A couple of thoughts on Measure J coverage
Memo to Karen Velie: When reporting on allegedly "shifty" tactics and "shenanigans" of "dirty campaigns" that are "designed to misrepresent and misguide voters," all as per eager Measure J supporters who are shocked shocked! to find themselves forced to thus categorize their opponents ("No on Measure J coalition accused of deceiving supporters," Oct. 19), it might be helpful if at some point in the story you mention what the alleged tactic actually was. This is a journalistic device that allows readers to judge for themselves.

So, as a public service, here's what your story was about: When the No on J campaign sent out absentee ballot applications, the return address listed the County Clerk Recorder along with the County Coalition for Local Control's mailing address, inadvertently omitting the words "in care of" in between the two.

Stop the presses.

Per Patrick Klemz's survey of special-interest money going to local campaigns (which omitted to note the fact that L.A./Texas developers are the primary funders of "Yes on J" and outspending "No on J" by two to one): Yes, SLO downtown developers may well be funding the No on J campaign if they have noticed the gutting of urban cores in cities across the country over the last four decades, or they remember the local study that forecast the economic damage a massive mall development on the edge of town would wreak on downtown SLO, and if their survival instincts are intact.

This self-interest coincides with the interests of many people who like to live and/or shop in SLO and also prefer their downtown alive rather than dead.

Andrew Christie

Los Osos

 

 

 

A couple more thoughts on Measure J coverage
I find Tobias Brekke's letter ("A yes on J would improve our lives," Oct. 26) quite humorous, as the only lives that would be really "improved" (i.e. monetarily advanced by Measure J) would be the developers. Given that Mr. Brekke was a "real-estate broker in northern New Mexico" who wanted to bring into a small town (I assume) a Super Wal-Mart, Sears, Texaco, Taco Bell, and Wendy's, his interests are not with the community.

Look at the attitudes most small towns Atascadero as a local example have about Super Wal-Marts. Plus, I'm sure that a real-estate broker is really concerned about the welfare of local small businesses. And a big "thank you" to Kathy Johnston for her article ("Taking the measure of J," Oct. 26) giving the facts as they are stated in the 52-page initiative. Gee, how many laws can be bypassed in 52 pages?

Keith Dekker

Los Osos

 

 

 

Vote for someone competent
It is said that people vote for candidates who are most like themselves. The multitude of liars, thieves, incompetents, and perverts that infest our government therefore must reflect the character and composition of the majority of voters.

Before you mark your ballot on Tuesday for some unqualified jerk just because he (she) is just like you, consider voting for someone who is actually competent and capable of doing the job. We, the cognoscenti, thank you in advance.

August Salemi

Atascadero

 

 

 

They're backing off
Here it's only Oct. 28 and Angelides has given up he's hanging out with loyal Democrats instead of out there working to get the undecided votes.

What a wuss!

If Lois Capps didn't have a safe gerrymandered district, she'd lose too.

So much for choice in elections!

Roy Berger

Arroyo Grande

 

 

 

Arnold's no firefighter
As an actor, he might have played one in a movie we all forgot, but we as firefighters will not forget what he has done. His "acting" resume regarding firefighter issues as governor begs him to return to just making movies. In 2003, after one of the worst fire seasons in Southern California history losing a firefighter's life and thousands of homes he requested a Blue Ribbon Commission to produce a report and recommendations to better deal with fire in this state. He has yet to implement any changes.

Not so long after, he tried to remove benefits for widows and families of fallen firefighters. Next, in his some $72-million special election, he went after firefighters' hard-earned pensions and was soundly defeated. Now, in an election year, he shows up at the Esparanza Fire and attends a service for one of our fallen comrades, yet as governor, he has been a no-show at the annual State Firefighter Memorial in October in his own city of Sacramento, opting one year to attend a baseball game. We know the firefighters will never forget, and that is why we urge your support for Phil Angelides.

John Crotty

Arroyo Grande

 

 

 

Women, raise your feminine voices
Christy Heron's straightforward commentary about the current state of Halloween costume affairs is a voice the other half of 20-something women have wanted to hear for a long time coming ("From a slutty sailor, to a bawdy bumblebee," Oct. 26). Her call for an alternative to slutty get-ups was finally the fist on the podium many of us have been craving. Now, we too can demand more class in our culture.

Don't get me wrong I am nowhere near being a conservative human being, but I do think being liberal with your body means taking on a responsibility much greater than I have seen these girls burden themselves with. Initially, flaunting one's body was viewed as a sign of liberation and confidence. Unfortunately, it has also become extremely boring and redundant. Ladies, it's not that you don't look good, it's just that you are cliched and trite.

It's time for young creative women to start taking center stage as this generation's true feminine voice. Please come out from wherever you are hiding.

