Breeze:

When I finished reading the article on Farber-Tauber MD Awards in your Oct.12 issue I was left wondering who the honorees were for 2016.

Sincerely

Yvonne Elizondo

Very good point Yvonne, here they are:

Hospital Physician -Gail Simpson, MD
Community Physician – John Walters, MD
Hospital Nurse- Diana Jaquez, RN, MSN, OCN, ACHPN
Community Nurse – Rosemary Libman, RN
Oral Health Specialist – Scott Packham, DDS
Vision Care Specialist – Paul J. Dougherty, MD
Behavioral/Mental Health Professional – Deborah Thurber, MD
Allied Health Professional – Camarillo Health Care District
Trailblazer Award – Assisted Home Health & Hospice – Elaine Donley

Meet up to clean it up

Just in case you have not noticed our highways and country roads are a mess. So, how about a meet up to clean it up every Saturday? In just the past few days I have removed over 100 lbs. of trash each day for a week. I simply cannot do this my- self. This needs to be a committed effort of folks just like you that want to see Earth Day happen every day, and our home kept pristine. This should not be looked as a party but as a celebration to our home-planet earth.

Or, just work it on your own and make it a family outing.

Bring a trash picker to avoid too much bending and watch your step if you plan to clean the streams-wear good walking or hiking shoes. Best to wear bright colors so that you are easily visible on the highways and twisty roads. Since we have been in a drought for a long time, wild life such as Bears and Mountain Lions have been spotted in the low country, carry a whistle and pepper spray. And beware of poison oak.

Now is a good time for all environmentalists and wanna be trash collectors to get out, get some exercise and sunshine and most importantly clean up our home. This is a free activity no fees no sign ups and no bosses. If you need to contact me I welcome hearing from you. Jay North at [email protected]. See ya on the road-hopefully-weekly.

Peace for now, Jay

Dear Sheldon:

Among the pearls making up the substance of your editorial in the October 26 to November 8 edition of the Breeze was your outline of what is going on in the Ventura County Museum.  Your mention of the Museum reminds me of my recent visit to the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Aside from the comprehensive portrayals of the battles which led to our victory in WWII, what really got my attention was the emphasis throughout on the prodigious and unified effort of the entire United States, once it became clear that we were in grave danger, to win the war.  I should point out that such an effort was badly needed, as in 1940 our Army consisted of a relatively small number of men mounted on horseback with not a tank in sight.

By mid-WWII nearly everyone, men and women of all descriptions, was either fighting or supporting the road to victory in some way, a display of unity not seen since and quite in contrast to our present condition.  World War Two, as made clear in the WWII Museum, was a cataclysm which brought the entire country together, probably never to be experienced again.  I think of this current state of paralysis nearly every day since my visit.

Sincerely,

Art  Spaulding
Ojai

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist
is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
~ Mark Twain

Sheldon:

Once again Sheldon you got a smile out of me instead of a groan with your comment concerning your dislike of the initiative process. Involved voters causing a vote to go to the people ? An abuse of power ? Hardly.

Sometimes politicians are not able to put one foot in front of the other without tripping , because they overlook little things like….. logic for instance. The public then has to pick up the slack. Costly yes. Necessary most of the times, yes. Unnecessary sometimes , yes, but can you imagine what would happen otherwise ?

That’s one good reason to install term limits. Career politicians ( including ventura politicians) , get bad eyesight the longer they are in office. They keep tripping on logic.

Mike Art

Sheldon
I read the current issue and thought you did a great job on the Susan Laby article. I hope you write as nice a one when I go.
John Ferritto

Who is this again?

Dear Sheldon:

Thanks so much  for supporting A Whirl Of Merriment (FOTM fundraiser)! I’m pleased that you and Diane could join us.

Your ongoing reporting on the Brooks incident is very much appreciated. You have a nose for news and I know that your interest in covering the truth about this poorly executed plan has helped to bring the public’s attention to it. Keep up the good work!

