Dear Editor:

What a waste of time, energy, and insults. Trump hears nothing he doesn’t want to hear. He loves street fights. He loves slinging mud, and other matter, just for the sake of making noise.

The, only, way to make Trump uneasy, is to ignore him. He doesn’t exist. He isn’t worth an iota of attention, or awareness. Trump is a nothing.

One treats nothing by doing nothing, saying nothing.

S. Douglas

S: Wait a minute didn’t you just write about not writing about him by writing about him?

Dear Sheldon,

I disagree with your opinion that gun show should be allowed at the County Fairgrounds. To do so so soon after the recent shootings in Thousand Oaks shows a desensitization and insensitivity to this critical issue of contemporary Society.

Regarding Beay letter to Breeze on June 18, 2019. Excellent and concise. Why are government and religious entities involved in our personal health care decisions?

Lou Vigorita Ventura

Dear Editor:

I am writing to commend a teacher, Sheila Bartsch, who has passionately taken up the torch to teach tolerance and the benefits of diversity to her 2nd grade students. Ms. Bartsch teaches at Pierpont Elementary. She has been an educator in the district for 25 years. It began when Sheila happened upon a book titled, “My Totally Intolerable Blocks.” She was impressed with the book not only because of its message, but also because it was written by sixteen-year-old, first time author, Emily Ford, who was abandoned at birth in a remote village in China because of her sex. This young author wrote the book specifically to teach tolerance and the benefits of diversity to young children using the personification of a child’s block set. (go to www.raisingtolerance.com for more info)

Sheila Bartsch read Emily’s book and immediately recognized utility in the author’s story. Consequently, she decided to use the book as a springboard to discuss bullying behavior and the importance of tolerance to her young students. Ms. Bartsch’s passion for teaching these social values summoned her creative side which was natural given that she also holds a degree in Art History. Since reading the book, Sheila has developed novel methods of how the author’s book can inspire children to appreciate their differences and work together as a team for the common good of everyone.

Sheila Bartsch should be recognized for her efforts, for her passionate teaching, and immense creativity. As a result of Sheila’s enthusiasm, the author donated thirty books to Pierpont Elementary School. By example, Sheila Bartsch has not only encouraged this young author to continue to proclaim her passion for diversity, she also reminds adults that it is the responsibility of every one of us to teach tolerance to our youth. Thank you Sheila Bartsch for going the extra mile. You are to be commended!

April Marano

Sheldon:

Thank you for your great local paper.  You asked a question, “Why are Christian conservatives against abortion?”

The answer is that we Christians/Catholics/Episcopalians believe that life begins at conception and the Mother is carrying her baby boy or baby girl, a son or a daughter, and we do not believe in murder of the innocent children.

A good local pro-life group that saves babies is Life Choices Pregnancy Clinic of the Ojai Valley.  Check out their website.

The movie “Unplanned” at Collection theater was excellent, a true story about a former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director.

Betsey and John Stewart IV.

Ventura Keys

Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.
~ Elsa Maxwell

Breeze:

When I moved to Ventura five years ago, I played tourist and visited the local landmarks.  I was enchanted by the beauty and serenity of the Olivas Adobe. So I signed up for the training to lead tours and discovered the parallels between the owner of Rancho San Miguel and the State of California. It is a miracle that the Adobe has survived.  I also have a lot of fun and made many friends.

Unfortunately, many of our long time volunteers are no longer able to lead tours.  We really need more people to become docents.  The training is three hour long orientation meeting, reading a book about the adobe and Olivas family, and finally, shadowing a current docent.

We have a meeting once a month.  Our tours are on Saturdays and Sundays, and each tour guide signs up to lead tours one day a month.  If you love history, love to tell stories, and think it might be fun to dress in a costume, we have a fun place for you!  The Olivas Adobe is truly a treasure for Ventura that needs to be shared with the community. For more information, or to volunteer, call Joanne Abing at 805- 644-4586.

