Dear Editor, This letter is a response to a letter written by
Jeremy Strametz concerning Bud Ogden, the varsity basketball coach
at Gilroy High School. Coach John Wooden, basketball coach at UCLA
in southern California, won many NCAA basketball championships.
Best Winning Practices From Legendary Coach a Fine Example to Follow
Dear Editor,
This letter is a response to a letter written by Jeremy Strametz concerning Bud Ogden, the varsity basketball coach at Gilroy High School. Coach John Wooden, basketball coach at UCLA in southern California, won many NCAA basketball championships.
He said and I quote “You can get more out of a young man with a pat on the back than screaming at them.” Maybe Coach Bud Ogden thinks he is a better coach than John Wooden because he clearly does not use this technique on his own players.
Joe. E. Filice, Gilroy
Don’t be Fooled by Spin, Wal-Mart Health Care Plan Still Insufficient
Dear Editor,
Recently, Wal-Mart confirmed that over half of its employees, 53 percent, are not covered under the company’s health care plan.
Despite these shameful numbers, Wal-Mart is trying to mislead the public by falsely claiming that its health care plans have actually improved. Here are the facts. Last year, Wal-Mart told the press that it provided company health care to 638,000 employees. Now, Wal-Mart claims it provides company health care to only 636,391 employees, a decline of nearly 2,000 employees.
Contrary to Wal-Mart’s publicity stunts, the reality is that the Wal-Mart health care crisis is getting worse. In fact, in the last few months, Wal-Mart has decided to eliminate its traditional and standard health care plans for all new hires leaving only a high-deductible, catastrophic health care plan and President Bush’s privatized health savings accounts.
How many Wal-Mart employees can possibly afford a $1,000 deductible for individuals and a $3,000 deductible for families, when the average Wal-Mart Associate makes $2,000 below the poverty line for a family of four?
I would hope that with $11 billion in annual profits, Wal-Mart will stop its publicity stunts and start changing for the better by providing affordable health care to all of its employees.
Rachele Giusiana, Gilroy
Columnist Should Quit Sniping and Get Her Hands Dirty in Volunteer Efforts
Dear Editor,
Cynthia Walker must have lost her mind. She continues to be spiteful and just plain old mean. She continues to call names – what happened to her vocabulary? Maybe she needs to get some education of her own. Instead of being positive and proactive and helping to build a better city she continues to tear it down.
Instead of writing nasty commentary, how about rolling up her sleeves and volunteering to help. The issues facing Gilroy are complex and cannot be efficiently addressed in pithy headline grabbing commentary. Stop the whining and start working.
Leticia Herrera, Gilroy
