”
Is Art Cantu the best attorney in town or is the District
Attorney and his staff just the worst? Having followed the Solorio
case for the past year and a half, it appeared to me this was a
slam-dunk for the prosecution, just as the Orabuena case seemed
– at first look. By the time these cases were done, Cantu had
beaten them up so bad it appears the DA’s office just gave up.
I agree with Mrs. Thul, John Sarsfield should have taken this
one all the way through trial. It is my understanding that it has
been alleged that Sgt. Thul had lied about his injuries and in fact
was not hurt at all. If this was Cantu’s defense strategy, I feel
that Sarsfield should have taken it to trial and made them prove
it. I don’t think they could have proven that Mr. Thul lied.
I’ve been told that when all is said and done, Mr. Solorio will
only have to spend a total of one more year in prison. There is a
big difference between two years and 15 to life.
”
“Is Art Cantu the best attorney in town or is the District Attorney and his staff just the worst? Having followed the Solorio case for the past year and a half, it appeared to me this was a slam-dunk for the prosecution, just as the Orabuena case seemed – at first look. By the time these cases were done, Cantu had beaten them up so bad it appears the DA’s office just gave up.
I agree with Mrs. Thul, John Sarsfield should have taken this one all the way through trial. It is my understanding that it has been alleged that Sgt. Thul had lied about his injuries and in fact was not hurt at all. If this was Cantu’s defense strategy, I feel that Sarsfield should have taken it to trial and made them prove it. I don’t think they could have proven that Mr. Thul lied.
I’ve been told that when all is said and done, Mr. Solorio will only have to spend a total of one more year in prison. There is a big difference between two years and 15 to life.”
“‘Lewd bear left near Ornelas’ office’ Friday, Dec. 12, 2003 and ‘Lewd bear shows arrogance or ignorance’ Friday, Dec. 19, 2003.
Your publication is ‘shocked’ by a teddy bear in a thong. Yes it was wrong, but far more shocking was the alleged assaults on women. By making a big thing about the stupid bear, you are demeaning and devaluing the real victims.
Oh no, you speculate. Minors might be corrupted by the teddy bear! Guess what? Most minors have already seen a naked teddy and even taken it to bed with them.
While you may think the bear is symbolic of Robert Ornelas’ poor judgment, the other ‘breathtakingly poor judgment’ was not made by Ornelas, but by you. Your reporting and editorials make a big thing about the bear.
Your article of Dec. 12 states the bear ‘has been perched on top of the computer monitor of Tina Talavera.’ So it’s Tina’s bear.
Your editorial on Dec. 19 suggests it is Ornelas’ bear and he is responsible. On Dec. 19, you don’t even mention Tina, the bear’s apparent owner.
The stuffed bear obviously was not a real problem otherwise the complainants would have reported it to his bosses months ago and the bosses would have taken action – or maybe not.
Ornelas is possibly guilty of assault and probably exercises poor office management skills. You are the ones attempting to paint a ‘lewd’ picture.
Your reporting needs to make a distinction between a stuffed bear in drag and physical assaults by real people. By concentrating on a stuffed bear, you minimize the allegations made by real people. The real story is the alleged assaults and the failure by the city to monitor or correct the workplace after the complaints were filed.
Try looking at the allegations. If you find the allegations to be well founded than argue for a hearing followed by the managers removal and if you find the allegations to be sourer grapes then defend him.”
“For the first time in 12 years, the city has not provided Fun Day Camp for holiday break due to cutbacks. My kids have always attended Fun Day Camp at every school break since they started school. They now have to spend some time alone because we cannot afford YMCA for two kids for two weeks. I wish the YMCA could offer selected days instead of having to enroll the kids for the whole week.
The lack of Fun Day Camp will create even more latchkey kids. I don’t want my kids being latchkey kids and so far I have been able to avoid that because of Fun Day Camp.
Even though it seems the program struggled this past summer, it was still a safe place where kids can go and it was affordable for working parents. We miss Fun Day Camp and hope that it comes back in time for summer vacation.
Maybe our community needs a sales tax increase to pull ourselves out of this mess. I personally wouldn’t mind paying a little more sales tax at the register if it meant saving vital city/county programs and services. It really is the fairest way of taxation; where everyone pays. I know it’s not pleasant to raise sales tax but sometimes in dire situations it is necessary.”
