Dear Editor:

The circumstances of this election are like no other in a hundred years. We need to execute our Constitutional right to vote and stay safe from the Covid-19 virus. The best way to do that is to vote from home. To make sure your vote counts: 1) update/verify your registration, 2) select the language you want your ballot in (Voterstatus.sos.ca.gov), 3) track your ballot (WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov), and 4) vote early. The League of Women Voters of Ventura County suggests voting by mail by October 20th to make sure your ballot arrives in time to be counted. Complete your ballot and deposit it in a drop box, mail it, or deliver it to a voting center. All of these are safe options. For more information about the election, visit the Ventura County Elections Division at venturavote.org.

Pat Butler Ventura

Venturans:

In an effort to inform voters, the League of Women Voters, Ventura County conducted candidate forums for local city council, mayoral, state senate and assembly elections as well as the Congressional District 26 election.

The League of Women Voters also conducted discussions of the California Ballot propositions and Ojai School Bond K. You can access the video recordings of these events at the following link:

https://my.lwv.org/california/ventura-county/candidate-forums

Be an informed voter! And, make a plan to vote!

Wayne Morgan Ventura

Breeze:

I’ve been walking around this earth for a while now. Never before have I seen such fear and loathing coming from far left haters and far right haters. At times it seems most Americans fall into one or the other of these categories. But, today I witnessed a small event that gave me a little hope. (Mind you, I saw and heard with my very own eyes and ears, it’s not from a disguised Russian blog, TikToK data mine or Falun Gong newspaper.)

I was just leaving Coffee Bean with my large dark roast when a black lady approached a white male cop standing in line and asked what he would be ordering. He told her and she said, “I’m going to buy that for you,” The cop actually blushed and said, “That’s not necessary.” She, said, “No, you deserve it.” The cop was just beaming. Well, apparently, these people must have missed the latest Fox News and MSNBC shows because, for some inexplicable reason, she did not see him as a white, racist oppressor and he did not see her as a lawless, looting rioter. They seemed to share the outrageous belief that each was a fellow human being worthy of mutual respect and appreciation. Could this be the real America? I hope so.

Nick Bonge Ventura

Are you an amateur cartoonist?
Send your cartoon(s) to [email protected] for consideration to be published.

People who do not know how to laugh are always pompous and self-conceited.
~ William Thackery

Dear Editor:

Your vote, your voice. Make it heard! The November election is rapidly approaching. Voting is your right and your duty but first you must register. If you are not yet registered to vote the deadline to register online is October 19th. To register online go to RegisterToVote.ca.gov. The League of Women Voters of Ventura County recommends that all registered voters check their registration status online at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov. You will want to be sure that your address is current since ballots will be mailed to you, and to select your language preference. Prepare now to make sure your vote is counted!

Kathy Morgan Ventura

Voting has never been easier. Voting from home is safe, easy and convenient.

Once you receive your official ballot in the mail in early October, you can return it by the US Postal Service mail – postage is prepaid. It must be postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 20 (in California) for your vote to be counted. We recommend you vote as early as possible after receiving your ballot.

An alternative to mailing your ballot is using one of the 34 Ballot Drop Boxes that are located throughout the county and will be open from Oct. 6 until Election Day, Nov. 3 at 8 pm. Ballot Drop Box locations can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y45ol4mo.

Finally, you can take your ballot to any of the 47 in-person Vote Centers to drop it off or request a replacement for a spoiled ballot. The Vote Centers will be open Sat. Oct 31, Sun., Nov 1, and Mon. Nov 2 from 10 am-6 pm and Tuesday, November 3 from 7 am-8 pm. Vote Center locations can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y5wd2ykv.

Be sure to check your registration status ([email protected]) and sign up to track your ballot (WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov).

The League of Women Voters of Ventura County will host virtual candidate forums (lwvventuracounty.org) – be an informed voter and learn about the candidates and issues.

