New Times / Letters to the Editor

It's time to end our addiction to oil

Dennis Young - Shell Beach

Just get the job done now. No more dragging your feet.

Where there is smoke, there may be freedom

Kim Watson - Los Osos

If safety is the biggest community concern in Nipomo, then the eradication of Mexican cartel marijuana should be on the top of the list. Regulating a cooperative of local growers defies organized crime and puts the money back in the pockets of our community. It takes forward-thinking vision, the ability to see through narrow minded anti-marijuana propaganda, and courage to save our children from gangs. Why not through a strategy of cannabis self-reliance? Nipomo and the County of SLO have shown themselves to be mired in ill logic and prejudice on all accounts. Uninformed is an understatement.

To allow (soon-to-be-ex) Sheriff Pat Hedges’ swan song to be the theme of the Aug. 27 appeal of a proposed cannabis collective was disappointing to say the least. My four children testify to the impotence of the DARE program, and if anything is an illusion, it is the notion that taxpayer money on that was well spent. What they need is law-abiding people to be able to make lawful choices in a setting of respect and security. A collective/cooperative in this county would provide that.

As far as Rebecca Prewett is concerned, I am ashamed that she has presumably at one time had possession of a uterus. What is really “ridiculous” is that she is ignorant of the fact that PMS can be a serious and debilitating condition. I sincerely hope that she and Pat Hedges do not incur the ugly karma of an affliction or malady that herb can alleviate, because their pride and self-righteousness would probably not allow them to eat those crow brownies.

This SLO City Council is working to restore Laguna Lake

Dave Romero and John Ashbaugh - San Luis Obispo

We would both like to compliment New Times reporter Robert McDonald for his portrayal of the long record of service to the City of San Luis Obispo by one of the undersigned (“So long, Dave,” Aug. 26). The photographs were especially interesting—and quite revealing.

We suggest only one clarification to Robert’s story. In one sentence, he dismisses a recent council action regarding the restoration of Laguna Lake: “In the end, the council voted to do nothing concrete and consider the lake renewal project for the next budget cycle.” Reading this, your readers might get the mistaken impression that the council had spurned all meaningful proposals for action to protect the lake.

The actual council motion reads as follows: “Direct staff to return to Council during the next budget cycle with a Capital Improvement Project proposal to achieve an approximate 9 ft. depth, (with) expert analysis, cost alternatives, and financing options including any available grants and/or assessment district options; motion carried (4:0; Settle recused).”

This action represents significant progress: The council is moving from a mere “plan” to a Capital Improvement Project to restore Laguna Lake. In fact, the council rejected a staff recommendation that would have delayed any action indefinitely.

There were differences of opinion, to be sure, that reflected the differing professional backgrounds that each of us brings to the table (one is a professional engineer, and the other a city planner). Ultimately, we agreed on two equally important points: 1) We cannot afford to delay further; short-term action must be initiated as soon as it is practical to do so; and 2) Any short-term actions must be linked to a long-term project that is sustainable, affordable, and effective.

The restoration of Laguna Lake is far closer to reality now, as a result of the decisive action and leadership of this City Council. Those who support this action—or, for that matter, those who may question it—should make their voices heard in the city’s goal-setting process for the 2011-2013 Financial Plan, now underway before our various city advisory bodies. If approved as a Major City Goal, a financing option must also be chosen to distribute the cost of the restoration project fairly among those who enjoy the natural resources of the lake.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to clarify what happened at our recent meeting. For more information on the council’s action on Laguna Lake, your readers are welcome to contact either of us at these e-mail addresses: Mayor Dave Romero, dromero@slocity.org;  Councilmember John Ashbaugh, jashbaug@slocity.org.

Cars are deadly weapons

Richard L. Ibison, Sr. - Santa Margarita

After losing my 26-year-old son last October to an inattentive driver that ran him over just feet from the property where he lived, I am appalled to hear of the recent fatal “accident” involving vehicle vs. pedestrians in Santa Maria. And even more stomach turning is that some are putting blame on the pedestrians.

