• I know I have said this before, but I will now be 100% retired from the Breeze and not 99.9%. This will be my last column on a regular basis. I might have something to say now and then but not every issue. It has been my pleasure communicating with you.
• A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed a significant disparity between teenagers (aged 12 to 17) and their parents regarding the perceived adequacy of social and emotional support.
Only 28% of the teenagers said they always received the social and emotional support they needed, and 77% of their parents stated they always provided that support for them. This disparity is likely influenced by the way teenagers communicate today, primarily through smartphones and other digital devices. Such support cannot compare to face-to-face interactions, where one can look someone in the eyes, see their emotions, and perhaps even hold hands. A teenager said, “I just spoke to grandma.” “How did she sound?” “I don’t know we texted.”
• I hadn’t been to the mall in many years, so checked it out. It was not as dismal as I thought it would be. There were both large stores and small ones that had been closed. I don’t think any more so than other malls. Most of the restaurants in the food court were still open (I had sushi) and there is a kid’s play area there. There are two sit-down restaurants as you go into the mall, and if you go to the end of the mall you can go into Target. I think it’s a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours with or without your family.
• I have heard some folks complain about why Ventura should pay our police to work at the Fair. We don’t – this is from the City site; “Approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with the 31st District Agriculture Association for security and traffic control services for the 2024 Ventura County Fair in an amount not-to-exceed $275,000.” In other words, these are off duty police who get paid by the Fair.
•In condemning our “open border” Trump has stated several times that countries are sending people from insane asylums to America. Sophisticated and intelligent people have not referred to facilities trying to help the mentally ill as insane asylums for many years. I certainly wish he would stop.
•Former Ventura City Manager Ed McCombs, who was responsible for securing the amazing building that is now City Hall, died June 28. He was 90. McCombs served the city from 1970-1981. He was able to secure a grant to acquire the old Ventura County courthouse and turn it into our city hall when the County moved to its new headquarters.
The building was originally built in 1912. Ventura could not have afforded to construct this wonderful structure. It is open to the public and is worth a visit to appreciate the building and to enjoy the large art collection that hangs throughout the building.
• May 2024 was the 12th straight month of record-warm temperatures for the planet. It’s the second-longest such streak on record. “It is shocking but not surprising that we have reached this 12-month streak,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service stated. “There is no sign in sight of a change in such a trend.” Some question the fact that this is the result of human practices. The fact remains that we need to find a way to stop this trend before the earth becomes unlivable.
“Success in not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
~ Winston Churchill
