candidates are supportive of labor and working families before making a determination. They’ve done a good job in their selections in my 40 years’ experience as a member in good standing.

Whether you agree with me or not, please vote Nov. 8. Even though the election is an offbeat election, it is much more important than voters may realize.

— Samuel M. Rose, Newbury Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:25 AM

Allegations unfair

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

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

For Mr. Sereno to say that Mr. Stratton saw his campaign donation as a payoff is insulting to everyone. That is like saying Simi Valley City Council members see their campaign donations from developers as payoffs.

Mr. Sereno claims that Mr. Kidd puts his own interests before those of the school district. Yet on the night that Mr. Kidd announced he was leaving the district to take a job with the California Teachers Association, Mr. Stratton stated publicly that Mr. Kidd had good common sense and that he always put the needs of the children and the well-being of all in the district first.

Mr. Kidd also received an Honorary Service Award from the PTA for his dedication to Simi Valley schools and students.

When Mr. Kidd asks that people vote no on Propositions 74, 75 and 76, he is doing so for the good of our schools.

— Ginny Jannotto, Past President, Simi Educators Association,
Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:22 AM

October 27, 2005

Value our freedoms

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

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

— Peter F. Cicciari, Simi Valley

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:20 PM

Comments (2)

Give the governor a break

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Jack Killian, Simi Valley

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:18 PM

Study up on economics

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

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

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

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

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

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

— William F. Klepper, Simi Valley

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:16 PM

Comments (1)

Don’t damage schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:14 PM

Supporting the troops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Laura McLean, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:12 PM

Union bosses’ power grab

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

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

This is outrageous.

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

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:09 PM

Don’t make things worse

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

— Gilbert S. Bahn, Moorpark

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:08 PM

Rein in unions’ power

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

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

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

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

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

— John Milliken, Westlake Village

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:07 PM

Public-private partnership

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:05 PM

Walker dedicated

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

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

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

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

— Leslie Carpenter, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:05 PM

Mindless scholastic drones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Mary Herbert, Oxnard

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:03 PM

Haffner works tirelessly

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

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

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

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

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

— Karin Clark, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 03:02 PM

Walker respects all

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

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

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

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

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:58 PM

Walker, Lomax best

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Dolores “Val” Rains, Camarillo

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:57 PM

Walker a team player

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

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

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

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

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:50 PM

Monahan voice of reason

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

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

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

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

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

— Ed Lyon, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:50 PM

Inability to govern

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Joseph Kobylak, Camarillo

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:47 PM

How ‘artificial’?

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

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

— Barry Long, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:46 PM

Summers deserves vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Ray Di Guilio, Former mayor, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:37 PM

Hecht for school board

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

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

— Cathy Hewson & Rene Rickard, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:36 PM

Andrews caring leader

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

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

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

— Tracy Saunders, Ventura

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:32 PM

How many more will die?

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

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

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

— Pete Johnson, Camarillo

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:31 PM

Where are Democrats?

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

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

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

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

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

— Joseph O'Neill, Oxnard

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:29 PM

Where are Democrats?

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

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

— Joseph O'Neill, Oxnard

Posted by Rick Larsen at 02:29 PM

October 26, 2005

Where’s wrath over deaths?

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

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

These are also the people who respect loss of life so much that they support crushing a half-born baby’s head during partial-birth abortions.

The Iraq war has tragically cost us 2,000 brave young patriots in the last three years. Liberals use this figure to beat their antiwar drum. I don’t mean in any way to demean these deaths, however, at the same time, according to FBI statistics, there have been roughly 45,000 murders in the United States in that same time period. These murders were committed by Americans, not terrorists. Gangs have committed more than 50 percent of those murders.

Where is the wrath of the left (of whom history generally records as softer on crime) on all these unnecessary deaths?

— Lorrell Cooper, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:59 PM

Comments (1)

Andrews experienced

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

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

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

On social issues, he championed a collaborative effort with Project Understanding to build a transitional living center for homeless and destitute families and women that is in conjunction with the Art Space project in downtown Ventura.

I could go on with many more of his qualifications and accomplishments, but the above should suffice. If you are concerned about the prudent budget management and social sensitivities of our city by our city council, please vote for Neal Andrews.

