Letters to the Editor

Sarsfield’s a winner
John Sarsfield is a young man of great integrity and outstanding
moral character. He was a captain in the Army, he worked for the
Judge Advocate General as an attorney for all branches of the
military and is an adjunct professor at the University of San
Francisco.
Sarsfield’s a winner

John Sarsfield is a young man of great integrity and outstanding moral character. He was a captain in the Army, he worked for the Judge Advocate General as an attorney for all branches of the military and is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco.

Mr. Sarsfield has an exemplary record and reputation. His record is unblemished. It has come to my attention that a certain criminal defense attorney was probably prosecuted by the D.A. in Merced County not so long ago, and that the plaintiff requested that a restraining order be issued against him as the plaintiff was fearful for her physical safety and that of her eight children. Could this have been the family of a certain criminal defense attorney? It has come to my attention that this criminal defense attorney had these records sealed.

Don’t the good people of San Benito County have a right to know what is in these sealed records, in order to cast an intelligent vote? This certain criminal defense attorney and the four males on the Board of Supervisors are envious and jealous of Mr. Sarsfield’s accomplishments and competency. This certain criminal defense attorney has done everything he could to plant seeds of doubt about Mr. Sarsfield since he won the position of D.A. at 70 percent of the vote last time. Shouldn’t the sealed records be unsealed so people know whom they are voting for?

Moscopia M. Simonidis

Salinas

Mistake voting for Sarsfield

I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors for their vote of no confidence at the last Supervisors meeting. But, I would especially like to point out to Mr. Sarsfield that his remark “it means nothing, I don’t have any confidence in them” referring to the Board of Supervisors, is an insult to me and every other voter who put the Supervisors in office to do a job. We now have two no confidence votes, one from the attorneys of San Benito County and the other from the Board of Supervisors. Insignificant as it may be to Mr. Sarsfield, I add my vote of no confidence. I have voted in San Benito County for 47 years and I have never made such a huge and far-reaching mistake as when I put my x next to Sarsfield’s name.

Lavern Browder

Hollister

Keep Loe, dump the rest

The back of my head, barely visible in one of the photos covering the March 28 Board of Supervisors meeting, reminded me of the surreal events of the day. My purpose had been to honor Teresa Copeland, the 8th-grade Marguerite Maze student acknowledged for winning the Jefferson Award for her work with the homeless. I did not guess as to what was to unfold afterward.

Frankly I was quite astounded that the Supervisors got themselves worked into a veritable lynching party. It seemed to me that the DA’s budget was a ruse and not the real issue. Mr. De La Cruz seemed grossly upset about the budget, as did Mr. Botelho and Mr. Marcus. Their concern, they said, was the taxpayers. It seems to me that if that were really the case they would want to discover the true identity of the Los Valientes. The Los Valientes are the cause of the costly un-founded lawsuits and the true expense to the taxpayers.

Furthermore when the identities of the Los Valientes are known that would clear the names of De LA Cruz, Botelho, Monaco, and Marcus of scandal. Of what are they afraid?

Supervisor Loe wielded the gavel through this briar patch skillfully, fairly and professionally. The community needs to keep her. The rest are doubtful.

Mary Zanger

Hollister

Let voters decide on D.A.

Let the voters decide the D.A.’s future. There is always JAG.

Robert Gila

Hollister

Amnesty a slap in the face

I am an immigrant. Allowing an illegal alien to become a U.S. citizen is a slap in the face to all of the immigrants who moved here legally, by following the law.

Lauretta Avina

Hollister

Immigration solution: Annex Mexico

With all the current uproar about immigration, who would benefit if Mexico could be added to the United States?

Minimum wage would immediately be raised in Mexico, and travel restriction, security requirements would be eased. Development dollars would immediately flow into Mexico, as landowners would own mineral rights. The US would immediately be oil independent. All of Mexico’s cars and industries would be upgraded to California standards for pollution. Water systems would improve. The Rio Grande would be a national issue. Remittances and fees would be unnecessary. The southern border would be easier to control. Police forces in Mexico would perhaps be better. People could visit a larger Grand Canyon. We could then have a practical reason for bilingual education in all schools.