Patricia McNeese

Dear Mr. Brown,
In your recent op-ed, you claim that same-sex marriage should be ok, because it does not harm anyone.
The very next paragraph you basically espouse pro-choice, and abortion. You wonder why Christians would be against this. Maybe it’s because we believe it does harm to someone! The pro life Catholic teachings are much more consistent than your pick and choose style. Pro life from conception to death. Try to pick it apart, you can’t,
God bless, sir.
Paul Caron

Paul:
Won’t even try to pick apart. Thanks for your thoughts.

Editor:

Why are we allowing the government and religious entities to be involved in our personal healthcare decisions?

MY decisions about my body are mine alone to make!  As a Unitarian Universalist, I am respectful of other women’s decisions about their healthcare choices.

It is also important to use accurate terminology:  a fertilized ovum is not a baby, a zygote is not a baby; an embryo is not a baby; a fetus is not a baby until it is viable. An acorn is not a tree.

In my opinion, those who call themselves, “Pro-Life” are merely “Pro-Birth”. Their policies often do not support care for these babies.  For example, many women without insurance cannot receive prenatal care.  Food supplement programs are under constant attack, as are childcare and early educational programs.

Bottom line, government and religious entities should not be involved in interfering or controlling women’s bodies or in their healthcare decisions.

Judith A. Beay Ventura

Letter To Editor

Brother John, age 81,lives in the family home in Wilkes-Barre Pa. got word that he was having dizzy spells and admissions to the hospital emergency room.

I flew to Pa to see if I could help . John was okay but the doctor said he should not drive.

On Primary day 5/2119 I drove him the poll so he could vote. At his polling place they had coffee and cookies for the voter. Wow.

The young people outside the poll were eager to talk politics/voting. They told me they were disappointed with elected officials on all levels

There are 200,000 registered voters in John’s County (Luzerne) and generally 20% voted in the primary.

They told me they wanted accountability over the elected officials. It was discussed that the federal debt last year was $800 billion. (More spent than raised in taxes).

On idea brought up was to make Congress (Senators and Representatives) balance the budget by only spending the amount raised in taxes. If that was not done then the pay of the Senators and Representatives would be cut by 10% for the next year. One young girl said that if they did it twice in a row they should be barred from running for office in the next term If you have any thoughts about these ideas send me a note George Benz

P O Box 828 Oxnard, Ca, 93032 or e-mail my brother at JOHN@IAM JOHN
GALT.US or e-mail me at [email protected]

“If people don’t want us outside, then where should we go?”
~ Andy Grabarkiewicz Venice homeless resident

Dear Editor,

Donald Trump wants to celebrate the 4th of July on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Statue.

Abraham Lincoln, an outstanding president of the United States. His greatest achievement was helping to free the slaves. A terrible, dark, and cruel, part of our past. Free men and women had been abducted from parts of Africa, and brought to the United States and sold into slavery. The additional horror, was our Civil War, killing thousands of Americans.

Donald Trump has done nothing, to make him worthy, of, even, looking up at the carved face of Abraham Lincoln. Donald Trump is responsible for the deaths of children. He is responsible for dividing families seeking a peaceful home, in the United States.

Donald Trump, who was elected, illegally, with the help of a foreign power, is the least worthy president — or, in my opinion, the least worthy human being, to stand,  near a statue of Abraham Lincoln.

Appalled,

Esther Cole, Ventura

Editor:

Hundreds of former federal prosecutors are saying they believe President Trump would have been indicted in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe for obstruction of justice if he weren’t president.

Their statement argues the Justice Department’s policy of not indicting sitting presidents is the reason Trump avoided prosecution.

They stated “Each of us believes that the conduct of President Trump described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report would, in the case of any other person not covered by the Office of Legal Counsel policy against indicting a sitting President, result in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice.”

Charles Baker Ventura

Ventura City Council:

The correct way to challenge the “Status Quo” is to address the inconsistency of “private sector vs. public sector” employee benefits.