— Ardelle Faue, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:55 PM

‘Opting out’ negligible

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

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

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

Union backer Williams is under the same illusion — that union political spending is diminished simply by checking a box.

CTA claims that only about $20 out of the monthly dues actually goes into political causes. That is about $200 per year that the box-checker, in any case, does not get back. But if not into political activities, where then is this portion of their dues directed?

Money, of course, is fungible, and if a box-checking teacher’s $200 is put instead into “office expenses,” say, then what is to prevent CTA from transferring that same amount from “office expenses” over to the re-election of a candidate?

Both writers might find it interesting to know that non-member agency fee payers receive a rebate of more than $300 from the union out of each previous year’s dues. Why don’t regular members get back the same amount when they check that box?

Taking money that does not belong to them is a big labor art form. CTA even refuses to inform its members how they can immediately reclaim the recent $60 dues increase levied specifically to defeat Proposition 75. By law, they must provide this information to non-member agency fee payers, but will not so inform their trusting rank and file. A class action lawsuit on this is pending.

Checking a box opts the union member out of nothing. The same amount of money is still taken, and it is only on the say-so of the union that its political usage is off the table.

It is time to put a stop to this paycheck plunder. Vote yes on Proposition 75.

— John Gentry, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:46 PM

Appalling behavior

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

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

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

— Suzanne Diulio, Anaheim

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:17 PM

Proposition confusing

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

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

I am reminded of the 1897 Indiana House of Representatives, which passed a similarly indecipherable bill authored by a physician who had copyrighted the methodology which set the official Indiana value of pi, the ratio of the radius of a circle to its circumference, to either 3.2, 3.232, 3.236, or 9.24, depending on which part of the bill was referred to. The bill was on its way to passage in the state Senate when a Purdue professor blew the whistle and the bill was dropped.

One hundred and eight years later, California voters are being asked to approve an initiative that virtually no one can clearly explain, in the hope it will “fix” the energy problems in the state.
The purchased power debacle in the late ‘90s was caused entirely by the requirement, since rescinded, that prohibited the ISO from entering into long-term supply contracts and required that all purchased power had to be obtained on the spot market on a daily basis, permitting Enron and others to fraudulently game the system. This requirement cost consumers in California dearly.

Proposition 80 contains some good proposals — for example, accelerating the use of energy from renewable resources to 20 percent by 2010 rather than 2017, but there’s far more chaff than wheat. It’s the job of legislators to work those valuable provisions into law. That’s what we elected them to do.

— Tom Stapleford, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:11 PM

Don’t damage schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Luke Bannon, President, Simi Educators Association

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:05 PM

Donation improper

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

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

I personally made several donations after having considered and researched organizations carefully, as some are better organized and put funds to better use than others.

In a sense, the city has donated my money to some organization that I do not know of — I haven’t heard where the donation went — and may not have chosen to donate to.

— Barbara Collins, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:51 PM

Value our freedoms

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

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

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

— Peter F. Cicciari, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:37 PM

Loosening union’s grip

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

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

Unfortunately, politically powerful and well-financed public employee unions don’t take kindly to people who dare to challenge the status quo — especially public officials who step out of line.

Kidd, the executive director of the California Teachers Association, Simi Valley/Thousand Oaks, responded to Stratton’s letter with the typical misinformation, half-truths and smear tactics that we’ve come to expect from the Simi Educators Association. He was outraged that a member of the school board actually had the nerve to speak up and take a stand against the union.

Kidd was quick to point out that the SEA contributed to Stratton’s school board campaign and went on to suggest that Stratton should refund any SEA money he had received.

What is clear from that response is that the SEA uses its power and money to buy influence, and they demand absolute loyalty from candidates they support. Kidd seems to believe that political donations are supposed to be more of a payoff than an actual campaign contribution to highly qualified, independent-thinking candidates.

Apparently school board members elected with union money aren’t supposed to think for themselves or disagree with the teachers union under any circumstances.

How dare Stratton think that he was actually being elected to do what is best for students and the local community instead of accepting his role as just another minion of the teachers union. Kidd thought the school board was bought and paid for, and he doesn’t seem happy to find dissension within the ranks.

So stick to your guns, Mr. Stratton, because there are a lot of voters in this county who support you and appreciate your courage, hard work, integrity and honesty.