Your ongoing support of Focus on the Masters is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Donna Granata
Founder & Executive Director

Dear Editor,

I attended the Scamp for President Rally with glee.  There I found a tidy crowd consisting of Scamp’s campaign manager (in a Hawaiian shirt!), his Pawblic Relations committee, loyal sign twirlers heralding oncoming traffic to vote and “bark” their support, confounded furry companions, and the candidate himself sporting a giant red bow tie.

Missing of course was the running mate, “Savana the Cat”, or is it asleep-on-the-job mate?

Lyn Fairly
KVTA News Talk Radio 1590 AM

Sheldon

My wife Barbara is forcing me to write you again,  despite my writing you already with my opinion. Now she wants me to give you her opinion . Ain’t love grand !

She has a beef with the downtown parking situation and the news racks. Priority goes to the parking situation.  Years ago the city council convinced the public that all those free parking lots down town were adequate,  but as we all found out , a very valuable one was fenced off and kept from the publics use under the guise of getting the lot ready to sell.

The old Top Hat lot was a very needed parking lot. It is now an eye sore that is not utilized. The property is still vacant and still badly needed.  Hopefully some new council blood will help us out here with more free parking downtown.

Now second on my wife’s survival of the planet list (joke ) , is the condition of the news racks. The city forced news owners to get rid of those old eye sores. They were replaced with clean iron ones which blended with the Spanish 1920s look of the area.

One look at the racks in front of the post office on Santa Clara and some on main street , would have some people wondering what has happened to those clean racks. Many are now in need of repair. They are as shabby as the ones they replaced. items of use require maintenance. A fact of life.

My deed is done
Mike Art (Husband of Barbara Art)

Mike: I certainly hope that Barbara really asked you to write this for her so that I don’t get in trouble with her. Regarding the newspaper racks I, and the City are in complete agreement with her. Something will be done soon to correct this situation. There was no thought given as to who would maintain these. The racks are owned by the City and the inserts by the publishers.

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
~ Noel Coward

Editor:

I quickly ran the Short Term Rental Figures this morning based on the Nuisance Response Plans at the City’s website.

There 117 Short Term Rentals Registered with the City as of 9-12-16.

There are 77 in the Pierpont Community.  Of these 21 of the owners live in Ventura (27%). Only 11 live in our Pierpont Community (14%).  Pierpont has approximately 1200 residences.

There are 6 Short Term Rentals in the Keys

There are 34 Short Term Rentals in the rest of Ventura.

66% of the Short Term Rentals are in Pierpont, however, Pierpont only represents 3% of the Housing Units.  Consequently, the vast majority of Short Term Rentals are heavily concentrated here in our Pierpont Community.

To put it another way 86% of the owners of the Pierpont Community’s Short Term Rentals don’t even live in our Pierpont Community and 73% don’t even live in Ventura.  These owners should not be deciding the quality of life for our community.  Those not living in Ventura can’t even vote for our City Council.   Our community residences should not be used as a hotel alternative.  Hotels at least have someone on premises to monitor their guests.  This, for some reason, is now the Pierpont residents responsibility pitting neighbor against neighbor.

Robert George

A vote to protect our citizens and our city

Public safety and security is key to a more thriving city and business community. Measure O will bring additional local resources to keep Ventura neighborhoods safe.

For starters, your Yes vote will allow all fire stations in the City to stay open and fully operational, ensuring every Ventura neighborhood has life-saving emergency response times. Maintaining fire, police and paramedic emergency response is paramount to protecting the residents of Ventura.

Our city also needs protecting. Ventura is 150 years old and showing its age, including deteriorating streets, sidewalks and storm drains. Voting Yes on O will repair streets, fix potholes and make repairs to bridges and overpasses in the case of an earthquake. Thanks to Measure O, the Ventura Pier, Promenade and citywide bike paths will remain accessible for everyone.

If we wait, it will only get more expensive to protect our quality of life. And, with a local sales tax, the millions of tourists who spend money on lodging and other taxable items will contribute to the cost of maintaining our City.