Defined Benefit Plans (DBP) are practically non-existent in private industry. Businesses began eliminating them in the late 1980’s.  Private sector employees are unlikely to have DBPs again. Businesses do not want the risks associated with DBPs. So Private sector employees use 401k plans to fund their own retirement.

For the most part DBPs are only found in the case of government employees. Thus, we have the very unfair situation of private sector employees having to pay taxes to support public employees. Private sector employees cannot afford to pay for a benefit that they do not have.

Elected politicians have lacked courage to terminate DBPs in the public sector. Why? Public Employee Unions have waged campaigns against politicians who have tried to remove or weaken their DBPs.

Since Councilmembers are unlikely to remove the DBP, Councilmembers might consider putting this before the people. The Citizens of Ventura would like the opportunity to vote on a full array of DBP options (including termination, funding, etc., etc.).

Kindest regards,

Charles Spraggins, M.B.A.,

Breeze:

We should praise the three members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for approving the Habitat and Wildlife Ordinance (4537) that will protect 163,000 acres of county rural and suburban land from reckless mismanagement and over development (VC Star, May 12, 2019).

Mining interests, developers, and ranchers want to fence off, clear, and also build on areas that are known corridors for wild animal passage between our remaining open space and riparian land that lead into the Los Padres Forest. These passages are ancient, known for ages by many species large and small. We need to carefully regulate these remaining wild zones within our urbanizing county.

The ordinance does not set permanent and fixed protections. Business and development interests (CoLab and CalCIMA) want existing policy to govern them, but that does not assure these sensitive and essential pathways will remain. The new Ordinance requires more detailed and elaborate permits in order to change them.

From mountain lions to condors to snowy plovers, from red-legged frogs to arroyo toads to dozens of plants even our semi-healthy habitats are constraining them. This can draw them closer to our shopping malls and highways and housing tracts, which should not “step out” into open space. These increase the threat to all animals needing undisturbed habitats and unblocked or narrowed paths when they are on the move. New “roads in the woods” only intensify threats to their healthy survival.

I wrote in the national magazine, American Scientist (September-October 2017, “Suburban Stalkers”) about my reservations for building big new expensive causeways over freeways. They might avoid traffic deaths of animals following their instincts but they also bring new animals from the hinterland into suburbia, give reckless people a chance to use them however prohibited– and they cost millions.

By regulating existing open space in the form of corridors, pathways and land around streams and rivers, we provide for the health of local animals at the reasonable cost of requiring development to take it easy. They would have to provide more elaborate plans and studies of their proposed impacts so we can decide how much more of the county we want to give over to our own species. Our near-insatiable grab of natural resources does need stiffer regulation—our own survival depends on it.

Robert Chianese. Ph. D.

The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous
to a control system set-up by the non-dreamers.
~ William S. Burroughs

Breeze:

Now the USA isn’t the only country being led by a comedian. Ukrainians overwhelmingly voted to make a comedian their next president — ushering in a new era of politics in the struggling country.

Volodymyr Zelensky, a famous comedian who portrayed Ukraine’s head of state for years on a popular comedy show, defeated the incumbent president, Petro Poroshenko, who had been in power since 2014.

Zelensky won a staggering 73 percent of the vote. Poroshenko conceded the race not long after polls closed.

William Green Ventura

Breeze

I have been going to VCMC since I retired. I get a yearly check-up and report that I am very healthy, physically and mentally.  My one complaint is when I go to get blood drawn the waiting room’s TV has Fox News on!!!!!

Considering that VCMC is a ‘teaching hospital’ and for them to ‘advertise’ falsehood and lies on the TV viewing is abhorrent.

I would assume that VCMC is a non-partisan organization. Maybe they should be showing a nature show or something of educational value. I wonder who in VCMC would be the contact person that would take my request seriously?

Diane Garber

Diane:

If you keep watching Fox News you may not stay healthy.