Lynette Diaz

San Luis Obispo

 

 

 

You don't know California Valley at all
Regarding your recent article "Where the wild things are" (Oct. 4), subtitled "Political disorder and natural beauty mark one of the last refuges of ancient California," written by Patrick M. Klemz:

The only real substance we found in your article was the title: "Where the wild things are." Your "wild things" are not the wild things we know.

Having had the pleasure of living in California Valley for more than 25 years, the "wild things" that come to mind are soaring red-tailed hawks and golden eagles herds of antelope, deer, tule elk Soda Lake and the land itself.

We also share this beautiful county with coyotes, kit foxes, burrowing owls, sand-hill cranes, and many other wildlife species. This area is a refuge for "wild" life. Many of these species are endangered. Out here, we live under a big, blue sky breathe clean air and enjoy crystal-clear panoramic views of the stars.

We feel the same wild wind the (true native) Indians felt when it bends the autumn-yellowed grass. Every spring, this plain is completely covered with blue, red, white, and yellow "wild" flowers. Bring your camera.

Your "wild things" story is much different than ours. Yours is very poorly written and obviously not researched very well. It discredits and does grave injustice to everyone, from long-standing ranchers and farmers, to old and new California Valley and surrounding area residents. In your article, you have woven some partial facts along with some untruths, slanted opinions, misquotes, and innuendos into a totally disjointed mess of negative wordage. It reads as if you labored very hard to try to make this area, in general, look like a hellhole!

Your distorted view of this area and its people has broadly painted us all as lawless, corrupt outlaws, poverty-ridden trailer-trash, welfare-supported squatters or drug users. This is offensive to hard-working, honest, tax-paying, home- and land-owning Americans.

I trust you will give our response print in its entirety, along with this appropriate quote: "Take the log out of your own eye before you attempt to remove the splinter from your neighbor's."

Ro and David Webb

California Valley

 

 

 

What a novel concept!
Having read extensively about the Luna/Homeowners Association trashing of council candidates, I must congratulate Karen Velie for mentioning what most reporters blatantly omitted ("Atascadero considers new ordinance." Oct. 26). The Permit Streamline Act was enacted to prevent county or city staff from ignoring or "tabling" applications and plan changes by requiring a 30-day response from staff on such submissions. In all the press coverage I've read, I never saw a reference to the "basis" of this conflict until reading her report.

Mr. Frace admits they "might" have missed the deadline, so there must be some credence to that point. Perhaps this incident had nothing to do with "back room" politics, but more with trying to force the system to follow their own rules! If this truly is the case, all the hoopla is simply "dirty politics" during an election year. What a novel concept: a liberal spin around the "real" subject.

Ken Marks

Atascadero

 

 

 

I believe in the power of love
Last night I saw the movie, Brokeback Mountain, about two cowboys who fall in love with each other in Wyoming in the 1960s. And now, I just read that the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that any adult couple (man and woman, two men, or two women) have all the same legal and financial rights as any man and woman who wish to marry.

Any two adults, no matter what their gender, should be able to unite as a couple, have a family, be with each other in times of sickness, pay their taxes as a married couple can, and, in essence, share in all the joys and trials that life gives us. And why not? Why should we let those who fear love deny others their God-given rights?

I am looking forward to the day

when two people of any gender can declare their love to the world and unite as one, enjoying all the same privileges and rights and harmony as any man and woman who are married in today's world can. I know it will be one day. I have faith in God and the power of love.

Mark Tomes

Santa Margarita

 

 

 

Mobile homes should be protected
The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission is drafting an ordinance for the conversion of mobile home parks. The ordinance will amount to a guide or set of instructions on how to evict mobile home owners, destroy the park, and build more affordable housing.

People buy their mobile homes, maintain them and the surrounding area, adding value to the mobile home parks. People have their lives invested in their homes. Due to the high costs of relocating mobile homes and little or no compensation from developers, mobile home owners' lives would be ruined.

At a time when San Luis Obispo County is in desperate need of affordable housing, an ordinance for mobile home park conversions is unacceptable. I strongly support the ordinance being presented by the San Luis Obispo County Association of Mobile/Manufactured Homeowners banning mobile home park conversions. Mobile homes are affordable housing, and the parks should be protected.

Ray Parkin

Oceano

 

 

 

Where's the Lorax when you need him?
Is there no end to Jeff Edwards' destruction of trees? The saws are going full blast again on Pecho Road is that your doing Jeff Edwards? I can imagine it is since you destroyed the entire acreage of beautiful trees adjacent to Pecho Road. Don't your million-dollar homes have enough view without encroaching on the properties that do not belong to you? And your attempt to cut down 400 trees on state property at Monta"a de Oro should definitely be denied.

Marje Legerton

Los Osos