Archive By Section - Letters to the Editor
Howze decides which kids are worthy of safe recreation
Turlock City Councilman Ted Howze has struck again! He proposes cutting all summer swim programs at the Turlock High and Pitman High schools. He calls the current programs "the biggest money loser in the entire recreation department." He also disagreed with Councilwoman Mary Jackson that these pools afforded children a safe place to swim and recreate during our 105 degree summers. He wishes to "force" everybody to use Columbia Pool. This means ...
Children of Turlock deserve a safe place to swim
Thank you Turlock City Council for allowing two more weeks to hopefully get the community to rally around keeping at least one more pool open for recreation swimming.
Older teachers are better at their jobs
Teachers are evaluated by school administrators. School administrators are generally either failed teachers who were excellent sycophants or persons who have never taught a day in their lives. Teacher evaluations are based upon your sycophantic abilities, the church you attend, whom you are related to, what your current social status in the community is, and other unmentionable criteria. <span style="font-size: 12pt; ...
Apology was warranted
At Tuesday's meeting of the Turlock City Council, I issued a personal apology to members of the city's finance staff for a statement made in my opinion editorial to the Turlock Journal. I would like to clarify the facts involved and why an apology was the right thing to do.
Councilman Howze makes unsubstantiated claims
Editor, I am greatly concerned by the incendiary and malicious tone of Turlock City Council member Ted Howze's letter of May 21. Accounting and budgeting for insurance reserves is a complex and challenging task. Estimates and projections about future events are required. It is likely that an over or under provision will occur when doing this work. It is not proof ...
The truth behind the city’s ‘found’ money
Turlock's residents and our city employees deserve to know the truth about the millions of general fund dollars "found" stashed away in a series of special holding funds that covers the city's state unemployment, workers compensation and health insurance costs. In reality, the money was never "lost" to begin with. There are individuals within city staff who knew the funds existed and that they held ...
Enough is enough
I am thoroughly disgusted with the California Legislature. I believe the public should and does have the right to be irate about this situation of passing a budget on time. I am 69 years old and I cannot remember the last time a budget was passed on time.
Student health services top notch
Though I am covered by a "Cadillac" insurance plan with Kaiser, I choose to frequent the Student Health Center at California State University, Stanislaus. I called to book an appointment with Kaiser recently, and there was a three week wait to see my doctor. I would be charged a $20 co-pay at the time of the appointment and would be charged between $20 and $30 for my prescription. Disappointed, I ...
Digitizing best left to Lundrigan
As the Stanislaus County Assessor I know that digitizing documents is both time consuming and costly. It takes thorough research, planning, and execution to get the best results at a reasonable cost to taxpayers. Because I meet on a regular basis with the County Clerk-Recorder Lee Lundrigan, I know that she has already started this time consuming process. It may be easy for her opponent to say that he plans ...
Teachers continue to work towards excellence, despite obstacles
With the budget crisis, teacher lay-offs, low test scores, and struggling students and schools… we can still continue to find something positive! Turlock Unified School District's Instructional Coaches offered a voluntary staff development that was targeted to meet the instructional needs of teachers and learning needs of all students. The reception of teachers "choosing" to attend on their own time was amazing, especially now, when teachers are finishing benchmark ...
Christianson is a dedicated public servant
I am proud to be supporting Adam Christianson for Sheriff. Adam has taken the high road and insisted on everyone keeping positive. He deplores negative campaigning and I have never heard him bring up any negatives about his opponent.
AB 32 will help drive a sustainable economic recovery
Just a few years after passing AB 32, our state's challenge to reach a clean energy future, a handful of reactionaries in Sacramento (including Sen. Jeff Denham) are trying to repeal it, a move that will create economic uncertainty for thousands of businesses and stymie billions of dollars of investment in solar, wind, and other clean tech projects in the Central Valley. ...
Unfair deadlines prevent taxpayers from correcting mistakes
The deadlines for tax appeals illustrates one way California law creates a hostile work environment for taxpayers.
Where is the partnership?
Editor, It is with great disappointment I have read the recent comments of the Turlock Unified School Board and District Office in the papers. By their comments, it appears they have already made up their minds as to what they intend to do. They intend to impose a 2 percent salary cut on employees and ignore other effective cost cutting measures such as furloughs. <p style="margin: ...
Articles by Section - Letters to the Editor
Supporting local veterans
On May 14-19 American Legion members, auxiliary, and Boy Scout Troop #21 (Doug Leung, leader) distributed poppies in exchange for donations to be used one-hundred percent for veterans and their families in need. The people in Turlock and surrounding areas, along with the veterans themselves, were generous in their giving, and we appreciate each and every one of you for your generosity. What a rewarding experience, talking to so many who served our ...