Despite what some may say, Ventura has no budget surpluses. Costs have gone up, while State and federal funding cuts have jeopardized Ventura’s ability to address its urgent needs. Measure O helps to replace those lost funds with new locally controlled funding that cannot be raided by Sacramento politicians.

Measure O makes Ventura a safer, cleaner and better maintained city, which in turn will make it a more in-demand place to live and work. For all these reasons and more, we are strong supporters of Measure O and in fact are serving as Co-Chairs of the Yes on Measure O Committee, which is spearheading the campaign to pass this critical measure for the City we love.

Ed Wehan, Kevin Clerici and Jim Duran
Co-Chairs of Committee for a Better Ventura – Yes on Measure O

Breeze:

Our Park Ambassadors are doing a great job of keeping Downtown Ventura ‎safe and clean. I am so grateful that they check in frequently with my staff and are only a phone call away if we need back up in a potentially unsafe situation. They are breaking down barriers with those who are chronically homeless and are available to connect them with services to get them off the streets. As a merchant (Spice-Topia), I couldn’t be more pleased with the services that the Park Ambassadors are providing. What a fantastic use of parking meter funds!

Ashley Pope

People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
~ Isaac Asimov

Two or Five Trees
by Jeffrey Russell

The two trees are timely rooted
Once five now two they are saluted,
Bark on a tree and branches that grow,
My heart races as I hike to them, tally ho..

Sitting under them I reflect on site,
I look to the ocean that gives a Pacific light,
You might call them a token of mystery,
As they were grown for their views of inquiry…

Over the years the trees were toppled and planted,
History for this story may always be slanted,
Grown by its roots they became Fishermen’s Sight,
Pranksters chopped down 3 on Halloween night..

They have a marriage with Ventura once a secret vow,
Never spoken over years of a faithful service until now,
Today they rage with a celebration voice,
Making Ventura the two tree tourist choice…..

Dear Editor,

Rental Rules can’t ignore property rights, and Rental Rules can’t ignore zoning ordinances either, and they also can’t ignore State laws requiring new taxes being voted by the residents affected by a new tax per State Proposition 218.

Mr. Chacon attempts to come to common ground regarding the dynamics of this controversial issue. Short-term vacation rentals (STVRS) are a business. Business licenses are issued, business license fees are collected, certain rules are applied, and taxes are collected in behalf of the city. People rent homes to provide housing for their family that otherwise they may not be able to afford by conventional purchases. If that is the “rental right” Mr. Chacon refers, I agree.

However, paramount to the structure of any city is its zoning codes. All cities have these codes. They define what “uses” are permitted in those zones, and the zoning codes are “dominant” over any other actions by the city. With few exceptions, businesses are not allowed in residential zones. This is especially true of zones that may be under greater pressure to violate those codes.

The framers of the zoning codes in Ventura realized this and put greater use restrictions on the beach residential zone. Now, with the short-term ordinance in Ventura, that is subordinate to the zoning codes, some street lanes are impacted by up to 30% STVRS.

Most people choose to live in residential areas and not be interfered with by businesses to a residential life style. STVRS interfere with that “right”. Many would agree that the Coastal Commission has overreached its original intent, and it certainly is now. There is no violation of the “Act” by enforcing zoning codes. Yes, access by citizens to the coast should be protected, but not at the expense of deteriorating homeowners rights or the zoning codes.

John Whitman-Ventura

Breeze: John was referring to an article that Mr. Chacon wrote in the VC Star.

This signage or something like it should be used in the Ventura Riverbed also and at the end of Seaward.  I am happy to see it on the promenade.

Robert George-Ventura

Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits.
~ Studs Terkel

Editor:

Past Ventura City Councils decisions have cost the Ventura citizens millions. Measure O is a question of trusting this City Council and future City Councils with another $270,000,000 in new tax money.

Brooks Institute closed its school, leaving students, contractors and landlords high and dry.  While the City hopes someone will step up, the schools liabilities exceed its assets. The fact remains that besides students, instructors and vendors, there are unpaid rents, deposits and subcontractors left out in the cold. The loss is likely over $1.0 million.