I only wish we had more public officials who refuse to be intimidated or bullied into silence by union cronies like Arleigh Kidd.

— Tony Sereno, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:27 PM

Stop blaming GOP

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

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

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

I suppose the point of her letter is simply: Don’t trust Republicans.

What is so paradoxical about Ms. Winchester’s letter is that Democrats control every aspect of California state government, with the recent exception of the governor’s office.

The state has many problems, but perhaps the most fundamental is the financial crisis. The fiscal problems began under leadership where the Democratic Party controlled every elected state office and both of the state legislative branches. It occurred despite increasing state revenues.

It is particularly disingenuous for Ms. Winchester to blame the federal deficit on Republican control of the federal government, while failing to lay blame for California’s current fiscal crisis on control of state government by the Democratic Party.

I’m sure there is some twisted logic to this, probably the fault of Enron.

While I remain undecided on whether to vote for or against the other controversial initiatives placed on the ballot, I plan to vote yes on Proposition 76.

Proposition 13 was passed because the state Legislature was ineffective in dealing with a significant financial issue. Sadly, the Legislature has not learned from its own history of ineffective government. As such, I believe the best available solution is to provide the governor — regardless of party affiliation — the ability to deal more effectively with the budget.

— Ralph Smalling, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:04 PM

October 24, 2005

Teens’ deaths tragic

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

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

We as parents and grandparents know what being young was like. We know that we knew it all, and seldom did we take the advice of our elders. But somehow, we made it, with the grace of God and our wise parents and a little common sense.

But how do we get the message across to the teens today on the safety of driving, of slowing down, of realizing that when they have passengers, they are responsible for their lives? Like the article said, “Drugs and alcohol are not the only cause of accidents.”

I’m sure that the driver had no idea how the day would end, no more than the driver of the tragedy the next day in Agoura with the same results. I and many parents and grandparents who dread the late-night phone calls only hope and pray that when the young ones get behind the wheel, they remember these two tragedies and realize how much they hurt the ones who love them so very much. I hope they realize that parents aren’t out to stop them from enjoying themselves but only to ensure that they do it in a safe way. They need to remember that we were there once ourselves, and we do know how they feel.

My sincerest condolences to the families of the girls that were taken at such a young age.

— Gerald Kiliszewski, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 02:18 PM

On military service

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

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

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

Questionable though it may have been, the Falklands conflict was a real, violent campaign, and it is uncontrovertible that Prince Andrew, a member of the royal family, shouldered the same risk in combat as poor commoners from Manchester and Liverpool and the east end of London.

In contrast, we have our current administration. Unlike former president Bill Clinton, who had the courage of his convictions in opposing the war in Vietnam, or failed presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, who went to war, we now have George Bush, who took a million dollars or more in military funds to “train” as a Texas Air National Guard pilot, all of it wasted when nepotism got him excused to run the election campaign of an Alabama racist.

Then there is “Bravado Bill Cheney,” a sunshine patriot and war profiteer if ever there was one — brave when it comes to sending some other poor devil off to war, preferably someone poor, but who used every means at his disposal to get out of serving in a war he claims was necessary and just, and who has pulled every string possible to enrich his cronies at Halliburton.

Courage consists of more than bravado, bluster and prevarication, the chief attributes of the current empty canisters posing as our national leadership.

— Ira Cohen, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 02:09 PM

Was process flawed?

Attorney Alyse Lazar wrote a letter to the Triunfo Sanitation District on behalf of Save Open Space and those of us who are a part of the ad hoc Oak Park Water Tank Committee.

In this letter, she says that Triunfo Sanitation is not complying with the California Environmental Quality Act in its process to choose a site for the Conifer replacement tank in Oak Park.

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

She says that in the entire environmental review process, decisions have to be made on the basis of fact. Instead, Ms. Lazar says, “The summary matrix simply provides staff’s unsupported conclusions.”

Therefore, there was no legal basis for the board to arbritrarily vote to narrow the choice of sites down to five, because decisions cannot be made from “unsupported conclusions.”

Attorney Lazar also says that all the 16 sites listed “meet the threshold criteria for inclusion in the Draft Environmental Impact Report.” For a site to be included, it only has to be “environmentally superior to the proposed project in some respects.”