Venturans:

I am writing this and sharing it as widely as I can. My hope is to inform as many people about the false claims and faulty planning by the City of Ventura Water Dept staff.

The first claim: there is a water shortage

There is not a water shortage. The city has multiple sources that are and can meet the city demand. The fact is the City Water Dept staff have and are acting in manners that reduces the water availability to our users in a manner that allows them to falsely claim a shortage.

Currently there is a surface flow in the Ventura River, going by within 15 feet of the abandoned surface diversion facility. That is nearly 20 times the current amount of water the city is using daily. This river water is the cheapest and highest quality water available to our users. If it was being produced into the system the use of the much lower quality deep well water that is in distress as a supply could be reduced and everyone would be better off.

The second claim: city is caught up in and forced by legal restraints and settlements

The city allowing and conceding to a legal settlement on the estuary was a total theft of city water resources. The fact is there would not be an estuary if the city didn’t put its’ tertiary treated effluent in there to begin with. Based on the latest costs estimates the City could have easily permitted and built an ocean outfall instead of wasting what will be hundreds of millions of dollars on their WaterPure experiment that has no chance of ever being permitted for potable use.

The amount of water already spent on this boon-doggle could have built multiple reverse osmosis facilities to make currently available groundwater available and of higher quality of any source the city currently is using.

The full story on that issue is being completely hidden from the current population of the city even though those in authority at the City Council and Water Commission are in full knowledge of such legal standing.

Joseph Richardson Production supervisor City of Ventura water 1985-1992

Editor:

As I ride my bike around the City of Ventura, it is a bone-jarring, near rim-busting experience.  When I drive my car around the City of Ventura, it is a near axle-breaking and tire-popping experience.  Trying to dodge all the potholes and ruts may someday get me pulled over by the Ventura Police Department who will surely think I am drunk due to all the weaving around, but after I explain my actions to the officer he or she will let me go because they have to drive on our crumbling and decaying streets, too.

The bottom line is that our streets are an embarrassment.  They look like they belong in a third-world country and not in an ocean side town.  I am sure that their total disrepair has caused more than a few accidents and plenty of undercarriage damage.  So at least the body and repair shops are benefiting from the city’s neglect.

As I go around, I also see no work being done on the streets outside of an occasional pot-hole filling crew which is like putting a band aid on gunshot wound.

When I fill up my car with overpriced gasoline made more expensive by crushing taxes, I wonder where all that tax money is going?  Whose pockets is it lining? Have payoffs have been made?   I have no answers.

All I know now is that it is nt going towards street repairs and everyone who lives here and pays their taxes need to be up in arms about this dereliction of duty by the city politicians and bureaucrats who dole out our tax money.  

Regards,

John Darling

Ventura Breeze

It’s time to resurrect the GOP mantra; “Let’s make him a one-term president”! However, the “him” has changed! Can the Democrats unite to defeat the current president who only represents and has the support of about 40% of Americans?

There are so many qualified Democratic candidates. In my opinion, Joe Biden is the best person to defeat “Him” and make “Him” a one term president. And, once “He” is out of office, the Justice Departments (federal and state) can finally do their job and make “Him”

accountable for obstruction of justice as president and tax/business irregularities.

Let’s support Biden and whichever strong Vice President is selected. I believe the Dems can finally “drain the swamp”, which has doubled under this administration.

Judith A. Beay

No matter how old you get, if you keep the desire to be creative, you’re keeping the man child alive.
~ John Cassavetes

Dear Editor,

Re: March 26th edition

I agree with your recent correspondent, XXXXX XXX. She does sound hyperbolic and hysterical.  True. Her statements that Trump views Putin, Kim Jung Un and Xi Jinping as his heroes while happily desiring to destroy them with nuclear weapons defies any logic.

Trump clearly has no desire to wage nuclear war. So XXXXX can dream happily, under her bed, about that.

Trump has also not hampered the Mueller investigation. That is clearly evident by the fact that Mueller has spent two years and about 40 million dollars trying to figure out how to get Trump indicted. He couldn’t.