That brings up some major questions. Who approved this move without collecting all funds required? Were there any guarantees for payment in the event of default? Who did the due diligence of understanding the schools financial capability to enter into a lease? Was the City Council just “starry eyed” at the thought of bringing in a tenant that they didn’t ask the hard questions? Will other creditors see the City of Ventura as a ‘deep pocket’ resource for payment? When hundreds of thousands of tax payers dollars are lost, does the City see these funds as ‘their own budgetary funds’ or as tax payer’s funds, meaning that they have lost your money? Does the City Council just feel this is the risk of doing business or does the City Council just see this as another reason to ask the citizens for more taxes? What will the legal costs be?

Now this City Council has the nerve to ask for more tax money and wants the citizens of Ventura to trust them. They have just answered that question for themselves. They do not operate with the due diligence required for making fiscally responsible decisions.

As a call to action, resignations should start at the City Council level, along with a citizen’s investigation committee.

Robert Alviani
VREG Chair

Dear Sheldon,

Thank you for your in-kind donation to the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Motion by the Ocean.  Through the generosity of donors like you, we are able to support the building of the new Community Memorial Hospital.  Our hospital’s future is enriched by your generosity, and helps us address the needs of families, friends and neighbors throughout Ventura County.

Thank you for your support of Motion by the Ocean, Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

With gratitude,
Debbie Golden and Carolyn Tedesco

Breeze:

The Marina Park bathrooms were tagged between 10am Saturday and 9am Sunday when I cycled by.  Given that the tagging was done within about 10 feet of both video surveillance cameras, I would hope that the police could pull the footage to determine who the culprits were.  It would be great if photos could be posted on Pierpont’s and the Keys Nextdoor.com sites so that we could assist in identifying/catching these individuals.

George Robertson

Sheldon,

Thank you so much for the nice photos of the Faulkner House and the Dudley House. You went above and beyond what I expected. To receive these photos of Victorian houses, which are of interest to me, was a special gift to me and very much appreciated.

Yolanda Soto

What this country needs are  more unemployed politicians
~ Edward Langley

Hi Sheldon

Thought this might interest you.  This is an 1881 obituary from the NY Times. Scott was a family forebear and once purchased much of downtown Ventura and all of the Ojai Valley, purchased  from the original Spanish land grant person Federico Tico. His geologist friends at Yale told him there was oil.  He sent nephew Tom Bard to oversee things.

Tom Scott was referenced by our late Aunt Marge Tingue, a wonderful,  caring person in our family,  as someone with whom we should become familiar.  He was a remarkable person, born the 7th of eleven children to a tavern owner who did not attend school beyond age ten.  He rose to become president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, other railroads and developed the nationwide railroad network. He is said to have given Andrew Carnegie his first position as a railroad employee when Carnegie was 14.

The attached is from a lengthy 1881 New York Times piece.

A plaque on Hwy. 150  located on a very large stone several miles from Santa Paula indicates the first oil well in California with the names of Tom Scott and Thomas Bard.

Regards –
John H. Stewart

A few facts from “A Railroad Prince Dead “New York Times, May 22, 1881

Col. Thomas A. Scott’s Life and Last Illness

His death at 9:00 last evening  (Dec. 28, 1823 – May 21, 1881) – His life as a canal driver, merchant, station agent, superintendent and president – his great services during the warCol. Thomas A. Scott suffered a relapse of his illness on Thursday night, and after sinking slowly during Friday  and yesterday he died at 9:00 last evening.

Thomas Alexander Scott and the railroad system of the United States were identified in the youth of both, and grew up together. He was born at Loudon, an old settlement  of the great Appalachian Valley, in Franklin County, Penn.

The boy started in practical life early. Almost all of his education was received at the village school before he was 10 years old.

Scott went into business for himself. westward shipper in the great transportation house of Leech & Co., and here, as elsewhere, he soon made himself conspicuous by his energy and activity. He slept little and worked a great deal, but his hours at home were hours of relaxation.