In regard to the proposed Doubletree site, Ms. Lazar says, “All of the alternate sites appear to have less of a viewshed impact” than the impact “to the undesignated number of persons who annually use the public park land adjacent to site A8.”

Because of the above, Ms. Lazar recommends to Triunfo that all 16 sites be included in the DEIR.

So basically, attorney Lazar says that Triunfo Sanitation District has not obeyed California law. Facts backed by data are required by law, not unsupported opinions as appear in the summary matrix.

Please, Triunfo, do your homework and give us the facts so that good decisions regarding the tank sites can be made.

— Janna Orkney, Oak Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 02:00 PM

Subsidy wrong for rich

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

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

People who can afford very nice homes have no business whining about feeling entitled to government support for our standard of living.

— Lorella Thomas Hess, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:46 PM

Walker dedicated

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

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

— Leslie Carpenter, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:42 PM

Jobless can vote, too

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

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

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

Let’s see, does that mean the citizens of Ventura who are on disability, welfare, unemployment, Social Security, students surviving on student loans or those who are homeless do not have a right to “say something” regarding the operations of their city because they don’t pay taxes?

Holden has every right to agree or disagree with Rencher’s political views, but to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to attend City Council meetings or run for a city office because he doesn’t have a job or pay taxes is dictatorial.

I, too have watched Mr. Rencher scold the council on television and am thankful we have a “watchdog” with his passion, dedication and intelligence to look out for the best interests of Ventura’s citizens.

It’s elitist, arrogant people like Holden that Rencher is fighting against and trying to protect Ventura residents from, and I will certainly cast my ballot for him.

— Shelly Sara Hart, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:38 PM

Exhaust vs. smoke

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

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

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

Let our 22-year-old self-proclaimed mentor lead by example. Get a picture of him walking from Oxnard to Simi, explaining with signs how the pollution from automobiles poses more of a health risk to children than secondhand smoke.

Smoking is a horrible habit, but so is turning a blind eye to the reality of the pollution caused by getting to that mall via automobile, as opposed to maybe 100 people smoking cigars outside in designated areas. What drivers contribute is far worse, medically speaking.

This Ventura smoker thinks others are doing wrong by driving nearly all the way across the county to shop instead of going to a store in the city they live in.

— Rick Nolan, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:31 PM

Study is centuries old

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

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

The impact of chloride salts upon crops has been amply studied — not for decades, but for thousands of years. The classic example came in 146 B.C. when Rome finally defeated its archrival in the Mediterranean, Carthage, at the end of the Punic Wars. Not only did the Roman army raze the North African city of Carthage to the ground, they also salted the fields so that no crops could ever grow there again. To this day, none do.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts’ attempt to shirk their responsibility to clean discharges into the Santa Clara River by changing the water quality standards is nothing less than a declaration of war, not only upon the farmers and growers here, but upon the entire populous of Ventura County that deems its open space, quality of life and agricultural lands an inherent part of our identity.

Were I a public employee of a government agency in Los Angeles, would I risk the wrath of the entire business, agricultural, political and civic community of Ventura County to prop up a bogus standard? I think not.

We can only hope that when the Regional Water Board meets on Nov. 3, it has sufficient wisdom to come to the same conclusion.

— Howard Smith, Ojai
(The writer is the chairman of the board of the Ventura County Economic Development Association, but his views expressed in this letter reflect his own opinion and not necessarily that of VCEDA. — Editor)

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:17 PM

Supersized slide

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

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

Perhaps the message is about honoring and respecting nature. You cannot escape the power of nature, no matter where you live. You must pay attention to it. If the state moved the freeway and the railroad, I would probably be more concerned about living here. Attending to the hill, such as terracing it and stopping irrigation, would be much easier.

I appreciate the concern of geologists and people in the surrounding communities, and I would love for these hills not to be a threat. I must take pause with anyone who thinks that closing the town of La Conchita is the answer to easing their comfort with the power of nature. That would be mega foolishness.

— James Riela, La Conchita

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:07 PM

Haffner deserving

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

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

While sitting on many committees with Mary, I have witnessed her passion for the betterment of our children’s learning environment, in and out of school. Mary has done great things for the children of Ventura, and she has a record she can be proud of.

Please, on Nov. 8, do your homework and vote for the candidates who have a strong background and will be worthy of the office they are running for.