Drop Box locations:
https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/List-of-Drop-Off-Locations.pdf

Vote Center locations:
https://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IPVL-Insert-FINAL-1.pdf

Betsy Patterson, President
League of Women Voters of Ventura County

Dear Mr. Brown,

Defund: A term that has taken on new meaning these days, gets twisted by those who wish to argue in bad faith to leave a broken system unchanged. But, defunding is about the reallocation of funding, taking duties away from law enforcement that would better be handled by mental health specialists or unarmed community liaisons. It means transforming our legal system to break the cycle of violence, oppression and despair created centuries ago by our nation’s racist landowners who hired armed men to protect their property and themselves from the perceived violence of people of color and the poor. It’s about acting on the persistent demand to shift our social, political and economic paradigms to generate lasting peace, prosperity, educational excellence and justice in all our communities. Let’s replace much of our police force with solutions that actually reduce and prevent crime.

In California we’ve made a step in changing laws by dismantling our old cash bail system which penalized the poor. Let’s also stop police from arming themselves as if they are going to war with the citizens who pay their salaries, police unions from getting too powerful and city councils from indiscriminately throwing money at police departments. Should a police department really be able to demand double the amount of any other department in a city’s budget, and get it?

What we fund is what we tolerate – racism, exploitation, injustice! Let’s work together to find other means of keeping our communities safe.

Sincerely,

Angelo Haynes Police Oversight Working Group

The only motive that can keep politics pure is the motive of doing good for one’s country and its people.
~ Author unknown

Breeze

William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the mirror to your soul”.

Our masks cannot mask or diminish the power of connection that is transmitted through the eyes of another; a window opens to our own lives, getting a glimpse of ourselves in the moment. Our eyes don’t lie: they show the truth no matter what face we put on.

These are eye-opening times we are living in! Studies show, when a smile reaches our eyes the brows raise and we become, ‘bright eyed’. A wink and a smile can bring comfort to the lonely or ones lost from the unraveling of their personal normal’s, desperately clinging to their old and familiar way of life. And now faced with moving forward in new ways for re-building a better tomorrow for our children’s children. And under all that, there is this ever presence of sadness from lack of touch and soul exchanging hugs with friends and loved ones.

The great Roman philosopher, Cicero said, “The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter”.

There’s no denying, it doesn’t feel ‘natural’ let alone comfortable to barricade our smiles, let alone breathe easily and naturally. It’s not natural! Our mouths like our eyes are the instruments of our expression. Concealed with our new accessory made of cloth, the eyes become our interpreters, relying upon our ‘orbs of many colors’ to communicate thought, and like sign language is for the hearing impaired, they tell our story.

According to Dr. Jeffery Benjamin, “Our eyes ability is limited physically, but our hearts covey the most poignant picture through the eyes”.

The heart knows what the heart needs. Through the language of the eyes, we can hear the dialog of another’s soul. Setting our own stories aside, allows unspoken words of caring, love and compassion to transfer from one heart to another. We all have the ability and opportunity to communicate with our eyes, with heart-sensitive understanding and solidarity; we are not alone in these crazy changing times.

Karen Leslie Ventura

Dear Editor, Sheldon Brown:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for bringing us the Breeze newspaper for the past thirteen years. It is a journalistic jewel to your readers. A shoutout to all involved: your dedicated staff, the advertisers and the generous doners.

You, too, can help the cause. See page two for information on how to be a part of a special group.

Now, we can all help to keep this publication alive.

Sincerely,

James Francis Gray

Dear Everybody,

Well, I always knew he wanted to own the U.S. of A the same way Putin owns Russia. But I didn’t realize he had gotten so close. Yikes. I didn’t think he had brains enough to put the right pieces together.and get so close to getting all the goodies.  The story is far from over. This country and our structure will be long getting repaired. A lot to digest and a lot of make sense of. And lots and lots of thought and ideas and who knows what else will be needed to make the repairs needed to make us a United States of America again. I don’t feel paranoid, but I think I’ll need a lot more paranoia to understand a lot of what has happened and a lot  more that is needed.