Scott purchased all of the Ojai Valley and most of downtown Ventura in Southern California from its original Spanish land grantee Fernando Tico. He sent nephew Thomas Bard to oversee his California operations. Scott and Bard found the first California oil well as well as Union Oil Co. Bard was the U.S. Senator from California from 1900 – 1905.

Jill Forman

I was blown away by the terrific article on my “Acting for Amateurs” class and me, which you wrote for The Breeze.

Thanks to your vivacious style, the piece was great fun to read.  You put in all relevant information, but made it light-hearted and interesting.

I appreciate it so much, Jill–you’re a gem!

Best,
Rosemary Molloy

Worry pretends to be necessary, but serves no useful purpose.
~ Eckhart Tolle

Breeze:
I know city staff loves having alternate Fridays off and management sold it as saving money, but really, how much $$ does it really save and is it really any way to run a business?  It is not customer friendly.  If we support a tax increase can we do away with it?   Last Friday I observed a couple with a red truck and camper shell going through recycle blue bins on Santa Rosa between Thompson and San Nicholas.   They had filled their entire truck with bottles  I called E J Harrison to report it and they referred me to code enforcement whom I called but by having to leave a message no enforcement action was possible.  This is just one of many reasons I think it is time to do away with this practice.  We are giving pay increases again now and really, this practice needs to go.
Mike L Merewether-Ventura

Mr. Merewether

Code Enforcement is staffed six days a week Monday through Saturday except holidays.  The complaint line number is 805-658-4711.  On the alternate Fridays and Saturdays we have 1 Officer on staff.  They respond by the priority of the complaint. Life Safety being a top priority.  You can also call the Police Dept. for a complaint such as this.  

 Brad Clark
Code Enforcement Supervisor

Dear Editor:

You don’t have to vote for Trump. You don’t have to vote for Hillary. But you can’t not vote. If you’re a citizen of the greatest, richest country in the world, you must vote. It’s the only obligation you owe your country.

There’s no law that makes you vote. It’s not written into the Constitution or enforced by the Supreme Court. It’s your sacred obligation to participate in governing your country — the United States of America. The USA.

This personal participation should be drilled into the heads of all children from preschool on. We should have a national holiday celebrating our ability to partake in making our country free and influencing our elected representatives.

Don’t be making up excuses for shirking this job.

Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote.

Sincerely,
Es Cole

Sheldon

Heartfelt generous thanks and appreciation for honoring my student and great friend Don Haskell in the Breeze. This is one but many reasons why The Breeze is our go to for local news and views.

With love and thanks
Suz Montgomery and our ELA class

Just because you do not take an interest in politics
doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!

 ~ Pericles (430 B.C.)

Dear Editor,

With regard to the news report of July 5, 2016 in the Ventura County Star, the Ventura voting public needs to keep this news in perspective with how it relates to the citizens of Ventura. This is a City Council that is asking for another $270,000,000 in new taxes to spend anyway they wish.

The City Council approved a 4.50% raise, plus a $1,500 bonus, for police. The City Council also approved a 4.50% raise, plus a $1,500 bonus, for police management. Furthermore, they also approved a 5.25% raise, plus an $800 bonus, for non-public safety employees.

In the private sector, the general public is lucky to receive half this amount as an increase. Raises in the private sector are still running at about 3% or less. If you consider inflation as a baseline, in 2015 inflation was .12% and for 5 months in 2016, inflation is 1.078%.

The City Council is totally out of touch with economic reality and the voters need to relate this to the fact that the City Council is proposing a new 25-year tax. If the City Council cannot say no to spending, the voters in Ventura need to say no to this irresponsible spending. Vote no to an increase in sales taxes.

Robert Alviani-Ventura

Editor:

Today I received my first mailer from the City of Ventura about the ½ cent sales tax they want.  This mailer was paid for with our tax dollars, an irony since the city claims we don’t have enough money, which is why they want the sales tax.  Of course those who oppose more taxes don’t have a pot of money for fancy mailers (wonder how many potholes could have been fixed for the cost of this one mailer?).  We get to write letters to the editor!