Attention law-abiding pet owners: Big Brother is watching so act accordingly
Otis is my 3-year-old cat, a neutered and fully-vaccinated male that we rescued at five days of age after abandonment by his mother. Other than when crated for veterinarian visits, Otis and his sibling have spent their entire lives indoors. While scores of semi-feral, possibly diseased cats roam our neighborhood and use my flowers for a toilet, my cats have no interactions with my neighbors. Imagine my surprise when I learned Turlock officials ...
Whelan can help local farmers in Congress
Dear Editor, After looking at the three candidates running for the 16th District, Brian Whelan would be the best candidate for the House of Representatives. He is the only candidate which resides in the District in which he is running. Whelan is educated and is currently a lawyer, and he has helped several farmers in court. The lack of water made him want to be a Congressman in Washington, D.C. With his ...
We need your books
Editor: The citizens of Turlock are fighting hard to get "Yes on T" passed, Save Stanislaus Libraries and all of Turlock will benefit if the measure is passed. Make sure you get out and vote. Even though there is no formal opposition we still need you to mark your ballot. Not voting will allow the measure to fail. The Friends of the Turlock Library has relied on individuals to donate their unwanted and ...
Small tax, big benefits
Since its founding the American Association of University Women has been dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for all. For the past 100 years the Stanislaus County Public Library system has played a vital role in providing those opportunities in our community. AAUW strongly supports voting "Yes" on Measure T on the June ballot. In 1994 the voters of Stanislaus County had the wisdom to pass a 1/8 cent sales tax dedicated solely to ...
Death of local education decision making
They're at it again. Many of the people who brought us the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in 2001 are back. Prepare yourself for the nightmare of the Common Core Standards. American schools have witnessed an 11 year federal takeover of education and mandatory standardized testing with "drill and kill" test preparation. Drop-out rates for at-risk students remained high as school became more and more meaningless to these students who usually live in our ...
City trouble
I have lived in the same home for over 50 years. It was passed down to me by my parents. I have always paid my taxes and tried to be a good neighbor. Now the city has forced me to be homeless. My troubles started in 2003, after I became disabled. The city cited me under its nuisance ordinance. They said I had to clean up my yard and trim my trees. Unfortunately, ...
Yes on T needs your support
Editor: Citizens of Turlock should not feel a sense of "security" with all the Yes on T signs that are posted throughout our city and all the positive feedback from the papers and local businesses. Although there is no organized opposition (who would want a library closed?) Turlock citizens still have to go to their voting site, cast your ...
Only by preventing autoimmune diseases can we truly be healthy
This letter concerns the article by Dr. Kirsten Peters regarding celiac disease and gluten allergies. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are increasing exponentially and include dozens of very debilitating diseases. Celiac Sprue dermatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, juvenile arthritis, Lou Gehrig's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and ulcerative colitis are some of the most familiar examples. All these and many more are epidemic ...
We support area teachers
We retired teachers appreciate the efforts of those in the classrooms today. California Retired Teachers Stanislaus Division #38, through their Active Teacher Awards committee, distributed supplies to many teachers this past year. Schools included are Modesto City's Downey and Johansen high schools, Sipherd, Orville Wright, and Capistrano elementary schools; Waterford Middle School; Denair's Gratton School; Ceres' Mae Hensley Junior High School and Whitmore Charter School; and Turlock's Julien, Wakefield, and Osborn elementary schools, ...
Thank God Warrior Day is cancelled
Dear Editor, In response to the article, "Warrior Day cancelled," all I can say is thank God. We live close to the university, we have for five year. Now, I must say, we are looking for a new place to live. Warrior Day, in my opinion, is like War Day to our family. It's louder than anyone could imagine. For years now we have went before the City Council due to ...
Future bright for downtown
In her recent editorial, Kristina Hacker asks "whatever happened to Turlock's bridal district?" It is a good question, and in fact, she partially answers it herself. Whether or not the concept was a good idea, the timing could not have been worse. Launched in January 2008 at a time when vacancies downtown were near zero, the Turlock Downtown Property Owner's Association attempted to create a long term vision for downtown to attract new businesses and ...
School medical program needs community support
Dear Editor, Thank you for your story on the Delhi JAMS (Junior Academy of Medical Sciences) program published Saturday, March 10. I'm Eloisa Fuentes, the physician who was mentioned in the piece. I'm writing to give due credit for the inception of the JAMS program to Delhi's former superintendent Mr. Baltazar. His vision was materialized and is being developed by Mrs. Gomes, director of curriculum and instruction. Mr. Baltazar has retired and the ...
Dean’s Pizza steps in for sandwich shop’s lack of character
Dear Editor,
Gray should watch his endorsements
Dear Editor, I noticed a few oddities while looking at the website of State Assembly candidate Adam Gray. It was Mr. Gray's list of endorsers that intrigued me the most. The list includes numerous legislators, mostly from the Bay Area and Southern California. The most interesting of these is State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. This is the same Leland Yee who launched a nasty campaign of political harassment last year ...
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