Help me get my brain together. Help yourself to whatever is deemed valuable.
xxxxEs and Manny

When checking for gas leaks, always remember to use safety matches to prevent accidents.
~ Lawrence Brotherton

Breeze:

I believe that President Trump has been (and will continue to be) a great president. He has made very important changes to the way government is run and had reversed many of Obama’s terrible programs and taxes. I know that some countries don’t care for him but that is because he has put America first instead of catering to the wishes of other countries that don’t do much to help us financially.

Before the China virus hit us our economy was at the highest that is has ever been in our history and will return to that when the virus is licked. His insistence that companies rapidly come up with a vaccine has made them proceed very rapidly with a vaccine and a cure.

He has helped states with everything that they need to combat the virus even though some sates (to embarrass him and make him look bad) have refused his help. Shame on them

Some of his relatives have criticized him but are, obviously very jealous of his success as being our president and with his very successful business ventures. He has handled their criticism in a very professional and dignified manner.

The promises that he made in his acceptance speech for his next term are wonderful and will put millions of Americans back to work.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts

Mervin Wheeler

Sheldon,

Who would have ever thought we could don a face mask, walk into a bank, walk up to the teller and demand money.  Then walk out unmolested?

Michael Gordon

Michael:

Just the wonderful times that we are living in.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be taken with painstaking excellence.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Editor,
Now that the controversial statue of Father Junipero Serra has been removed, I would like to suggest that we replace it with someone who is not controversial, who worked in the arts, and whose most famous creation was “born” here in Ventura.  I would like to see a statue of Erle Stanley Gardner standing in front of City Hall where he used to practice law when it was the county courthouse.

Many people, even long time Ventura residents, do not know who he is or that Mr. Gardner was a member of the firm of Sheridan, Orr, Drapeau, and Gardner in Ventura from 1921 to 1933.  During that time be became increasingly disenchanted with the practice of law and started writing pulp fiction for crime magazines around the country.  He did well at this but his greatest success came when he started writing novels, 82 in all, about a hard-driving attorney by the name of Perry Mason.

The first Perry Mason novel, “The Case of the Velvet Claws”, used the Pierpont Inn as the backdrop to the story.

A television show based on Mason ran for nine years and many more special made-for-television movies followed after its cancellation.  Gardner himself appeared in the last episode of the series.

Recently, HBO launched a mini-series based on Gardner’s work.

At the time of his death in 1970, Gardner was the best-selling writer of the 20th Century.

All of this success, which started here in Ventura, should be celebrated by all of us.

Regards,
John Darling

Sheldon:

Thank you for bringing our community such fantastic local and national coverage, and editorials. I always look forward to each Breeze being published.

Robert Aronson

Mr. Brown —

In response to opinions expressed in the July 29, 2020 edition of the Ventura Breeze criticizing the words and actions of our president, I ask that you please consider them from a different perspective:

Ever the optimist and with endless vistas of free time I believe that I have figured out how the dots connect so that much human suffering will end and very soon at that.

I never thought I would have anything good to say about the man, but from what I observe President Donald Trump is succeeding in “draining the swamp”.  His actions are exposing the weaknesses in various systems and are providing the impetus for people the world over to look into the abuses perpetrated by many in authority and their associates whether by design, incompetence, or a policy of “see no evil, hear no evil”.

At one point in my career I worked for the District Attorney’s Office and learned that pedophiles and those that similarly prey on the vulnerable do not do well in prison.  That thought cheers me.  Imagine the fear running through the veins of the super elite, the friends, associates, and clients of billionaire child sex trafficker the now deceased Jeffrey Epstein and others in similar trade.   These people face the very real threat of public exposer (black mail is like that), and I seriously doubt that Mr. Epstein’s secrets died with him.   When exposed, the corrupt will lose their positions of authority hopefully to be replaced by those more fit for command.

