More for Arts Plaza, Less for Services?

Why do you think it is that every time I drive by the monstrous edifice that is to be the Civic Arts Plaza I think about the closing of fire stations, the laying off of sheriff’s deputies and the termination of city employees?

The connection lies in a very important fundamental truth which is almost always ignored by politicians. Every penny spent by any government at any level is a tax on the people. That is to say, the government takes it out of someone’s pocket and puts it in someone else’s pocket. I got this truth from (economist) Milton Friedman.

I see the city has hired Thomas Mitze at $86,000 a year to bring us such cultural gems as “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.” I suppose that is base salary, not including retirement, secret Thousand Oaks government bonus, medical coverage, and the like. That should about take care of two firefighters. The $150,000 copper curtain used to decorate the facade of the building should take care of a couple more firefighters.

RICHARD S. HAWLEY, Thousand Oaks

Problem Is Food Quality at School

I am offended by the attitude of Virginia Leigh, the food services director of Oak Park Unified School District, who says that “some ethnic taste buds are being offended” (May 20) by the new Mexican food menu. The only thing offending taste buds is the food served at Brookside Elementary, regardless of ethnicity.

Ms. Leigh goes on to say, “It may be something that the family perceives as unhealthy food. It may be that beans are not served at home.” How untrue. Ms. Leigh portrays the members of this wonderful community as being some sort of ethnic snobs.

My daughter, a fourth-grader at Brookside, has enjoyed eating the cafeteria-provided food for the past four years. This year, she complained about the new menu, not just the Mexican dishes. She said, “The food just doesn’t taste good.” The “ethnicity” of the Mexican dishes provided has nothing to do with it. The extremely poor quality of this particular food (food prepared in Chicago, shipped frozen) is the culprit.

My entire family (we are “non-Latino,” Ms. Leigh) enjoys Mexican food (including beans) frequently. We also enjoy Asian, Italian, Jewish, and other multiethnic, international cuisine. To imply that the Mexican dishes served at Brookside are rejected because of ethnic discrimination is absurd. This is an unfortunate example of the hypersensitivity to ethnic differences so prevalent today.

Get out in the community, Ms. Leigh, and meet the people you are servicing.

CYNTHIA HORACEK, Agoura

Fighting for Our Moral Standards

I have been labeled by some as coming from the “far right” because of the stand I have taken against problems such as news rack pornography and nude dancing in Simi Valley and my affiliation with the Republican Party. My reason for fighting these issues was motivated by the desire to protect the innocence of my children.

Another popular label, supported by mostly negative connotations in the press, is “the Religious Right.” What’s interesting about this label is that it doesn’t appear to have an equally known oppositional referent such as “the Religious Left.” Is this label being used as a referent to regard all Christians as “the enemy”?

I believe, more than ever before, that the citizens of Simi Valley are faced with a conjecture of issues which requires the attention and teamwork of all our local leaders. Our children are depending on how well we are able to work together and stay focused on critical issues which affect our economy and community standards. Quick labeling or name-calling of others isn’t going to help us get the job done.

Simi Valley is faced with making a decision on whether or not to take the lead on moral issues which directly affect our community standards. If we stay focused on doing what’s best for our kids, we should not have a problem in preserving a safe and healthy environment for all citizens of Simi Valley.

GLENN WOODBURY, Simi Valley

Ventura Fire Service Is Second to None

The article regarding Fire Department costs on May 30 is misleading and inaccurate.

The city of Ventura offers a comprehensive hazardous material response capability, weed abatement and similar programs. Our Fire Department was the first in the county to offer defibrillation and pre-arrival medical instructions over the 911 phone, as well as the first to implement computer aided dispatch. In short, with the exception of helicopters and bulldozers, I am not aware of a service offered by any fire department in Ventura County that the city of Ventura does not meet or exceed. To suggest otherwise is both false and misleading.

There are several methods to use in comparing the relative costs of providing fire protection and emergency services in varying communities. The cost per capita approach used by your writer is probably the least accurate as it offers no insights into the types and levels of service provided. For that reason, the subject article will do more damage than good in helping your readers understand and respond to the fiscal issues which currently jeopardize the continued delivery of fire and life safety services.

V. L. HAMILTON, Ventura. Hamilton is fire chief for the city of Ventura.