Letters
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- Written by: Evan Willig
Proposition 1 is a $9.95 billion state bond that will be the down payment on a $40 billion world-class high speed rail system. It’s a lot of money. It’s a big project. High speed rail is bold thinking in a time when we need to have bold thoughts.
High speed rail is a project worthy of a California in the 21st century. The California Aqueduct and Central Valley Project, the University of California and California Sate University systems, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Interstate Highway system – just a few of the big ideas that have paid off for California.
High speed rail will put California's to work building and operating a system that our great state needs. A project of this magnitude means jobs – engineering jobs, construction jobs, operations jobs. California jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.
As a nation and state we have squandered our money on Wall Street get-rich-quick schemes and have very little to show for it. California State High Speed Rail Bonds offer a safe reliable investment put to work on a common sense project. The system is designed to benefit a large segment of the population going about there business and pleasure travel in an environmentally compatible way.
California is the seventh largest economy in the world and the nation looks for us to lead, in computers, in energy, in entertainment and with high speed rail in transportation. Let us be bold and show the world we are ready to lead in innovation and infrastructure by investing in a future that is as hopeful and bright as California. Vote yes on Proposition 1.
Evan Willig is vice chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee.
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- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Jim Comstock is trying to change the subject by attacking me (none of his statements about me or my record are true – surprise, surprise) instead of addressing the issue that I raised about the thousands of dollars he has received from large landowners and developers.
This old trick won’t work, Jim. This election is about you; you are running for supervisor, not me.
So Jim, let me make it easy for you, by asking about just one of these many contributions: the single biggest contribution I have ever heard of in a supervisorial race coming from an individual. Peter Luchetti has given you $10,000. This is a huge amount. Jim, can you explain why anyone would contribute such a large amount in a local county supervisor race?
A direct and clear answer would be appreciated.
Ed Robey is District 1 supervisor. He retires at the end of the year.
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- Details
- Written by: Jack Reilley
The opening sentence of Becky Curry's letter (Curry: Proposition 9 will make prison crisis worse) strongly indicates that she is writing for the Democrat Party. The comments are similar to those submitted by other Democrats to newspapers around the state.
First off, victims of violent crime represent all parts of California demographics. We are both sexes, gay, Democrat and Republican, poor to rich, union members to business tycoons.
No victim I know of was ever asked by the criminal if he or she was a Democrat or Republican. Victims are distressed that Proposition 9 is a political issue. We are bewildered why the Democrat Party fights against us. Why won't the Democrats join the honorable fight for victim rights? After all, we fought for civil rights, women's rights, children's rights, equal rights, environmental rights. Victim rights is one more honorable cause for Democrats. Victims represent a more broad-based group than any political party or opponent group against us. And we vote.
Proposition 8, passed 25 years ago, was a good start, but the rights are statutory, easily ignored by public officials, no consequences to them. Proposition 9 will enshrine victims' rights in the state constitution. Victims are tired of second class citizenship in the criminal process. We are the ones who suffered the crime with pain and financial loss, we have a stake in the resolution. We do not seek revenge or vengeance, we want equal standing and justice.
Did Ms. Curry talk to victims before writing her letter? We are not hard to find; there have been six million victims of violence since 1983. If she did, our stories would put Proposition 9 in context for her. She would understand our passion for equality ... and justice. And, Proposition 9 does not take away any of the accused's rights; that is not our purpose.
Victim opponents always put up the straw man argument about any anti-crime initiative victims put on the ballot: It costs too much. Really. Are they sure about that?
The claim that Proposition 9 will cost hundreds of millions of dollars is bogus. It is based on the Legislative Analyst's Office speculation that IF the legislature empties the prisons to balance the budget or appease a federal judge, then Proposition 9 would prevent this. This is a good thing. Who wants violent murderers, rapists, thugs and molesters released before serving the maximum time allowed?
There are other solutions to prison overcrowding than releasing violent prisons to create a crime wave in California. Emptying prisons is not a good idea.
Here is how it would work: prisoners released, huge cost to the parole system; two-thirds of violent prisoners are recidivist, back in prison within three years after committing one to 10 new crimes; new victims suffer incalculable cost-loss, more law enforcement cost in processing new crimes; finally, back in prison, more overcrowding. Solution – release another batch! This is nuts. Saving – where, to whom, when?
Opponents say that only the non-violent will be released? Is Ms. Curry aware that prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges plea bargain to lesser crimes? And without victim input or notice.
Parole: unrepentant criminals should not be given frequent parole when there is no chance they will be released. Parole hearings are a unique torture, worthy of the Inquisition, to victims: the mental and financial pain is enormous. Of course, the prisoners pay nothing. The parole changes put an end to the merry-go-round. By the way, several states are ending parole ... sounds good to me.
Finally, if cost is an issue, be prepared. Federal judges want to take billions of dollars for medical treatment of prisoners. They will have better health care than most victims, or the public, can afford. Criminals will be breaking into prison to get the care and operations they need, going to the head of the line for transplants, then getting early release. Impossible, you say? Impossible? Get ready.
Genelle and Jack Reilley live in Laguna Beach. Jack Reilley is chair of Friends of Marsy's Law – Vote YES on Proposition 9, www.friendsofmarsyslaw.org.
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- Details
- Written by: Lenny Matthews
Our dictionary defines separate but equal as a set phrase denoting the system of segregation that justifies giving different groups of people separate facilities or services with the declaration that the quality of each group's public facilities remain equal.
Our dictionary also defines second class citizen as an informal term used to describe a person who is systematically discriminated against within a state or other political jurisdiction, despite their nominal status as a citizen or legal resident there.
While not necessarily slaves, outlaws or criminals, second class citizens have limited legal rights, civil rights and economic opportunities, and are often subject to mistreatment or neglect at the hands of their putative superiors. Instead of being protected by the law, the law disregards a second class citizen, or it may actually be used to harass them.
Second class citizenry is generally regarded as a violation of human rights. Typical impediments facing second class citizens include, but are not limited to, disenfranchisement (a lack or loss of voting rights), limitations on civil or military service, as well as restrictions on language, religion, education, freedom of movement and association, weapons ownership, marriage, housing and property ownership. Governments will typically deny the existence of a second class within the polity. As an informal term, second class citizenship is not objectively measured.
I submit to you that homosexuals have been and continue to be treated in a separate but equal status as second class citizens.
As a lesbian, I’m over it!!
Lenny Matthews lives in Lucerne.
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