Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:Some politicians, encouraged by  overly “green” simplistic citizens, have been vociferously opposed to the drilling for oil, the building  of refineries, exploring offshore, and building nuclear generating plants to increase our oil supply and cut down on imported oil, and in the process forcing us to become more dependent over the last 25 years on imports. The candidates I will vote for want to remove  some of the  1960’s inspired restrictions so that we can increase our supply and get the price of oil and gas at the pump back down to a reasonable level. The law of supply and demand will always apply.Ask the politicians that you support exactly where they stand on this critical issue, unless of course you like the prices you are now paying!!! Environmental extremists will financially break all of us, and the country, if we don’t change directions soon. How do your representatives vote?The Democrats tell us that they can do a better job of spending your money than you can. I disagree. The higher the gas at the pump price goes, the more taxes you are forced to pay. You have a big choice to make this November. One has to wonder how much higher Bush’s popularity would be if the stated reason for intervening in Iraq were to secure oil and it had come out that way. Would he get credit for $3.00 gas?There is no free lunch, or put another way, when someone you don’t even know offers you  “free medical care”, ask this gift-horse politician, where are you going to get the $1 Trillion a year it will cost(?). Remember Iraq has cost about $2 Trillion, but that’s over 6 years, so it does not compute that ending Iraq will automatically free up a trillion dollars a year in “new funds”. Oh, but they’ll  “fight for you”. What a joke.David KaiserSanta PaulaLack of respectTo the Editor:First and foremost, a big congratulations to all of the 282 graduates of Santa Paula Union High School. Thirteen years of schooling accomplished and now ever onward. Best wishes to all of you in whatever you choose to accomplish. Congratulations to the valedictorian and salutatorian on their wise words. You did, by far, a wonderful job. Also, to Alyssa Grant, you sang beautifully and so heartfelt to your classmates and those of us in attendance. What a beautiful voice you have. And thank you to the band and Jerry Cruz for a job well done.On another note, this is the fourth and final graduation I have attended for our children and I must say I was appalled at the behavior exhibited at the graduation ceremony. It was the worst I have ever witnessed. There was a major lack of manners and dignity from those in attendance.1. Many men did not remove their hats during the band playing the National Anthem. (Granted it was not announced to do so, but that should not be necessary.)2. The excessive air horns being blown was ridiculous. We were not at a sporting event folks, this was supposed to be a ceremony honoring our students in their accomplishments thus far.3. The beach ball that got going in the stadium was absurd while the names of the graduates were still being read. Many people still videotaping and listening for their student’s name were robbed of that joy. Even if someone tried to stop the ball from being tossed around, people were booing.4. The balloons are always a problem. They, without a doubt, block people’s view of the event taking place and “bounce” off others trying to watch.5. Last, but not least, I couldn’t believe the people trying to leave to get to the field before the ceremony was over and, again, graduates’ names were still being called and diplomas were still being presented. This was not a sporting event!!! Sure at a football game, for instance (where some of this behavior may be acceptable), people start to leave to beat the rush and see their player on the field, but a graduation is certainly not on that level. A graduation is a very special, honorable event and there was a major lack of disregard and respect to the graduates, faculty and band members not to mention those of us in the crowd that would have liked to savor the monumental moment.In the future, I recommend the principal be more proactive on the announcements beforehand. Such as “Please rise for the national anthem and remove your hats!!” I would also recommend that those in charge of the ceremony emphatically make an announcement for attendees to remain in their seats until all names of graduates is complete. (Believe me, most people there want to get to the field to see their graduate and take pictures! Note to people leaving early: you are not the only ones that wish to do that!!) A little respect goes a long way and our students certainly deserve that much from family and friends in attendance.Mrs. Susan S. MontoyaSanta PaulaSPESD Board performance questionedTo the Editor:Fish rots from the head, the saying goes! The performance of the board and administration of the Santa Paula Elementary School District stinks and must be fumigated!Leadership is gauged neither by the position held nor by spoken or printed words but by the quality of education our children get. To attain that, the school board and administrators must meticulously screen applicants and not give way to race, blood, friendship or personal preference, and be able and willing to lead, motivate and harness human potentials to higher level. They too must trust and support others and not micromanage, otherwise the upper echelon people will be like robots and spineless. Consequently, morale will collapse and result in high turnover, including buying out the remainder of the term of office of those the board members dislike.In just a 7-year period, we had 3 different Superintendents. Interestingly, only one finished the term, one was bought out of the job while the fate of the current one is in limbo. During that same period, the district had 3 different Asst. Superintendents for Curriculum and 4 for Finance & Business. How much did it cost the taxpayers? How much have been spent for outside consultants and on legal representation in a claim that have cost the district almost twice as much and counting? How much did the district throw away in order to settle cases out of court?  Teachers and staff members are underpaid and the treasury bag is almost empty.  