Venturans should know that this tax would last for 25 years!  25 YEARS!  And while the city has a list of things it says it would spend the money on, there is NO assurance the money would be spent on these things.  The annual financial audit and the public review of expenditures would happen AFTER the money is spent.  There is no requirement that the city seek approval from anyone before spending the money.

And the “citizens’ oversight committee” will be selected by the city council, so they can stack it with “friendlies” who won’t question their expenditures.  The committee would have no authority to assure that the money is spent on the items listed in the city’s mailer.  The committee could only make recommendations, which the council can then accept or not. The committee’s lack of power was specifically confirmed at the council meeting where the council voted to put the sales tax measure on the ballot.

I am sure we will be getting more mailers about this.  When you get those, think about how much money the city is spending on mailers that could instead be spent on the things we need.  And think about whether you want to lock yourself into this tax for the next 25 years.

Alison Carlson-Ventura

We asked the City for a few responses, there will be much more said about this before the November elections for both sides to be heard. These were their comments.

This mailer was paid for with our tax dollars  – The informational mailer is to educate residents about the measure that will be put before the voters for their consideration.  The City wants to be transparent about the measure and educate residents to make sure they understand what it is and what vital services and programs could be funded with additional local funding.

There will be an Oversight Committee prescribed by the proposed ballot measure which would become law should it be approved by voters. The measure states the committee must include seven individuals who must be Ventura residents. Elected officials are excluded. The committee’s responsibilities are outlined in the proposed measure as well, which can be read here: 

http://www.cityofventura.net/files/file/meetings/city_council/2016/July/item%2003%20revised.pdf (the Citizens Oversight Committee is included in the Ordinance; located on page 22 of the report)

 Decisions on the financial expenditures of the City are the responsibility of the City’s elected representatives who must conduct budget proceedings in public. Budget documents are also made public and independent audits are conducted annually. The value the Oversight Committee adds to this process in assessing the actual expenditure of the measure’s revenues against how those revenue expenditures were prescribed by the ordinance voters approved.

Comment from Publisher Brown:

The City Council also appoints members to the Planning Commission and the Council frequently disagrees with the Commission’s decisions and reverses them.

Editor:

Breaking Bad? Only time will tell on Brexit.   I had just spent a couple of weeks in the U.K. and the whole place was abuzz with would Brexit happen or wouldn’t it? Panic. Fear.   My daughter has lived in the UK for five years now and she was furious and sad at the results.  I felt on the fence a bit but sad that the vote was so close. So like all artists, my inner thoughts suddenly found themselves going on to canvas. I chose to paint Prime Minister David Cameron”s expression just after he announced that he would step down.

Johanna Spinks

No man’s life, liberty, or  property is safe while the  legislature is in session.
~ Mark Twain (1866)

Breeze:

There is a fallacy to the economic benefits of vacation rentals. Allowing homes to be operated as vacation rentals is an economic loss to our community. They give rental owners tax deductions and income advantages that prospective permanent homeowners cannot compete, have contributed to housing price increases, and a decrease in homes available for purchase or rent.

Vacation rentals are taxed at as a source of income for cities that are in need of revenue. This has given incentive for local governments to attempt to legalize these business enterprises despite their illegally per existing zoning codes and laws.

The loss of residential zoned neighborhoods is at risk. The effect of vacation rentals cannot be measured in economic terms.

Reports and articles do not note the loss of traditional local business income. Vacation renters are seasonal. It is common sense that rentals decrease business income over a full time resident. Vacationers do not purchase automobiles; buy tires, gasoline, auto service, hair salons, barbers, or medical services, or insurance even for their rental home, plus a myriad of other services locally, including local charities. They do little more than service their owners and agencies. The vacancy period of a rental is a net loss to businesses that rely on repeat local customers.

There is a multiplier effect on every dollar spent in a community. Every dollar spent locally has a more than three and a half times fiscal impact. Ireland bases their low business taxes on this very principle, as did Canada in the 1980’s. A portion of every dollar spent keeps flowing to other local businesses at a diminishing rate to just over 3.5 times the original dollar spent. A full time resident has a greater positive economic impact over a vacationer due to their full time spending in their community. Where does the rental money go? It goes to the agency renting the property, the agency collecting the rent, and it goes to the owner, who for the most part lives in another community. If the money supply is reduced in a community so does the economy!