Finally, I feel there is a connection between mask wearing and the missing part of “see no evil, hear no evil”, which is “speak no evil.”  To quote Ralph Smart, “Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.”

Julie Schaab Ventura

There is so much apathy in the world today…..but who cares?
~Steven J. Paul

Mr. Brown:

I appreciate your column and look forward to your comments and insights.  I just wanted to mention to you, however, that I believe your comment that “as a non-native American, I don’t have really strong feelings about this” (regarding the statue of Father Serra) is unacceptable if we are to work towards social justice in our county ad our country.  If the only people who respond to injustice are those that have suffered from it, minority causes would never receive the support they deserve from all of us.  It would seem more in keeping with your opinions that we all share the responsibility to stand up for injustice, whether it has affected us or our ancestors, or not.

Thank you.
Kathy Waters

Kathy:
Thanks for this so I can clear this up. I am very concerned, and supportive for all peoples who have been, and will continue to be subjected to injustices and prejudices. I just meant that folks directly affected probably have stronger feelings but all have my empathy
Sheldon

Editor

In the April 8-21 edition of the Ventura Breeze, your challenge to readers regarding making positive statement(s) about President Trump only generated one response that I noticed. It was disappointing that more readers did not make an effort to respond. Here is my contribution.

Did you enjoy the stimulus check you received? Was the reduction in your Federal Taxes something you appreciated? Do you think the economy and lowest unemployment ever, prior to Covid-19, benefited America? Have you researched how many pieces of legislation President Trump has signed into law?

It is easy to criticize, find fault and believe what we hear or read. But haven’t we been taught to question everything? To question indicates a need to research and find the most accurate information, which is not as easy as it seems in today’s world of the internet and 24/7 media news that usually does not provide accurate or complete information. It is interesting to me that when I hear the major media spin what President Trump has said and when I see or hear the actual footage of his comment that I find the media’s spin was not what he actually said.

While it may be easy and popular to dislike President Trump’s often reported behavior, we should ask ourselves if we feel he really has the welfare of America’s future at heart?

Is the nomination of Federal Judges that believe in and respect the American Constitution a good thing for the preservation of America, as we have known it, something we appreciate? Isn’t the support of existing Federal Laws what elected officials are supposed to do?

In my opinion, the real issue voters need to address each time we vote is to pick the least of the evils. No candidate is perfect so it is each voter’s responsibility to exercise “due diligence” and vote for the person that hopefully will do the least amount of damage to our nation or community. We have been conditioned to the polite behavior of professional politicians. Perhaps we need more people in elected office that do not act like lifelong professional politicians, some of which have never had real jobs. We do not have to like someone to vote for them. We should try to determine which candidate is committed to do what is best for America and or our community.

Respectfully submitted from a registered Independent voter.

Ken Ogle

Is not life a thousand times too short for us to bore ourselves?
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Some historical artifacts were erected to celebrate great accomplishments, some were to remind all the pain and suffering they caused.  If anybody reading this was there with Father Junipero Serra, or has immediate family members who were there, or first person recording of events inflected upon family members; you may well have a right to demand removal of the statue.  If anybody reading this was not there with Father Junipero Serra, what right do you have to deprive later generations of the reminders of what happened during his stay in Buenaventura?

This all boils down to a single statement, uttered over 72-years ago:

“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”~Sir Winston Churchill

If the statue is deemed to be moved by the prevailing political winds, then perhaps the best place to house it is in front of the Mission he helped to create.  There it will be a religious artifact and protected by Federal Law.

Michael Gordon

Editor:

I would suggest two solutions to the Father Serra controversy

1. If the statue is to stay in Ventura a plaque underneath should acknowledge his contribution to our history but should also note that he was complicate in the abuse of the indigenous Chumash people.

