Fillmore wasting money

Re: your Aug. 23 article, "Fillmore school district to right rule allowing kids to transfer":

It's embarrassing to live in Fillmore these days. I thought nothing could top the City Council's decision to fund an $83 million sewer plant. Well, last week the Fillmore Unified School District board "gone and done it."

Immediately following the protests of concerned parents, the board voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against the Ventura County Board of Education regarding the Little Red Schoolhouse — Santa Clara School — transfers.

June 8, the County Board of Education directed FUSD to comply with the law. But FUSD doesn't want to abide by the law! Accordingly, it has decided to spend major money on what many would term a "frivolous lawsuit" in the hopes of forcing students back to Fillmore.

According to county Superintendent of Schools Chuck Weis, insurance doesn't cover the costs of school districts suing each other. Where is Fillmore getting the extra money? We, taxpayers, have always been told that Fillmore schools are underfunded and that monies are sorely needed for important educational programs.

Who is spinning this web of deceit that the board is caught up in?

— Lynne Brooks,

Fillmore

Paying the price of greed

Subprime loans are made to subprime borrowers. It's just that simple. And across the Southland, people are finding out that it's time to pay the piper.

People who refinanced their home every three to six months were known as churners, churning every bit of unearned equity the red-hot housing market bestowed upon them. And for what? To make ends meet? To pay for the kids' education? I'm betting it was to pay for that fancy new pickup truck, that new boat or that new motorcycle.

Well, it's time to pay up, and I'm in the market — ready, willing and able to capitalize on these people's stupidity. For years, I've sat back in amazement and watched the seemingly never-ending greed play out, wondering when the bottom would fall out. Well, it's here. Foreclosures and repossessions are up more than 150 percent on a monthly basis now from the corresponding month of years prior.

Personally, I own two homes with one mortgage on each. The total of the two probably is less than a third of what most churners owe on one property.

— Tucker Katlin,

Oxnard

Cars deadlier than guns

Re: Dan E. Gallagher Sr.'s Aug. 20 letter, "Don't blame the gun lobby":

Gallagher, responding to Dan Thomasson's July 28 essay, "The gun law's big rub," wrote, "Automobiles account for 27,000 deaths a year."

Actually, according to government statistics, the number of deaths on U.S. highways is annually in the vicinity of 45,000. These are all referred to as "accidents." By comparison, about 12,000 people are killed annually by "assaults by gunfire." Surprisingly, an additional 16,000 die annually from self-inflicted gunfire.

I didn't find any data regarding how many of the traffic "accidents" were the result of people using a car to commit suicide instead of a gun.

— Brook Evans,

Camarillo

Dogs need seat belts, too

Re: your Aug. 24 article, "Man injured, dog killed in Highway 101 car accident":

This man evidently allowed his dog free rein in a moving vehicle. Please, please harness and belt in your pets, or use a portable kennel that is belted in.

— Mary Hollan,

Oxnard

No government privacy

Re: Tom McClintock's Aug. 22 commentary, "No substituting for Mom and Dad":

This commentary is really telling of the way the conservative mind works. McClintock writes, "Parental discretion and judgment ought to be replaced with governmental regulation, intrusion and, ultimately, enforcement." Oh sure, unless it's the end of life, right to die, medical marijuana, birth control, family planning or the right of two people of the same sex to raise children, or, God forbid, marry. Then, oh boy, does he want government intrusion!

He quotes a story that suggests the government busybody doesn't know the names of the people he wanted to control. Well, does he know the names of the people he would cause to suffer who can't tolerate cancer drugs or have glaucoma or are in great agony with no hope of recovery? Does he know the name of the teenager who needs an abortion because a family member raped her and McClintock wants her to tell them? Does he know the name of the woman who can't have chemo because she can't get an abortion?

He says he'll take government's advice, but "I'll be damned if I'll take its orders." Oh, really! In his world, every really important private family or medical decision would be subject to taking orders — unless, of course, you're a rich Republican. Then you can be like President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and answer to no one.

— Bonnie Smith,

Santa Paula

Hot car can kill a dog

Apparently, security at the Pacific View mall is too busy staring at TV monitors to help animals in danger on their premises.

On a 90-degree day recently, I found two Chihuahuas locked in a minivan outside the mall with the windows open about an inch. On a 73-degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes. On a 90-degree day, it can climb to 160 degrees. Dogs can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. Heatstroke can come on quickly and result in brain damage or death.

After security ridiculed and refused my request to page the owners, I called the police and animal control. Only then, about 25 minutes later, did security come out to "investigate." I politely explained why I was concerned, but all they did was glance briefly in the car and state that it was OK because the windows were cracked (hardly). The police wouldn't do anything, and animal control was "too busy on another call" to respond.

Having previously worked at a Humane Society, I've seen numerous cases of dogs dying in these situations. In addition to the irresponsibility of the dogs' guardians, the responses from security, the police and animal control were highly inappropriate, uncaring and upsetting. If it had been a child in that car, I'm sure all would have responded with immediate concern.

Please, leave your dogs at home. If you find other animals in this situation, watch for restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, vomiting or lack of coordination. Have the guardians paged, and ask them to get the dog into shade immediately and call a veterinarian. Call the authorities if necessary.

— Liz Fritzinger,

Oak View

Me first' attitude

Re: Joe R. Howry's Aug. 12 essay, "A firestorm over wages":

Right on! It seems to me that most public employees, including politicians, manage to take pretty good care of themselves financially and in regard to benefits. I am reminded of the old adage of "the fox guarding the henhouse."