Now the Democrats will defy the Constitution by trying to force attorney general Barr to provide information that is prevented by established law.

Lastly, I am a Trump supporter.  I don’t feel greed-hungry. I’m just a working guy supporting my family. But I am happy that America is doing much better with Donald Trump as our president.

Robert Parham

Ojai

This is a typical letter that we get from Trump supporters that just criticize and ridicule those who oppose Trump and make statements like “America is doing much better with Donald Trump as our president” never explain what he is doing that makes them make such a claim.

Dear Amy (Ventura writer),

We are so incredibly grateful for the beautiful article about Festival of Talent and VEPGrants. Thank you!

We are a small organization, often under the radar, so it feels so good to have you share our work with the Breeze’s readers. We love our hometown paper and thank all of you for your efforts on our community’s behalf.

Madhu Bajaj
President, Ventura Education Partnership

Breeze:

Why can’t our elected representatives do their job and work together to amend our laws to find a proper balance with more judges, monitor and track visas and immigrants, walls or other surveillance in strategic locations…  our law enforcement and court system, schools, medical providers, water and housing needs are already stretched beyond limits, yet we need willing and able workers if is done in a lawful way and people need to live in safety in their own country.   Surely there are plenty of jobs to build a better world if we all work together in a positive way

Also,  Sharon Troll is leaving our fair city after 25+ years of service to our community to join her family near Shaver Lake.   Isn’t there another street we can name for her (like James Monahan Way to Jim Monahan after his many years of service or key to the city we can give her in appreciation as she leaves)

Sharon supported Police Activities League, Westside Community Council, largely responsible for formation of Westside Community Development Corporation, helped with tattoo removal for kids who wanted out of gangs, to name a few that I know of.  Thanks, Sharon for all you have done to make our city and especially the Westside even better

Mike Merewether

Hi everyone

I spoke with my colleagues and we want to present Sharon a certificate of recognition and a key to the City at a council meeting. She deserves it. I’ll make sure we coordinate scheduling with Sharon.

Mayor Matt LaVere

We received an email from Joseph Richardson, Production supervisor City of Ventura water 1985-1992 that starts out “I am writing this and sharing it as widely as I can. My hope is to inform as many people about the false claims and faulty planning by the City of Ventura Water Dept staff.”

We are waiting to get a response from the Water Department to include with this. Will publish once we have their response.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
~ Herman Melville

Breeze:

President Donald Trump said his father, Fred Trump, was born in “a very wonderful place in Germany.” But Fred Trump was actually born in New York City. “My father is German, was German. Born in a very wonderful place in Germany,” Trump said of his father while meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

If Trump doesn’t even know where his father was born how does he know where Obama was born?

Larry Ruddy Ojai

Hi Gov:

When I was in Madison at U. Wisconsin 70 years ago I drove out west of town in the forest to see the designed Frank Lloyd Wright Unitarian Church.

The minister invited me in for a chat. He said he was an atheist. First time this agnostic met a minister who didn’t believe in all that nutty XXXX in religions.

He asked me if I had any questions. “what will it be like after you die?”

“What was it like before you were born?
“That’s what it will be like when you die.”

I never forgot that after 70 years.

Name withheld

Readers:

We should acknowledge that Trump and Co. are slicker and more vicious than any current Democrat office holder or liberal commentator can imagine. What it looks like to me is a slow-moving ad-hoc coup, with Trump-selected A.G. Barr making a decision about obstruction of justice he has no reason to make, though his pal Mueller left it open for him. They have discovered how to subvert everything as they have proceeded with anger and stealth. Remember, it started with Comey wrecking Hillary’s election chances.

Now Trump will pardon most of those sentenced by Mueller and go after Democrats who they now argue set up this witch hunt. A scoundrel like Sen. Lindsey Graham wants an investigation of Hillary and certain elected Democrats with a new Special Council. This is retribution and the consequence of right wing political scheming over the last 24 months.