2. If it is removed I suggest sending it to whatever town was his home  – in Spain – they will have a special place for it I’m sure.

Sincerely

Paul Whitehead

Breeze:
I enjoy reading a physical paper instead of an on-line paper. Keep up the good work.
Richard Beauregard

Keep Father Serra Standing

As I write this letter the City Council is holding a hearing regarding the statue of Father Junipero Serra that stands in front of Ventura’s City Hall. By the time this letter is in print, he may not be there, but I hope he will be. I am hearing the protestors (several very young and not even of voting age) speak and cry out as if they personally were subjected to what they perceive happened with the building of our great City and it’s Mission by Father Serra.

There are thousands of “reminders/tributes” throughout the world of the suffering of all of our ancestors over the centuries. We have learned from their historically recorded mistakes and most of the time have successfully stopped the suffering and improved quality of life for generations.  We have also been gifted by many of these historical figures with an advancement of the human condition.

What is happening all over our great Country right now is setting a dangerous precedent. To tear down our history is to deny our past and destroy the opportunity to overcome oppression and celebrate a future that embraces the lives of all races equally. For more than 31 years Father Serra has stood in front of Ventura’s historical City Hall. Most of the protestors today were not even born then and they have not been taught to respect the history and freedom that thousands of men and women of all races died protecting.

Now is the time to teach, not tear down. Where will it stop if we capitulate to this “movement” overtaking the civility of our Nation and throughout the world? Shall we tear down the Roman Coliseum next? What about the Pyramids? I recently heard a wise man say this: Unless you are ready to surrender everything, you’d better not surrender anything.

Patty Jenkins

Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants.
~ Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

Dear Ventura City Council Members and the Ventura County Public Health Officer, 

Let’s face it, the coronavirus is now sprinting along, infections are rising rapidly all over California.  The Ventura County infection rate has risen to higher levels today, than ever. The hospitalizations are rising, give it a week or two and the death rates are to follow. The virus is actually spreading now even faster than it was when we started the lockdown in March.

I keep seeing police officers around town speaking to each other and to citizens at close range and with no masks. Of course, the general public is always watching what the police are doing. The first thing the public sees is NO MASK. This is dangerous. It is dangerous for members of the police force and the citizens they are conversing with. This is a dangerous message to send to the general public. A citizen is likely to say to himself, “If the police don’t wear masks, why should I?”  On the other hand, if the public saw the police wearing masks all the time, they would likely think, “Look, the police are wearing masks, this virus must be serious, I better put on my mask!” This will help save lives.

I had a very cordial conversation yesterday with Commander Arroyo of the Ventura Police. He and I discussed the 3,000 NYPD officers who came down with the virus and the 39 NYPD officers who died from the virus. More importantly we discussed that since the NYPD has been required to wear masks, they have had no more officer deaths and the NYPD officer’s virus rate is now less than 3% while at the same time, the general public infection rate is at 20%, Brooklyn NY is at 40%.  

In these days of so many citizens pleading for “community policing” for the police to actually “protect and serve”, I believe that if the Ventura police officers wear masks, they will convey to our citizens that the police care, and that they are here not to “infect”, but to “protect”.  Let’s do it! Like Chicago, like Austin, like New York City, let’s see our police wear the mask!

Regards, Gene Rubin

Dear Council Members:

I feel that reducing the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau (VVCB) budget at this time (or anytime) would be a very large and serious mistake.

Especially at this time, when some businesses are starting to open, the work that they do in promoting tourism is more important then it has ever been. Now more than ever, we need to have the VVCB marketing our destination and businesses to help us recover from the dramatic losses because of this pandemic.

Their efforts help bring in much tax revenue that supports our city budget.

Especially as summer arrives and so many come here to enjoy our wonderful weather and beaches.

We need them now more than ever. Please reconsider this budget cut.