John and Carmel Whitman-Ventura

Editor:

If I took my car out tonight with no headlights, drove on the wrong side of the street, on the sidewalk, blowing through stop signs,  I dare say that the local constabulary (that means “the fuzz”) would run me down and drag me off to the pokey for what would probably, and rightly, be a lengthy stay.

So why do you get to do it on a bicycle?

Yeah, yeah, I’m always picking on cyclists. I have nothing against them, I just don’t want to be responsible for killing any of them, and it would be helpful toward that end if they were to wear safety equipment, have lights fore and aft, ride on the right side of the street and follow the same rules of the road as we motorists do.

Alfred J. Lewis
Ventura

Alfred:

You will happy to know that on July 4^th that the Ventura Police Department stepped up their Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The department has mapped out locations where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred along with the violations that led to those crashes.  Extra officers were on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and crashes occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.

Officers were looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. 

In general, the art of government  consists of taking as much  money as possible from one  party of the citizens to give to  the other.

~ Voltaire (1764)

Dear Sheldon and Scamp

I picked up my copy of the Breeze for June 8 just yesterday.  I want to thank Scamp for his concern for animals for putting information about the Yulin Festival in his column.  The better educated people are the better chances are of putting an end to this terrible cruelty.  So, Scamp, thank you very much for being so thoughtful and concerned about animals everywhere.

I always look forward to getting new issues of the Breeze.

Hope both of you have a relaxing weekend, but will guess your weekend will be filled with all kinds of exciting things to do.

Thanks again.
Betty Okrent

Woof woof
Scamp

Dear Sheldon,

Yes, it is stupid and shameful when human zoo caretakers need to kill an animal (in their care) because of the mistakes of other human beings.  It was a human mistake (probably the parent’s mistake) for that little human boy to be in the gorilla animal enclosure.  How could a “caretaker” kill an animal in their care?  Where was the “stun gun” to simply let the gorilla sleep until the boy was removed?  It is a time like this that makes me ashamed of assumed human thinking.

Suzanna Ballmer, Ventura

Ventura Breeze

The City is starting to place these locked trash containers around town.  I saw two already in place along the bike path.  As I can attest, if you cut into the vagrants source of income (canning), they will go someplace else.  Hopefully these will be placed all over Ventura.  Now if the City would only put dividers (arm rests) at the center of each park beach to stop vagrants from sleeping on them.

Robert George-Ventura

Hello dear Sheldon!

Been meaning to send a thank you for days now, so thank you again so much for getting our notice in the Ventura Breeze…I got several calls again and expect at least four new people to show up! Wo – if this keep up we’re gonna need a bigger room for our  Ventura Parkinson’s Support Group!

Hope you are doing well – sure do love your editorials; I at least find time to read that part!!

Yours truly,
Patty  Jenkins

Hi Sheldon,

Regarding your 6/8 editorial – Legalizing marijuana for recreational use is going to happen, but I also recognize the police chief’s concerns. However, to cite the example of a delivery service being robbed shows how restricted the system is now – the only way most people can easily buy legal pot is through these delivery services. Regulate legal dispensaries locally and delivery services will disappear. Robbers also know the issue with current banking regulations, so legal dispensaries also must deal with how to stash large amounts of cash since banks are currently prohibitive towards accepting these deposits. Eliminating this modern day prohibition is the only way to logically remove the murderous cartels from the equation. Technology will quickly figure a way to measure a person’s intoxication soon enough. The same need spurred the breathalyzer fast enough.

Footnote. So sad about the magnificent gorilla. Being a lifelong Buddhist, it’s part of our collective karma that this happens (also the gorilla’s). Until we improve how we protect and manage endangered species, this will continue to happen.

best as always,

Kurt Triffet

Artists to my mind are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.

~ William S. Burroughs