Robert Chianese Ventura

To Ventura Residents

Ventura is on a track to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to convert sewage water into drinking water. Estimated project costs keep escalating. Proponents have not provided adequate information and disclosure. There are many examples of big projects that did not work out as expected. Consider the high speed rail project — or Oxnard’s great (water recycling) project. When big projects go badly, millions of dollars are lost. The consequences ultimately fall on the poor. We citizens must pay more attention to large multi-million-dollar project proposals.

At first, we were told that treated sewage water is processed to be 97% pure – (prior to its release into the ocean). Recycling advocates insisted that the cost to remove the remaining 3% would be minimal. However, as it turns out, the project will be very expensive — many hundreds of millions of dollars. Also, Ventura will incur significant expenditures for annual operating costs.

Ventura has prepared a draft environmental impact report (EIR). If you would like to comment on the EIR, you must do so prior to April 22, 2019. For details and instructions, please direct your browser to the following web address:

https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1470/Ventura-Water-Pure

Should Ventura allow the project to proceed past the point of no-return OR wait until DPR has a proven track record? There are various possibilities for phasing in DPR and/or reducing wastewater going to the estuary. In all scenarios — involving either wastewater use or disposal — a pipeline into the ocean will be required. Thus, shouldn’t Ventura build this (outfall/brine) pipeline first?

It seems likely many residents will not drink the recycled water. Those that have the money will drink only bottled water – or they will install expensive equipment to filter the water before it enters their homes. Some may decide to boil the water before drinking it.

Charles Spraggins [email protected]

[email protected]

You could claim that anything’s real if the only basis for believing in it is that nobody’s proved it doesn’t exist.
~ J.K. Rowling

Dear Editor:

Is it possible? Are there some Republicans in Congress that can see the real Trump. The bigot. The crooked bigot. The least educated; the least read person ever to have sat in that chair in the Oval Office.

Are some of those Republicans beginning to see the danger, and the damage, this, illegally elected, President is bringing down on all of us?

We once had a Democracy. A country led by the people. We are now being led — by the nose — by a cruel, heartless, airhead.

Where are the sane and sensible and clear thinking Republicans, I once had respect for?

Hope they start showing up —

Sincerely,

Esther Cole

Ventura Breeze 

I believe that Trump is one of our greatest presidents. His decisions including supreme court nominee has been superb (hopefully he gets another supreme court justice). 

His main problem is that the democrats, and even a few republicans won’t let him accomplish what he is trying to accomplish. Let him build the wall. 

He is a great negotiator and is making great progress with North Korea.  He also understands that “global warming” is nonsense. Look at the extreme cold weather even this time of the year.

 Thanks 

Jim Yashidi Ventura (I still read the Breeze)

Hello, Sheldon

I really like your piece/discourse with Mike Mislinay. You refuted his comments and beliefs with facts. Of course, that’s assuming his beliefs aren’t based on alternative facts. In that case, it’s hopeless! Keep up the good work!

I’ve said for 2+ years, the problem is not Trump; it’s the mullions who voted for him. They are our neighbors and relatives. He gave a voice to their racism and bigotry. I can’t reconcile that 7 out of 10 “religious right” people who call themselves Christians support him! What happened to the common Golden Rule found in all religions; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Judith A. Beay Ventura

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.
~ Albert Einstein
Oh sure, we should all have his “no special talents.”

Opinions:

I read in the LA Times (can I say that?) that Pope Francis warned bishops he wants “concrete measures” to stamp out sex abuse in the church. He handed out 21 proposals for cracking down on predator priests.

Seems to me the only proposal necessary should be to let them get married (to a male or female, just not 12-year olds).

Larry Dote- on online reader from Las Vegas

Editor:

The battle to indict Trump is turning into a Civil War. Them — the Trump Followers vs. the anti-Trumpers.