Thank you

Sheldon Brown publisher-editor

By honors, medals, titles no true man is elevated. To realize that which we are,
this is the honor for which we are created.
~ Angeleus Siilesius

Publisher

Retired DeputyPO ,who is dependent upon swimming to maintain heart health

needs access to private pool to continue aerobic workouts. Previous orthopedic injuries make it impossible to reach goals….. public pools and condo facilities are all closed. Can you help?

Mike Lilly – text Mike 805-218-2186

Breeze:

It’s a virus. Tiny, almost invisible; it lives in our bodies and can make a bunch of people very sick and cause a lot of those people to die.

Not bad for something tiny and invisible.

But we’ve taken on viruses in the past, and we are still around. We will find a way out of this pandemic eventually. People will sicken and many will die, but most of us will still be around when the virus yells, “uncle.” or whatever viruses yell when they give up.

Try to do the smart and easy things that help. No kissing no hugging, wear a mask.

Try funny masks. Maybe they make you laugh and that is better than crying.

Eat ice cream bars. OK they are not medicine, but they sure make me feel better. Maybe for you, too.

Fight the good fight.

Esther Cole

Sheldon:

I appreciate your publication because it gives a glimpse of Ventura, particularly the senior section. Happy to contribute.

Patricia Schultz

Sheldon

It’s about time that I can thank you and the staff at Ventura Breeze for the faithful service you give to the people of Ventura. So glad you give us a chance to let you know how we can help. Just a small way to show how much we appreciate this fine paper. Hope it can stay afloat for many more years.

Gratefully Dolores Bray

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.
~ James Allen

Sheldon:

Your deep convictions and passion were in evidence in your opinion in the Breeze, and, appropriately so, I might add!

Ed Wehan

Breeze:

I support re-opening of public parks including restrooms for those who may need to use limited restroom facilities

I object to age discrimination of limits for those age 70 or above when the true test should be underlying health conditions or physical fitness

I am age 78 going on 79 and in excellent health with no underlying health concerns comparably younger than many 60-year olds.

Mike Merewether

Sheldon Brown,

You asked for an intelligent counter to what you demmed reprehensible behavior to President Trump’s behavior. Here it is:

States like California, Michigan, New York and New Jersey have been infringing on people’s Constitutional rights forcing businesses and government offices to close in the name of saving lives. People who are sitting alone in their cars at the beach with their windows rolled up or surfing with no one within three hundred feet of them have been getting thousand dollar fines for violating public health orders issued by County doctors who are not elected officials.

Our own Dr. Levin who is the Head of Public Health for the county of Ventura has dictatorial powers over what businesses can be open and what can be sold at these businesses. I find it amusing that under Dr. Levin’s Orders people can’t purchase electronics or clothing but you can purchase as much liquor as you want at Target according to these orders.

Elective medical procedures such as knee and hip replacements are not allowed but abortion clinics are considered essential medical services. This sounds political to me.

Are people dying ? Yes.yet the numbers are being inflated so we don’t know how many people have actually died of the Corona Virus because those that die of secondary causes such as heart failure are listed as dying on the death certificate of Covid19 because that’s what state governments told Dr’s to do.

The economy is being hit hard with people out of work, suicides and domestic violence are way up and more people are dying from the secondary effects of the forced economic shutdown than from Covid deaths themselves.

People have the right to protest their constitutional rights being infringed upon  and to protest the fact that government will not allow them to work and support their families.

Is the death of thousands worth the economic death of millions?

When Obama was President the flu took 80,000 lives one year and there were no oders infringing on people’s right to work and support their families ,their freedom of movement or government telling them what they can or can not purchase. I believe there is a Covid19 virus but the severity of the virus is being inflated for political purposes by those on the left including the media during a Presidential election year in an attempt to get rid of Democrats number one enemy, President Trump !

Kevin Daly ,Ventura 

We thank Kevin for his thoughts. First Trump fan letter that we have received that actually made his ideas clear and not just condemned the Breeze.

Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.
~ Elbert Hubbard