It is hard to point with pride at our "employees," considering the adversary positions taken by many and their unions.

— Herb Darling,

Oxnard

Litter isn't beautiful

There is no doubt that Simi Valley is a beautiful city, but there is nothing beautiful about the trash littering our freeways. Not only is this trash ugly and disgusting, but it is terrible for our environment.

During the ongoing construction, there has been little to no effort by the California Department of Transportation to pick up trash. Are we supposed to wait until around 2009 or 2010, when construction is over, for us to have clean freeways? I hope not.

While getting off the freeway these past few weeks, I have seen Gatorade bottles, Starbucks cups, McDonald's burger wrappers and those annoying plastic bags. But, are we to blame? While we can't just jump out of our cars and pick up this trash, we can help prevent it from becoming more of an issue. Just by throwing away our trash at home and reminding others not to throw things out of their car windows can make even the smallest difference.

The freeway is not our trash can and our streets aren't, either.

Another way to help is to fill out a short Maintenance Service Request Form at the Caltrans Web site at www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html. Choose "Litter, Trash and Debris" from the dropdown menu.

Simi Valley is a beautiful city, and I believe that if we take even these small steps, our freeways can be beautiful too!

— Shelby Garren,

Simi Valley

Focus on deportation

Re: your Aug. 23 article, "Immigration law will not be enforced at local level":

Who does the mayor think he is kidding? I read with disbelief that less than 1 percent of Simi Valley police bookings were found to be illegals. But when I got to Page 2 of the story, the other shoe dropped when I read, "Lack of Spanish-speaking officers is an obstacle."

I don't want to overstate the obvious, but the fact that an arrestee can only speak Spanish should be setting off some alarm bells about citizenship. Wouldn't an audit of the effectiveness of the Police Department's ability, or willingness, to determine citizenship be more appropriate than bragging that you can't tell whether the people you are booking are in the country legally or not? With the recent surge in property crime in our city, I would feel better if the mayor was bragging about how many criminals got deported rather than how many were returned to the streets.

— Jack Peters,

Simi Valley

Religious brainwashing

Re: your Aug. 25 Arts & Living section photo, "Emotional devotion":

The picture on Page E6 shows what's wrong with religion today. These brainwashed children are no different from the brainwashed Muslim children we complain about.

— John Hantke,

Newbury Park

Deportation was earned

Re: your Aug. 22 article, "Deported mother says she'll continue to fight' ":

I am writing in regards to Elvira Arellano, the Mexican citizen who took refuge in a Chicago church and subsequently came to Los Angeles to lead a protest.

First, she is here illegally and was rightly deported. Her son should be with her, and when he is an adult, he can come back to this country if he wishes.

Second, had she wanted to become part of the United States, the least she could have done was learn to speak English.

People who are feeling sorry for her don't seem to get the big picture. This woman came here illegally, is being used by the pro-illegal immigration crowd and has already cost the taxpayers a bunch of money, just like all of the other 12 million who are here.

There seems to be a lack of understanding that the impacts to our society are great, including such things as water, sewer, transportation, schools, healthcare and housing, to say nothing of the illegal inmates who are causing our prisons to be overcrowded. Just wait until the federal judges come down on California for the prison overcrowding issue. It is going to cost us even more, or they will all be released back onto the streets.

It may feel good to feel bad for her, but she created her own problems.

— Evalyn J. Stout,

Simi Valley

Little League lessons

I had the pleasure of being able to watch some of the Little League World Series on TV last weekend. I was quite impressed with the sportsmanship of these young players who greeted each other, shaking hands and/or hugging at the completion of an awesome win or tough loss. While the losing team was upset, the players took the time to congratulate the winning team, adding honor to the battle.

Seeing this, I thought our Major League Baseball players and teams might be able to learn a life lesson from these teenage ballplayers. I love the game, but I am always disappointed that these grown men hang their heads in the dugout after losing the final game of the playoffs or World Series.

The Major League players should remember the way they acted when they played in Little League and follow the example being set by the kids.

My hat is off to the coaches, the players and their parents.

— Joseph May,

Simi Valley

Removing pepper trees

Re: Clint R. Matkovich's Aug. 16 letter, "Trying to save the wetlands":

I thank Mr. Matkovich for his letter about our property located in Thousand Oaks. I have lived in the Conejo Valley for more than 40 years and have always tried to be a good neighbor.

While we must address damage that we feel has been done to our property by various parties, as he points out, we are also concerned about the environment and our beautiful city. In that regard, he may be interested to know that the city of Thousand Oaks is planning to remove approximately 40 mature pepper trees on the property as part of a public works project. We do not know what effect this may have on the 25 species of animals and plants that he refers to in his letter.

— Nasser Moradian,

Thousand Oaks

Making money off crime

Re: Mark F. Sullivan's Aug. 24 commentary, "Law limits abuse liability to Catholics":

I thank Mr. Sullivan for addressing the elephant in the room. One would think that the approximately 1 percent of priests were the only child abusers out there.

It boggles the mind to understand how they were able to hold an entire archdiocese financially responsible for the actions of so few people who themselves take the vow of poverty and acted against the principles of the church.

But it does probably explain why they were given free rein, so the lawyers could tap into the church finances on a grand scale, especially since many accused are not here to defend themselves.

I hope they are as diligent in pursuing those guilty of the same crimes who do not offer the financial windfall. Our children deserve our protection, even when there is no financial incentive.

— Dorothy Hage,

Newbury Park