Trump is surrounding himself with a battery of anti-Constitution followers, determined to turn this U.S. of A from a Republic, into a Dictatorship, with Trump at the top. A la his hero Putin, and the other owners of countries like The Saudis and China. And North Korea

I know this sounds hyperbolic and hysterical. But that’s Trump and what he’s willing to do, along with his Republican followers, to buy himself a country.

He builds walls of people he puts into important positions like the Supreme Court and others who can hamper the Mueller investigation.

He won’t go quietly — not his style. He’ll happily lead us into a nuclear confrontation with North Korea and/or Russia, as readily as a spoiled child having a temper tantrum.

And the greed-hungry Republican followers will follow him to hell.

Hope all of you are still limber enough to curl up and hide under the bed.

Sweet dreams…Esther Cole

Breeze:
This is a song inspired by the recent rains in Ventura. Sung to the tune of “Amazing Grace” .
By Hope Botwinski

Amazing Rain
Amazing rain! How sweet the smell,
That saved a drought like this!
We once were dry, but now are wet!
Was parched, but now relief!

Through many days, weeks, months, and years.
The rain barely would come down.
Tis rain that turns the grass so green.
And rain helps flowers bloom.

The rivers rise where formerly dry,
Displacing homeless from their “homes.”
And causing mudslides – destruction in its path.
But we will not complain.

And with the rain, comes the snowpack
To give water later on.
With natural rainfall, plants grow the best.
The farmers will rejoice.

The Lord has promised good to me:
A rainbow in the sky.
Always the sun rise; always the moon set.
All signs of His Providence.

Amazing rain! How sweet the sound!
See flash of lightning then – hear thunder roar.
The earth sighs Ahh! In grate-ful response!
The streams bubbling along!

What we imagine is order is merely the prevailing form of chaos.
~ Kerry Thornley

To Sheldon

Re: Trump supporters. 

Sheldon, your comments on the Electoral College are well supported. As any student of Constitution Law will see there are many clauses from 1787 that do not apply today. That is why scholars opine that the Constitution is a living document that creates and expands and yes even contracts through our history to better deal with human frailties.

Women did not have the right to vote for over 100 years plus. Breathe out. Slavery abolished. Breathe out.  Nazis allowed to March in Skokie,  Illinois. Breathe in. Citizen’s United. Breathe in. When one group feels like we should not breathe any longer that is contrary to what our founding fathers attempted to design. These are simple basic ideas (TRUTHS ) designed to absorb the trials, tribulations, and vicissitudes anticipated by these founders after long considering the failures of past governments such as the Roman Empire.

Lou Vigorita

Dear Sheldon,I would like to commend yourself and The Ventura Breeze for taking a stand to comment on the lame decision-making by our current President.  Isn’t that what a free press is about?  He is an unfortunate and dangerous politician because he puts His businesses ahead of The People. We see evidence of this daily. I just hope the investigations trying to uncover the truth about who he is and what he has been doing are released to All the American electorate. Then let them judge.  A Democracy is only as good as the People. 

Suzanna Ballmer, Ventura 

Suzanna:
Who am I to disagree with a smart person like you?
Sheldon

Editor:

I’m wondering how long it will be before CalTrans corrects their mistake on the NB Main Street exit from the US101 and CA126?

After the repaving work, the re-striping of the off ramp did not include the original limit line but did include the crosswalk. The sensors to trip the signal have been moved to past the original limit line. This causes vehicles to go all the way to the crosswalk and can’t see the traffic signal above them.

When I went to the CalTrans website to report this issue, the robot recognized that an issue had been previously reported at this location.

Maybe CalTrans will get around to fixing it someday. In the meantime drivers will be craning their neck to see the traffic signal. Or stop before the main sensor and wait forever.

Tim Hansen
Ventura

Sheldon:

In response to a reader, you wrote on February 13th: “Don’t you think whoever gets the most votes should win?” and followed with arguments against the Electoral College.

