Capps v. Maldonado

We should all be disappointed in Rep. Lois Capps, who is running a negative and misleading ad against her opponent, Abel Maldonado. The Maldonado family farming business is engaged in a dispute with the IRS that is currently in a settlement process. Capps has implied that Abel has somehow cheated on his taxes or withheld income from his tax returns, and this is seriously misleading. She should be ashamed of this negative and inaccurate ad.

The truth is Rep. Capps has a more serious and blatant tax reporting problem. For many years, Capps has been collecting rent in the area of tens of thousands of dollars from a staff member renting a room in her own home. This rent is income and she did not declare it. She did not report this income to the IRS until this 2012 campaign year, even though five years after the fact, she sent a letter to Congress disclosing the arrangement. This obvious and personal failure to report income is more than a normal business dispute.

This ad campaign reveals a side of Rep. Capps that is not generally known or admitted. I do know that both she and I signed the term-limit pledge in our original campaign and received healthy donations and support with the organization that sponsored the term-limit issue. We both pledged in writing to only serve three terms. I would have not gone back on my word, but Capps has obviously broken her pledge by many terms.

Brooks Firestone

Former Assemblymember and ex-candidate for Congress

Solvang


Sign language

We are mad. Someone took down our political signs. It only shows how intolerant the liberals are that they are afraid to allow any hint of truth to be in the game. The thing is, for all their lying and cheating, in the end, the God of truth will win; in fact, the final victory has already been won. They just don’t know that what they see here on earth is not the end.

Vote for Rob Walter for State Assembly. He is a good man, owned by no special-interest groups, and will fight for we the people.

Dick and Gretchen Kieding

Ballard


In the works

Hello, Public Works Department! What in heck is going on?

After reading a couple of articles about your rural road studies, I’ve concluded there seems to be a fox in the henhouse. Since you are responsible for county roads, why did you leave out information that the roads around wineries with tasting rooms have a 57% increase in alcohol-involved collision rates? Why leave out that they are three times higher on weekends? Why did you misrepresent the traffic volumes? Why did you cover up that Roblar Avenue accidents have doubled? In fact, the Santa Ynez Valley alcohol involved collision rate is 30% higher than the rest of the county.

The roads that you studied are old, narrow, paved country roads with deep irrigation ditches on the sides that are intended to be used by local ranchers, farm equipment, hay trucks and horse trailers, horseback riders and now they are regular bicycle routes. Aren’t you concerned about large groups of wine-drinking drivers from L.A. driving on them?

The study resulted from the deep concerns of the people that live in areas where new tasting rooms are asking for permits and they are adjacent to rural homes. Homeowners see what’s going on. Then we find out that it was the wineries hoping for permits that paid for the study and certainly did not want the truth about alcohol-related accident rates to come out. Somehow, Public Works has forgotten that it is the residents in these areas that they are working for and whose taxes pay their salaries!

Loren Foote

Santa Ynez


With thanks

Buellton merchants are known for their generosity and this weekend they extended themselves to a single woman fighting a difficult battle with cancer.

At the 3rd annual “Buellton Bash” vintage trailer rally, the following Buellton merchants donated goods and services: The Creation Station, Flying Flags RV Resort, Pink Trash & Treasures, Andersen’s Pea Soup, Antonio’s Pizza, China Panda, Taco Roco, Mother Hubbard’s, Ellen’s Pancake House, AJ Spurs, Pattibakes and Company’s Coming (Orcutt). More than $8,000 was raised to help this amazing woman, which will allow her to pay for mounting medical and living expenses.

I’m so proud to be part of a community that responds so quickly and generously to the needs of others. The donations were creative, fun and delicious. A date is already set for our group to return for the 4th “Buellton Bash” and you can bet we will continue to support these wonderful Buellton businesses. Our most sincere thanks to everyone who contributed in any way!

Ellen Stewart

Santa Ynez Valley


Dogs

It is my understanding that all insurance companies have a “vicious dog” list. Prior to buying a dog, it would be to your readers’ advantage to find out what breeds are on that list. If you should buy a dog on that list and that dog should maim or kill a person or pet, your homeowner’s or renter’s policy will not cover you. Due to the increase in vicious dog attacks, some counties are now requiring landlords, who rent to people owning Pit Bulls, Rottweilers etc., to buy a special insurance policy, to cover these breeds, prior to renting to their owners. I have noticed that recently, photographs of dogs in newspapers and on TV who need a home are often called Lab Mixes, instead of Pit Bulls.

This is more than deceitful; it could well be criminal, if the person knowingly lied in the ad and the dog later caused bodily harm or death.

Recently, some county shelters and humane societies have been sued for such deceptions. The highest settlement so far is $7 million.

Hazel Mortensen

Solvang