Dear Editor,
I agree with John Larson’s opinion on the false alarm nonsense
coming from our city police department. Reminds me of the
”
global warming
”
– strike that, the
”
global climate change
”
myth.
Whether the cops were responding to false alarms or doing
”
routine patrols,
”
the same amount of hours are consumed. Yes, false alarms, like
barking dog calls, are annoying, but we pay taxes for both
necessary and unfounded calls for service. This is just another
political ploy to raise more money by double taxing via fines and
fees.
‘False alarm nonsense’ coming from the chief of police’s office
Dear Editor,
I agree with John Larson’s opinion on the false alarm nonsense coming from our city police department. Reminds me of the “global warming” – strike that, the “global climate change” myth.
Whether the cops were responding to false alarms or doing “routine patrols,” the same amount of hours are consumed. Yes, false alarms, like barking dog calls, are annoying, but we pay taxes for both necessary and unfounded calls for service. This is just another political ploy to raise more money by double taxing via fines and fees.
Why do you think the city has taken the pet registration service in-house from Morgan Hill? Money.
Simultaneously, the police have stepped up pet tag enforcement going as far as sending personnel with ticket books out to patrol the levees and parks to catch the scofflaw pooches. Reason? Money! That reminds me. How come cats get a free pass? No leash, no tag, no problem. What ever happened to equal protection?
I am very disappointed that Chief Turner is just another politician. I had high hopes for her. I want to look into what it would take to make the chief’s position an elected office. That would accomplish a few things. The chief could tell the city manager and council to get bent and secondly, have the chief concentrate on the job of protecting the public instead of creating additional income streams for the government.
Mark A. Zappa, Gilroy
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
Farmers announce support for Wasserman in bid for supervisor
Dear Editor,
The Santa Clara County Farm Bureau is pleased to support Mike Wasserman in his bid for Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 1. Wasserman is District One’s best choice for strong representation on the County Board of Supervisors.
After hearing from all the candidates at our candidate forum last month, Mike Wasserman stood out for his experience and collaborative attitude. He has proven he has the ability to truly make a difference at the county level by bringing diverse interests to the table and reaching consensus.
In his remarks at the forum, Wasserman touted fiscal pragmatism, support for private property rights, and the need to reform county government spending and employee compensation. He will fight for the things that will put people back to work and get the economy back on track and will take decisive steps to bring spending in line with revenue.
As a conservative and the former mayor of Los Gatos, Mike Wasserman will bring a diversity of perspective to the San Jose dominated Board of Supervisors. He will provide much needed balance that would benefit all residents of Santa Clara County.
The race for Supervisor District 1 has many qualified candidates, each with different strengths and experiences. Mike Wasserman is the right person for the job right now.
Jennifer Williams, executive director, on behalf of the
Santa Clara County Farm Bureau
No justice for those arrested under provocative act murder theory
Dear Editor,
This case goes back to Nov. 11, 2008 when Larry Martinez Jr. was shot in the back and killed by sureños.
Angel Solorzano, my grandson was arrested on June 8, 2009. When arrested he was told that he was being arrested for auto theft. The truth was that he was being arrested for the murder of his friend Larry Martinez Jr.
Earlier that day, Officer Jim Callahan called my home and left a message on my answering machine stating that they had made an arrest in the homicide of Larry Martinez Jr. and would like Angel to come into the police department to look over some photographs. Obviously that was not true. This whole time we were told that Angel was a victim and a witness.
I remember the that day Officer Michael Bolton and Officer Callahan came to my home to question Angel. We were in the kitchen area and they were in the living room and I heard the conversation.
They asked Angel how he was doing – are you okay? … we’re just here to get your side of the story, you’re not in any trouble. Officer Bolton told Angel that as far as he was concerned “those guys who shot your friend were a bunch of ——-.”
Seven months after Larry Martinez Jr. was killed, District Attorney Dolores Carr and Troy Benson had apparently already planned to arrest all involved, friends and cousin.
In my opinion, this case has to do with politics. District Attorney Carr said she was going to use these kids as an example.
I’m sure she is hoping that this is going to help in her election bid on Tuesday. How ironic, that’s exactly one year to the date she had our kids arrested. Talk about benefiting from something. Angel, Heather and Bobby have been through hell and back, reliving the death of their friend and cousin.
Now Judge Ron Del Pozzo, who presided in the preliminary hearing, has sent this case to trial under the provocative act murder theory. These kids didn’t pull the trigger. I don’t understand how the judge sent this case to trial. I was in that courtroom almost every day. Witnesses that were being questioned had answers like, “I don’t know,” “I don’t recall,” “I don’t remember,” and “It’s been too long to remember.” At one time a witness, Jessie Arias, pointed out Angel and Bobby as the shooters – now we all know that Angel and Bobby did not kill their friend Larry Martinez Jr.
In the Tuesday, May 11, 2010 edition of the Gilroy Dispatch, Officer Bolton stated two dozen instances when Barrios, Martinez and Solorzano were either arrested or in contact with police. Out of those two dozen Angel was convicted for one burglary as a minor. Six other times Angel was contacted by police, there were no arrests, no charges.
