Slipping in Rank

The well-being of the citizens of Ventura County is in jeopardy. According to an extensive study recently released by the nonprofit organization Zero Population Growth (ZPG), Oxnard, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks ranked 191st, 124th and 111th among the 207 cities included in the study. Some 14 different items are used in this rating. Items particularly needing to be improved are education, crime, air and water quality, toxic releases, percentage of children living in poverty, and teen-age births.

Education in California is among the poorest in the nation. The 10 poorest-ranked cities in this category are all in California. Oxnard ranked sixth from the bottom of this category. Items used in arriving at this ranking are student-teacher ratios, per pupil expenditures on education and high school dropout rates.

On average, 22% of all children in the cities ZPG rated currently live below the poverty line. Ventura County’s three largest cities did well in this part of the study with 17.2% for Oxnard, 3.8% for Simi Valley and 4.8% for Thousand Oaks.

Congressional cutbacks in welfare and food programs, education and environmental protection should be examined carefully. The main needs are for redirection and elimination of abuses of these desirable programs.

Urban problems are interrelated, and improvements in one or two categories in most cases will help others. We need to take action today to ensure a better quality future for all. Write your legislators and let them know your feelings.

WAYNE F. EHLERS

Camarillo