How many positive reasons can you think of?

Now, what to do with that pesky flag issue.

Mark Dickson

Hollister

Students deserve commendation

On Tuesday March 28, over 100 Latino/Chicano students walked out of San Benito High School in protest of HR 4437, a bill that would turn thousands of undocumented migrants into federal criminals. The bill would also criminalize the work of churches, nonprofits and other organizations aiding these individuals.

It was about 11:30 when I saw them coming down San Benito Street from my office window. I took an early lunch and joined them. It was truly inspiring to see so many young people take to the streets and have their voices heard. Having been a high school student only a few years ago, I understand how scary it can be to walk out of school and stand up for what you believe in, especially with intimidation coming from the school administration and the Sheriff’s Department.

The students marched peaceably to chants of Justicia! and Si se puede! and many passers-by honked their horns in support. From what the students told me, few of them knew of the walk-out before that day, which makes their number and the way they marched orderly and united even more remarkable.

Over the weekend between 500,000 and two million people marched against HR4437 in L.A. and 30,000 marched in San Jose alone. The opposition to this bill coming from the American people is truly enormous. Even though I attended much bigger rallies over the weekend, I can honestly say that the spirit and energy these Hollister students showed today was the most powerful I’ve experienced. They should be commended.

Mark Anthony Medeiros,

community college student,

employed in Hollister

Remember the American people?

Republican office holders ask Democrats to present their plan to undo the Bush/Cheney, Republican Congress mess. Why bother? They would not understand any program that puts the interests of American voters ahead of the interests of big business and big money.

Two things that could be done by a Democratic Congress even before Bush/Cheney leave Washington are: 1) Instruct the president to bring our brave troops out of Iraq and let the Iraqis get on with shaping their nation and 2) Scrap the drug-company Medicare program and put in one that benefits the people insured by Medicare. These would be two steps back toward fiscal sanity for the nation.

All the American people want to know is that their elected representatives put their best interests above those of big business and big money.

 

Frank Crosby

Morgan Hill

Tracie Cone equals accountability

It is obvious to many people in San Benito County that the possibility exists that current local government is adversely due to chaos and turmoil. I am concerned that officials may be making decisions that benefit a few special interests groups. Our county needs politicians that can work together for the good of all people. We need supervisors who will conduct themselves with integrity and honesty. Accountability to the taxpayers and voters is of utmost importance. This is why I am supporting Tracie Cone for District 4 Supervisor.

Tracie has a long history of business and leadership skills. She vows to never allow a professional or personal obligation to influence her decisions as an elected official. She has consistently advocated for improvements in our quality of life. Tracie will be an asset to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.

Cyndi McGuire

Paicines

Valiente-loving supes are cowards

Will someone pinch me please? I find it hard to believe that John Sarsfield is up for a vote of no confidence when it seems that the Board of Supervisors has a member who won election under questionable circumstances. Further, these so-called “Valiant Ones” (Los Valientes) are still unable to stand up and identify themselves to all of us, the taxpayers who are facing their bill, correct or incorrect? Since I believe that the Valiant Ones intended these actions when they retained Michael Pekin in the first place, how can Mr. Sarsfield be blamed, when he was obliged to respond? Correct or incorrect?

All the while, since the four supervisors except Patricia Loe seem to be inviting lots of new construction, all anyone has to do is look at our beautiful ridge tops which are now quickly filling up with gargantuan homes, unless I’m seeing many new mirages!

When we taxpayers vote we must remember that Patricia Loe (District 3) is for slow or managed growth, Reb Monaco is pro-growth (District 4). It is my opinion that Mr. Reb Monaco and his three buddies need to be voted out ASAP. Let’s get back to basics, and no more nonsense from Mr. Michael Pekin, who also represented developers in Salinas and Monterey County, I believe, again give me another pinch if this is not true! In closing, onward Patricia Loe, you’re a stand-up woman, as well as you, Tracie Cone (managed/slow growth) candidates I applaud your ethics and honesty.

Sammy Pattavina

Paicines

Hungry? Ha ha ha ha ha!