— Lisa Kuklenski, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:57 PM

3 candidates get votes

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

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

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

Brian has been a strong proponent for workforce housing and working to see that our city’s budget allows for addressing public safety issues.

Neal Andrews’ integrity and his dedication to keeping a sharp eye on our city’s budget have been of great benefit to our city for the last four years. Neal has followed through on the commitments he made while running for office four years ago. I personally feel the city is in a much better position than it was four years ago. While no one person can claim credit for that, I do appreciate this council taking a leadership role in actions such as selection of our new city manager and the long-awaited action on the transitional living center. As a council member, Neal continues to work for solutions in regard to workforce housing.

Ed Summers would be a welcome addition to our City Council. Mr. Summers’ active participation in our community for many years demonstrates his ability to work as part of a team. I see his background in banking complementing the goal of a more secure financial picture for our city. His appreciation for the arts is also a valuable component for decisions impacting our community.

The actions taken by our City Council in the near future will have a significant impact for all of us in Ventura. I have my concerns about the direction we will head, and I am sure other residents have their own concerns. Please do your part by educating yourself of where the candidates stand and casting your own ballot.

— John S. Jones, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:53 PM

Who will be 2,000th?

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

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

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

Who will it be?

As we mourn the dead, let’s not forget the thousands who have been injured in mind and body. Many will bear the scars of war for the remainder of their lives. Who will be the 2,000th to die or indeed the last to die or to be wounded in a war that should never have begun and likely can never be won?

Who will it be?

— Robert R. Unruhe, Ojai

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:46 PM

Time for reform

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

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

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

— Sal Scarpato, Westlake Village

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:41 PM

Schools would be hurt

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

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

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

I agree that Proposition 13 was, and is, needed for homeowners.

I do agree with Mr. Stratton that the current propositions will do what they are intended to do.
So, let’s review. Proposition 74 will make it harder to attract and retain new teachers. It will also strip teachers of due process, meaning teachers will not get a hearing before being fired. Of course, we give criminals a hearing before passing judgment, not after passing judgment.

Proposition 75 will silence the voices of working men and women. Unfortunately, rank-and-file firefighters, peace officers, teachers and nurses cannot afford $100,000 to buy a plate of chicken in order to meet with the governor. Proposition 75 is designed to stop union members from participating in the political process.

Proposition 76 will cut billions from schools. It could cut up to $12 million a year in funding from Simi Valley schools. Proposition 76 will also gut voter-approved Proposition 98. It may also lead to cuts in police and fire protection.

I also did not realize that Mr. Stratton has such disdain for Simi teachers and their association. When Mr. Stratton ran for the board, he sought and received the recommendation of the Simi Educators Association. He also eagerly accepted a donation from the Simi Educators Association for his campaign.

If Mr. Stratton feels so strongly against public employees, I’m sure the association would gladly accept a refund of the donation he was given.

— Arleigh Kidd, California Teachers Association Executive Director,
Simi Valley/Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:35 PM

Get unbiased view

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

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

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

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

First, no one has ever forced me or Mr. Anderson to invest in a corporate stock. If you don’t agree with what the board of directors is doing, you don’t buy the stock.

All Proposition 75 says, and let me quote the sample ballot, “Prohibits using public employee union dues for political contributions without individual employees’ prior consent. Excludes contributions benefiting charities or employees.” This resembles something that could have been written by the Founding Fathers right after penning the Bill of Rights.

I suggest that all voters not listen to the commercials. Just read the unbiased sample ballot.

— Lance Holt, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:17 PM

Prop. 13 had its flaws

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

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

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

In many areas since the passing of Proposition 13, services indeed have been shut down, and those which have survived have been seriously gutted.

Just because it didn’t happen to Mr. Stratton doesn’t mean it isn’t so.

At Royal High School in Simi Valley, I was a member of a social studies department of 11, serving more than 2,500 students, which had a budget of just over $800. I spent almost that much myself each year on classroom and clerical supplies ranging from books to paper and pencils — not to mention the Band-aids and the Kleenex.

I guess according to Mr. Stratton, a school district trustee no less, this is an acceptable situation. He will spout the mantra “cut the waste” or “live within our means,” but interestingly, I did not see him one time on campus to see where the waste was.