At one of these contacts, the police said in court that Angel was asked if he was a Norteno gang member. Angel’s answer: “I am my own person.”
Larry Martinez’s family has said publicly several times that they do not want these kids prosecuted. That should be enough.
Judge Del Pozzo said that Larry Martinez Jr. had his whole life ahead of him. He’s right and so do Angel, Heather and Bobby. I pray that God will put an end to this nightmare. The judicial system is based on “justice for all.” Where is justice here? Just hope that you are not the next person to provoke someone.
Sandra Ayala, Gilroy
Don’t vote to support park fee – agencies just cut off access
Dear Editor,
While riding my bicycle from Auburn to Sacramento this April, I was thrilled to see the number of road turnouts along the American River. People can still pull up and have a picnic (including wine – oh, the horror!) and a smoke (shudder – Democrats, don’t breathe), and not even have to pay some government agency to do so.
I remember when there were such turnouts along Bodfish Creek (the east side of Hecker Pass, for the newcomers to the area) and Coyote Creeks. No garbage cans or maintenance were necessary; they were just spots to park your car. Picnic by day, party at night; and party we did. Sadly, such places no longer exist in this area; they either close it off or charge you to not enjoy it.
Another great party spot was Adams School. You could climb on the rocks, wade in the creek, and set up your barbecue anywhere. Gather some rocks, make a fire ring, and throw a grill over it. The county took it over, gave it a silly name, restricted you to trails, banned fires, and charges you to park there.
When we used to go beaches (in the 1980s), there were abundant places to park for no charge. My favorite was the southern part of Rio Del Mar. Now they charge $6 a vehicle, and for nothing; the parking lot was always there, and you can no longer enjoy a beer. The BLM closed Clear Creek, the best free open land around. National forest camping areas even have a “host” that charges now. Anything to nickel and dime (and con) the people.
We record and read history to learn from our mistakes. We have learned that the government, with its long history of broken promises, cannot be trusted, especially with power or money. That is why I vehemently oppose the current proposal for a vehicle property tax to fund state parks. They promise free vehicle entrance. It’s the classic carrot and stick.
California (the third highest tax rate in the country and the deepest in debt) just last year doubled the vehicle tax; said increase is well more than the $18 they want for the parks. They should instead be asking the voters if $18 of this could go to the parks!
The lying proponents claim the money will be in a “trust fund” and used only for parks. The fox guarding the henhouse!
When the second-worst president in history, Franklin Roosevelt, pushed the national pyramid scheme known as Social Security through in 1935, they promised the money would be there in a “trust fund.” A generation later (1965), the worst president in history, Lyndon Johnson, allowed the government to raid it – excuse me, borrow from it – and every administration since has robbed it broke.
Conned again, and our “representatives” will pretend to wonder why four in five people do not trust the government, invoking terms like “treason” and “sedition” (created by insecure and corrupt governments).
Alan Viarengo, Gilroy
Time to rethink oppressive policy that closes U.S. borders
Dear Editor,
Legality and the Cactus Curtain and many others, see the draconian measures being imposed in Arizona and the militarization of the border, akin to the Berlin Wall, “the Iron and Bamboo Curtains.”
It is a futile attempt to control our historic migratory nature, denying us of our freedoms and indigenous human rights. Existing immigration policies are far too cumbersome, time consuming and discriminatory toward people of color, the poor, and the politically oppressed.
Many in the U.S. fear an invasion and reconquest of the southwest for they see the world in terms of conquest, domination, and possession. Much as prohibition, coupled with economic depression, led to the growth of organized crime and individual acts of desperation and frustration, our policies have had the reverse of the intended outcomes, driving millions into the shadows of an underground economy, enslavement, and death along the border.
Immigration reform must be approached as distinct from law enforcement efforts to quell the violent crime it has contributed to. The vast majority of migrants/immigrants are hard-working families who contribute untold prosperity to both U.S. and Mexican economies. Facts demonstrate a vibrant economy growing in areas with substantial immigrant populations. National and global economic woes can be traced to other sources if reason and logic were to prevail.
Achieving the American dream has come to symbolize economic success and material wealth to most Americans, but to many immigrants it means much more. The democratic ideals and the freedoms established in this nation continue to be the most important aspect of being a part of this great social experiment.
The discussion on immigration reform, race and what it means to be “American,” must consider the historically ancestral nature and the duality of identity of La Raza. It is time to acknowledge the pride in this dual identity as American and Mexican, either side of the border.
Rocky Barrera, Watsonville,
Move on to a sustainable future and keep the oil in the ground
Dear Editor,
It is time that we create a plan to wean ourselves of all oil drilling and coal mining.
I am a teacher at Pajaro Valley High School teaching chemistry and world civilization. We have discussed fossil fuels and climate change in both of my classes.
The environmental devastation associated with our reliance on these fossil fuels is a challenge to our civilization’s survival. There is much talk of how we need to develop sophisticated systems for sequestering carbon dioxide. Fossil fuels (oil, oil sands, coal …) are natures way of sequestering this climate-changing gas. It will stay sequestered if we keep it in the ground. It is time to move on to a sustainable future.
Andy Hsia-Coron, Aromas