You ask how something passed in 1787 could have any application today, citing population changes. Every provision of the Constitution, as amended and interpreted, has applied to every legal precept in the United States throughout the intervening 232 years. The justification for the Electoral College is founded on principles, not population.

You offer the standard argument against the College, which is that it is inequitable, with the votes in some states “meaning more” or being “more important” than those in another. This is true and the Founders were well aware of it, but adopted the provision for many good reasons. You’ll note that there is no mention of “democracy” anywhere in the Declaration or the Constitution, for good reason: the Founders intended to establish a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. They did not want the floating whims of a majority to jeopardize the rights of every other person, nor a perpetual floating tally of who determines, interprets or implements the Law of the Land.

Bear in mind that this is the United States of America, drawing its claim to sovereignty from each and all of the colonies (later states). The structure of the Electoral College is a direct result of the guarantee of equality “among the states”, with each having exactly two votes in the U.S. Senate. The Constitution might have never been adopted otherwise. The Electoral College is simply determined by adding the number of representatives and senators for each state. That is the fairest way to have equity in both the general population and all of the states in determining the presidency.

Bill Westmiller

Bill: Thank you for your explanation but I still don’t like it. Keep your comments coming please, what our country is all about.
Sheldon

The first pull on the cord will always send the drapes the wrong way.
~ Charles P. Boyle

Dear Sheldon

Thank you for running the article in the Breeze about Circle of Friends now accepting new members. It was a hit! Ten women showed up at our February 6 luncheon with an interest in becoming members. Fantastic success and definitely because the Breeze is so well read!

Marion Phalan

Breeze:

I know that a temporary homeless shelter is opened in Oxnard that is to serve Oxnard and Ventura. I think this is good to a point. How is someone from Ventura supposed to get to Oxnard to stay in the shelter? Getting there for people in Oxnard is difficult enough.

I think Ventura will have a permanent shelter open by the end of the year I certainly hope so. As a caring society certainly, we must provide some shelter for the homeless specially when it is 30-40° out and raining.

I have friends that say they are just a bunch of bums that like living that life without working. I say to them ”why don’t you spend a night out sleeping in 40° weather in the rain and then let me know if that would be a lifestyle that anyone would really choose to live. Going through trash cans is not a way to make a living and some homeless are hoping to find food in the trash cans.

I read this in the VC Star (is it okay if I say VC Star?) ” The shelter is currently seeking donations of men’s and women’s clothing of all sizes (sweat shirts and pants, T-shirts, socks, shoe laces, flip-flops and underwear); personal care items (tooth brush, hair brush, nail clippers) and disposable dining ware (bowls, plates and cups). Those who are interested in donating should call the shelter at 805-612-7381 to set a drop-off time. For more information about volunteering at the homeless shelter, call 805-247-0335.”

Serra Bell (living in a nice warm house in Ventura)

Serra

Thanks for your kind concerns and it is okay if you say the VC Star as long as you don’t call it the Star Free Press which it hasn’t been called for a very long time but folks still call it that.

to editor

Regarding the recent article about the city paying Harbor Church such a large sum of money for their land in the buyout-to-stop-adult- feeding-services: perhaps using their Christian ethic, the church members will take all excess funds they received (beyond reasonable payment for the facilities) and “donate in-kind” services establishing homeless programming in an area that is appropriate and obtain proper permitting to ensure health/safety/environmental standards of service and for the benefit of the homeless. Templates include Project Understanding’s programs and those similar.

Thanks

Laura Flores

The work of art is above all a process of creation,
it is never experienced as a mere product.
~ Paul Klee

Oooops:

In our last issue we had an article on the March for Justice but we failed to mention a few dignitaries who were there that we should have. Our new Deputy Mayor Sofia Rubalcava (she’s in the photo) and new Council Member Lorrie Brown was also there. And all four of Ventura’s women council members spoke.

Also in attendance was State Assembly Member Monique Limon and, with great speeches were Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson and Representative Julia Brownley.