When I read your headline regarding the “hungry poor” and saw the accompanying photo in the Sunday, April 2 edition, I thought you were putting up a belated April Fool’s joke. Are we supposed to believe that the overweight Mrs. Arias and her morbidly obese daughter are chronically hungry? This reinforces the popular saying that the U.S. is one of the few place on Earth where the “poor” are overweight.

The reporter, Ms. Flores, needs to do a little traveling, as I have, and see what real poverty and hunger looks like in the rest of the world. Also, the Arias’ health would be better served if they cut back on their caloric intake and maybe exercise a bit.

 

Zenon Komarczyk

Morgan Hill

Editor’s note: As all readers of the article understood, obesity is often a result of malnutrition, as cheap foods are rife with high fat content and excess simple carbohydrates. It’s not about calories, rather the right kind of calories. Sometimes it’s not a black-and-white world. Reporter Melissa Flores has worked at newspapers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of South Africa.

Only one kind of American

Teddy Roosevelt said it best.  “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American …There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Robert Richardson

Hollister

Good evil and evil good

To anyone hysterical over faith-based politics and insinuating “danger” and “atrocities,” consider: The roots of Western Civilization are Christian faith-based going back to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Bible inspired faith-based liberty and human rights, Christianity birthed scientific inquiry, morally informed reason, ended slavery in the Western world, gave women equal rights and provided the most charity the world had ever experienced. These are a few differences between the Christian faith-based world and the atheist and pagan world.

What outrageous hypocrisy is a bigoted attack on faith-based politics by anyone who yet chooses to live here rather than any of several reason-based atheist hell-holes. To equate the Golden Rule with “danger” and “absurdities” that “can make you commit atrocities” is to make good evil and evil good. That is the danger.

Larry Perkins

Hollister

Double standards are nonsense

After reading your FOCUS article on “Guardians of Decency” in yesterday’s paper, I feel compelled to contribute my opinion about “indecency” in physical appearance, also.

After seeing the enclosed photos of slightly-clad bodies, I would like to ask, “Why is it so ‘indecent’ to wear a bra and panties (underwear) in public, when to wear the same amount, or even less, of material and call it a swimsuit, and it is perfectly okay?” Or, as in the case of Janet Jackson during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, mentioned in your article, is it so wrong to have a minor such slip-up there, but have just as much, if not more showing in skating and other “costumes?” I may not particularly believe in one way or the other, but I only believe things should be treated equally.

Personally, I have a tendency toward parents teaching their children properly about the beauty of the human body, and the due amount of respect it deserves, while at the same time teaching them that not everyone feels that way and there will be some instances where there will be times that they will think it’s a “disrespectful” situation.

But I don’t think it is right to split opinions either, saying “this is right, and this is wrong,” when they show the exact same amount of skin. Let’s be realistic! What children (and people in general) are taught, and how to respond, is the bigger issue.

N. Tulchinsky

Hollister

Cats shot in Sunnyslope

Someone is shooting at cats in the Sunnyslope area.

My cat was shot in the leg, and a neighbor’s cat was shot in the head and died. It has been reported to the authorities.

Hazel E. Horsfall

Hollister

Demand immediate troop withdrawal

When George W. Bush ran for president six years ago, he promised to be a unifier. He has succeeded, but only in unifying the country against him.

I think it’s time that all of us write to our representatives and senators and call for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

The majority of Americans and Iraqis want our troops to leave Iraq. A recent poll of our troops shows that a majority of them also believe we should withdraw from the country.

In democracies, majorities are supposed to rule. We cannot fight for democracy and roll over it simultaneously. We need to demand that our government listen to the will of the majority, and bring our troops home now.

Paul Hartnett

Hollister

Sobrato had to comply with Title IX

In the March 36, 2006 edition of the Sunday Pinnacle, there was an article titled “Local tennis teams struggle.”  In the article, it stated that Sobrato High School was given the OK by CCS to have girls on the boys’ tennis team because there were not enough players. This is not true. The Sobrato tennis team was allowed to have girls on the team because of Title IX (federal law prohibiting schools from spending differing amounts based on gender).  Since Sobrato did not have a girls’ tennis team in the fall, and no equivalent sport, the league had to allow girls the opportunity to be on the team.

 

Sara Morimoto

Sobrato Student