Low-income Households Need a Break on Sewage Rates
Low-income Households Need a Break on Sewage Rates
Editor,
The City Sewage Rate should be reduced for low-income households.
After all, these households benefit from a reduced rate from the telephone company, PG&E and Waste Management.
The sewage fee should not be more than a monthly water bill. In fact, the sewage fee is now almost twice the amount of the water bill. Will the city shut down the water for non-payment due to the burden of higher sewage fees?
We have to look at the overall economic situation of low-income households trying to keep their head above water. Low income from social security is $1,100/month. Working at a low-wage job in Gilroy would provide about $800/month part-time and about $1,100/month full-time. We also have to consider the number of dependents in the household. In addition, there are the miscellaneous monthly expenses such as rent, food, transportation, clothing, medical expenses, water bill and much more.
August J. Bogart,
Hollister
Americans Have Little Understanding of Middle East
Editor,
To most of us the people of the Middle East are a mystery. We are generally ignorant about the history of the region. Our attitudes toward the people, politics and religions of the Middle East are shaped by analysis provided by the major news networks and newspapers, United States government foreign policy and the influence of U.S. corporate interests in the Middle East.
In a recent news poll, half of the Americans surveyed still believe that U.S. troops are in Iraq because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Initially during the invasion of Iraq by U.S. troops, many Americans were convinced that Iraq was complicit in the attacks of the World Trade Center and U.S. Pentagon. Yet, history and facts have proven both of these to be false, but people still believe them.
More recently, the U.S. government and media have defended Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon and Israel’s disregard for civilian lives while they callously kill innocent people. Recently, Democracy Now (an alternative news service) has reported that some Israeli officers have refused to kill innocent civilians (in Lebanon) against orders to do so. Most media have downplayed the history of reported ethnic discrimination, abuses, jailing and torture of Palestinians by the U.S.-backed Israeli military. Our views toward people in the Middle East are based on anti-Arab and anti-Muslim prejudices.
Israel has displaced and consistently oppressed Palestinians since 1948. I believe that a reasonable solution for peace in Palestine/Israel can only be achieved by mutual agreement between Palestinians and Israelis together in a secular non-religious, democratic nation.
Joe Navarro,
Hollister