It is sad for the citizens who believe they have a right of way, even in an intersection. With the restraints on state budgets, investigations are kept minimal, prosecution and conviction of the inattentive driver is even less (unless the victim was affiliated with law enforcement—then heads will roll). As the operator of a motor vehicle, you are required to be in control of the direction of travel, as well as the rate of speed and surroundings. Failure to do so could result in collision involving injury or death to yourself, your passengers, or the public around you.

Studies have shown that 80 percent of all vehicular accidents are caused by inattentive driving, so unless it’s a life-threatening situation, whatever’s goin’ on in the back seat can wait until your first opportunity to legally pull over and deal with it. Same goes with that cell phone or GPS device. Pull over and rest if you feel fatigue. Face the reality that when you get behind that wheel, you are driving a deadly weapon. Don’t jeopardize your passengers or the public. Get to your destination safely.

Focus!

Which Bush policies are Obama and Biden talking about?

Richard W. Neufeld - Grover Beach

Here goes President Obama and VP Biden again—blaming Bush’s policies for the country’s problems.

Which Bush policies are they talking about? Not the real estate problem that can be attributed directly to the Democrats. They were the ones who started the mess by requiring the banks to make low-down or no-down payment loans to low-income people who couldn’t afford them.

Is it Bush’s tax policy, that gave us record amounts of income?

Is it the deficit, which was at $275 billion when the Democrats took control in 2006? The deficit Obama increased by more than $650 billion right after he was sworn into office? Or the present budget approved October 2009, which Obama and Congress’s super-majority increased $600 billion? Obama’s deficit is projected to be more than $1.5 trillion this year, a bit more than Bush’s $400 billion when he left office.

Note: This does not include Obama’s $700 billion stimulus package or his $1.6 trillion health-care package.

Again, what Bush policies are Obama and Biden referring to?

Wake up, people, to these GOP drunken pirates

Scott Jenkins - San Luis Obispo

Sam Blakeslee, the local boy, wants to cut services to the needy in California. Sam and the rest of his republican ilk across the country represent the Greedy Old Party, and the only constituents they care about are the insurance companies, mega-corporations, and the top three percent of income recipients in the nation who don’t really earn that money. They have more than enough money—compared to the remaining 97 percent of the country—to pay a little more in taxes to keep America from falling apart. Bush’s tax cuts should not be extended for this elite few. These people do not create jobs. Ask Alan Greenspan if they do. And Warren Buffet said he pays too little in taxes. Mr. Buffet acknowledged that his receptionist pays a higher percentage in taxes than he does.

The GOP wants to dumb down our nation by cutting education. They want to repeal healthcare and privatize social security, Medicare, and other social programs that help the poor and the shrinking middle class. None of these services should be “for profit” businesses. They are essentials, needs, and should be set up as strictly nonprofit agencies to serve the public.

Blakeslee and the Republican minority’s obstructionism and divisiveness have strangled our state’s budget and resulted in the “Fearful Fifth” cult that follows Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. They don’t share facts; instead, they make up hateful ghost stories that the intentionally uneducated eat up. They all seem to love fear and hate and want endless war—Crusades forever. They do this in the name of their special religion, which is the only religion that should be recognized in the world, in their opinion. Just ask Glenn Beck. This is verging on delusional, and for Glenn Beck, a very lucrative livelihood.

These conservatives, who spent borrowed money like drunken pirates on wars during the last two administrations, want to divide our country through misinformation and lies to feed hate based on the old prejudices they have kept alive and well in Southern politics. They appear to want to start another civil war. Do they really want a confederacy for a government? Chinese democracy and a Wal-Mart world? Wake up, people, and don’t forget to vote in November.

Don't infringe on Muslim American rights

Roy Berger - Arroyo Grande

Fundamentalist, hate-filled Christians are rabble-rousing Americans against all Muslims. I hope no one will fall for this abominable un-American garbage against free choice of religion.

Although no records were kept on what religions the victims of 9/11 were, it is estimated between 200 and 300 innocent Muslims were victims of that horrendous attack.

To not allow the Muslims to have a center near Ground Zero is a horrific infringement of the rights of Muslim Americans, as well as all of us who cherish every one our Constitutional Rights.