Has the board redefined the term “good” stewardship?Over the years, I watched our schools’ erratic performance as compared to other schools in the county. Our educators, administrators and the board members are no different from those at highly achieving schools, having the same faith in the system and possessing the needed fortitude.  Why then many schools in Moorpark, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ojai, Oak Park, and now Oxnard, are consistently garnering honors and awards for academic excellence, while our children at SPESD are barely passing the state mandated scores?Like politicians, the board knows that many of the constituents are apathetic and individualistic yet incongruously tend to whine but continually refuse to do anything to change what they are complaining about.  I believe, however, that most of the citizens of our beloved City of Santa Paula are not aware of what’s going on in our school district.  I challenge them to see the hidden agenda and smell the squalor. After all, our future is at stake.No man is an island!  Everyone must, therefore, symbiotically coexist. There must be genuine reverence and collaboration between and among the board members, school administrators, teachers, staff and the union in order to have a cohesive and well functioning team wholeheartedly focused on one common goal - effective tutoring of the children. Be on guard and realize that animosity erodes everything that is good.   If they don’t change course and steer the ship to the right direction, then they should have the humility and the courage to give others the opportunity to serve.Others are doing it well so why can’t they.  It is not easy and it will take some time, but it is doable!Andrew F. CastanedaSanta PaulaCEDC issue clarificationTo the Editor:There has been discussion on these pages recently about the Santa Paula Redevelopment Agency’s grant agreement with Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) related to its Plaza Amistad project as well as statements regarding the City’s and Redevelopment Agency’s legal representation. I am writing to clarify issues on both matters.On August 7, 2006, the City Council sitting as the Board of Directors of the Santa Paula Redevelopment Agency approved an agreement with CEDC to provide funding to assist in the construction and maintenance of affordable housing units in Santa Paula pursuant to a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that was issued by the Redevelopment Agency on September 15, 2005. This agreement states that the grant would be paid to CEDC by October 15, 2006 and must be used solely for the purposes set forth in the NOFA (to construct or cause to be constructed and maintain affordable housing units). This agreement contains terms for repayment of funds provided by the Redevelopment Agency if the affordable housing units are not maintained pursuant to the NOFA. In addition, the agreement contains terms for termination if the affordable housing units are not maintained in accordance with the NOFA. All grant funds must be returned to the Redevelopment Agency under this provision for non-performance. On June 2, 2008, the Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors directed the Agency’s Legal Counsel to send a demand letter to CEDC for repayment of funds pursuant to the terms outlined above.The City Attorney, Karl Berger, and Assistant City Attorney, John Cotti, are members of a private law firm which specializes in municipal law. That firm contracts with the City of Santa Paula and Santa Paula Redevelopment Agency (along with other entities which the City Council serve as the governing body) to provide legal services. The City does not have any practicing attorneys as employees. Other attorneys from Mr. Berger’s firm also provide legal services to the City. In 2007, the City paid $170,880 for general legal services. Additional legal work performed by the City Attorney on the City’s, and its subsidiary agencies’ behalf, are billed to other parties and the City is reimbursed. The extent of these additional legal services depends on matters before the City at any given time. The City Attorney’s law firm provides almost all legal representation required by the City including litigation matters such as the current lawsuit against the City by CEDC. The City uses outside legal counsel only in rare instances where highly specialized representation is required.Wally BobkiewiczCity ManagerCity Council breaks the lawTo the Editor:Much has been said about Cabrillo’s lawsuit against the city because it rejected Plaza Amistad. The blame lies not on Cabrillo, but on the city council’s disregard of the city attorney’s admonition that they were skating on thin ice in their plan to deny the project. In addition, the council had also been notified of, but disregarded State Government Code Sections 65589.5 and 65008 that prohibit the disapproval of projects similar to Plaza Amistad. Cabrillo then had no alternative but to sue for what they are legally entitled under the laws that was broken by Mayor Gonzales, Vice-Mayor Fernandez and council member Luna. As a result the city is now paying legal fees that the city can ill afford.As for the $400,000 of redevelopment fund Cabrillo received for the project. On an earlier vote council member Luna voted in favor of awarding the funds to Cabrillo. Now he, Mayor Gonzales and Vice-Mayor Fernandez are requesting that the funds be paid back, even after being told that the funds were already spent in accordance with the conditions under which they was awarded. It is difficult for ordinary citizens to fathom the often irrational behavior of the city council majority comprised of the three above-mentioned council members. Another example of this behavior is their harassment and bullying of our highly competent, admired and respected city staff. But then, what can be expected from the three who took a sleazy political cheap shot at John Procter by denying him the mayor’s seat to which he was rightfully entitled.As a consequence of the above actions, the three council members have smeared the reputation of our beautiful city that we all love so much. We, the residents of Santa Paula deserve and demand much better representation.Robert BorregoSanta Paula