Now Mr. Stratton supports additional propositions concocted by the governor designed to further handcuff public education and silence the voices of those who would oppose them. It would be nice if Mr. Stratton actually supported and defended education, instead of carrying water for the conservative Republican Party at the expense of the students and teachers of the Simi Valley Unified School District.

I urge Simi Valley residents to do two things: Vote no on Gov. Arnold SchwarzRenneger’s anti-education propositions, and should he attempt re-election to the school board, send Mr. Stratton back to city government instead, where he actually performed quite well.

— Gary E. Murphy, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:57 AM

Teachers threatened

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

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

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

When a teacher transfers districts, most will only credit four years of experience. A 15-year veteran teacher could be dismissed and forced to apply elsewhere. He or she would not only have two possibly unjustified poor evaluations on file, but would also lose 11 years on the salary scale. The old district hires a cheaper teacher in that person’s place, and the new district gets an experienced teacher for a good price. Want to be a teacher?

Say you’re a principal. Two unsatisfactory evaluations means that a teacher could be dismissed, and you’re unsure how “unsatisfactory” is defined. Do you include weaknesses in otherwise good teacher evaluations? Document them and anyone could pull the file and claim that he or she should be fired. Don’t document them and the weaknesses may remain or worsen. Proposition 74 puts principals between a rock and a hard place, too.

We need teachers and proactive principals. Proposition 74 isn’t going to encourage good people to the profession, and it isn’t necessary. Districts are already implementing new support and accountability programs for beginning teachers, and if a teacher needs to be dismissed, he or she can be. If lazy districts won’t pursue due process, blame them, not teachers.

— Kim Stephenson, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:36 AM

Citing examples

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

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

That article cobbled together every anti-Bush rumor, allegation and innuendo known to man in a rambling non-specific attack on the president. An especially poignant anti-Bush item was his inferred responsibility for the heartless government hounding of disabled veterans, “their futures irrevocably altered,” for collection of unspecified debt.

I’m delighted that Thomasson is a former editor but unhappy that he continues to voice his yellow journalism through rambling jihadistic op-ed pieces in Scripps Howard News Service papers.

— Richard S. Hawley, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:30 AM

‘Opting out’ available

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

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

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

Many years ago, during the Jerry Brown administration, collective bargaining was instituted. At that time, there was no opting in or out when you joined, because everything was brand new and being found out as we went along.

About 15 or more years ago, the sign-up cards were changed when the issue of political contributions came up. The option to

Blog: LettersToTheEditor

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« September 2005 | Main | November 2005 »

October 31, 2005

Real reforms

Amgen’s keen interest

Abortion data lacking

Hecht’s strengths

Walker is a leader

Andrews in attendance

Why no endorsement?

Don’t blame teachers

Hecht backs teachers

No fixes here

Rein in union spending

Loyalty admirable

Time to leave U.S.

Honesty, integrity

More than just 2,000

Public union is public

October 28, 2005

Hecht ideal for board

Support local businesses

School board is proud

Photo inappropriate

Propositions harmful

Proposition 75 not needed

Allegations unfair

October 27, 2005

Value our freedoms

Give the governor a break

Study up on economics

Don’t damage schools

Supporting the troops

Union bosses’ power grab

Don’t make things worse

Rein in unions’ power

Public-private partnership

Walker dedicated

Mindless scholastic drones

Haffner works tirelessly

Walker respects all

Walker, Lomax best

Walker a team player

Monahan voice of reason

Inability to govern

How ‘artificial’?

Summers deserves vote

Hecht for school board

Andrews caring leader

How many more will die?

Where are Democrats?

Where are Democrats?

October 26, 2005

Where’s wrath over deaths?

Andrews experienced

‘Opting out’ negligible

Appalling behavior

Proposition confusing

Don’t damage schools

Donation improper

Value our freedoms

Loosening union’s grip

Stop blaming GOP

October 24, 2005

Teens’ deaths tragic

On military service

Was process flawed?

Subsidy wrong for rich

Walker dedicated

Jobless can vote, too

Exhaust vs. smoke

Study is centuries old

Supersized slide

Haffner deserving

3 candidates get votes

Who will be 2,000th?

Time for reform

Schools would be hurt

Get unbiased view