Roundabout

I am a local resident of Santa Ynez and have read much about Caltrans’ captioned project in recent weeks. The purpose of this writing is to confirm my significant objection to Caltrans’ proposed roundabout. It promises to be enormously expensive and, for those of us who have to navigate local roadways pulling horse trailers, it promises to be highly unsafe!

In my view, the same safety effects that you promise could just as easily be obtained by installation of a four-way stop, much like the one you have happily placed at the nearby intersection of Highway 154 and Edison Street. I, therefore, join with many of my neighbors in asking you to reconsider. Thank you for your consideration.

Charles W. Cappel

Santa Ynez


Public education

In your Aug. 30-Sept. 5 edition, you had two commentaries related to public school education, but they addressed very different concerns. A serious and alarming topic was covered by Rob Walter, candidate for the 37th CA Assembly District. Tragically, what Walter described is not the first incident of this type to occur in the California legislature. Walter’s article was titled “Why did our Assemblyman Das Williams oppose the child predator bill (SB1530)?” The other was by Bill Cirone, SB County Superintendent of Schools, titled “Parental support more important than ever.” Both articles contained constructive, useful information.

After seeing the two “public education” commentaries in the same Journal issue, I am prompted to ask a question about the protection of children, which is more imperative than parental educational support, ­vital as it is. Parents have some of their greatest involvement in their children’s education by whom they select to the school board, and it’s the board that Das Williams purportedly recently stated that he doesn’t want making the final decisions on predatory teachers in the classroom. But the board represents and has a duty to parents, and most importantly to children, to control termination decisions. Will school boards and administrators support this bill going forward? The school board is the entity that makes decisions in these few but very egregious cases, and it’s the board that represents the parents.

Parental involvement would have been enhanced and leveraged via SB 1530.

Joan Schumacher

Santa Maria


Fire protection

I recently picked up a local newspaper and read the article on the parcel tax for fire protection for all parcels outside the incorporated cities and the National Forests in California. It is described as a “Fire Prevention Fee” signed into law by the Governor as Assembly Bill XI 29. Are we not paying taxes for this already?

As far as I understand, the Howard Jarvis Prop 13 specifically says no tax can be levied on top of the 1% of property values spelled out as the limit of taxes that can be levied on Real property in the State of California, unless specifically approved with 2/3 voter approval.

I don’t care what they try to call it, a blanket levy on all properties is a tax. The signature of the governor means nothing. What will be the next thing they will add, Police Protection Fee? How about a School Teacher Fee, Road Maintenance Fee, Tree-trimming Fee, Sign-painting Fee? There will be no limit for what other fees can be charged to every parcel of real estate.

All this to me looks more like fees for high salaries and pension guarantees to government workers. I would like to see this challenged in court for its constitutionality. If it is allowed to stand we will be in for more ways around the laws.

We approved the Proposition 13 many years ago to avoid this attempt to take taxpayer’s money without authorization. Let us voice our opposition to this.

Arne Hansen

Santa Ynez


Politics

We do not live in a fair, balanced or just world; that is why the truth must be our No. 1 priority. Society, media, and politicians dictate to the masses to manipulate people’s minds as to what is right and wrong, telling us how to live. Just give us the truth and we will find what is right and how to live.

We are in an economic mess in this country, and being a Democrat or Republican does not make a leader. Standing on the side of truth, telling the truth is what makes a leader. Bill and Hillary Clinton have attacked Obama. Hillary in the 2008 campaign blasted him by saying, “Shame on you” Barack Obama, accusing him of spending millions of dollars with falsehood, running negative ads and lies about her. She openly said he is all attack and no action. Bill said he played the race card on him. He also said Obama is the biggest fairy tale he has ever seen and more.

Yet, both Clintons are on his bandwagon. She took a job in his administration, and Bill is saying Obama is the one to be elected again. The Clintons are nice people, intelligent and professional politicians and obviously have sold their souls to stay in the political field. Is it any wonder we have a mess in this world when a Democrat or Republican sells his/her soul and ignores the truth because of his/her political ambitions? We the people are the losers.

Obama has taken our country downhill and wants four more years!! He and his spin team lie and spread fear to manipulate people’s minds. He promised hope and change, transparency and openness, and the young fell for his spin and are now wondering what happened!

He does not have a history of leadership abilities; he is the worst president in my time, and he will do anything to win and uses repulsive attacks on those that expose him. He is a whiner and blames everyone else because he is so lacking. His concern is for himself, living the good life and keeping the job as president. He has a fabulous vocabulary that helps him use all the right words in the right place, but his words are empty words, nothing but rhetoric, and that explains why he cannot walk his talk. He and his spin team are appalling at every turn with their attacks on others because they have accomplished nothing to stand on. Cronyism is at the top of his list. He chose Biden as vice president and oh, let’s just say like attracts like, that is why Obama chose him as vice president.

He says so many things that are so far out and untrue about Mitt Romney that actually apply to him. He must be looking in the mirror. Just recently he said in a media interview that Romney has extreme views, that he lacks serious ideas, refuses to own up to the responsibilities of what it takes to be president, and deals in factually dishonest arguments. Unbelievable!

We have serious issues to solve for the people of America, and Obama has made things worse with so many suffering. It is heartbreaking. We are a country in danger because of him. He has accomplished nothing. Let’s bless Obama, Biden and their corrupt friends in his administration, and send them on their way. We have a positive choice of leadership with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Both are good, caring family men, and they have vision and a history of leadership to help all the people because they are sincere and care about America and the people. They will strengthen, lead our country and give us hope again.

Charlene Abundis

Santa Ynez


Taxing situation

This country is broke. How long before the total failure of the economy? It is more obvious every day that a new approach is needed. The economy needs a stimulus that works instead of throwing tax dollars at wasteful efforts. Two solutions have been proposed: The Fair Tax and the Flat Tax. The Fair Tax would give every employee and business in this country, their full paycheck and completely do away with the present income tax system by replacing it with a consumption tax. Think what a stimulus this would be. The Flat Tax would not do away with the income tax. Federal taxes would continue to be deducted from every paycheck. Now I ask, which one would be an effective stimulus for the economy?

Roy T. Newsom

Granbury, Texas