Proposition 172 and Public Safety

It is gratifying that Supervisors John Flynn, Kathy Long and Steve Bennett had the political wisdom and courage to support Chief Administrative Officer Harry Hufford’s reasoned amendment to the public safety funding ordinance. This will be a lasting tribute to Hufford and these three supervisors.

Although it is fine to say that public safety is our No. 1 priority, we cannot say that it is our only priority. The funding needs of all county departments must be considered--not just a chosen few.

BLAKE BOYLE

Desert Hot Springs

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Re “Budget Safety for the Public,” Ventura County editorial, March 4.

I am in full agreement with this editorial. If I recall correctly, when Proposition 172 passed, our state had endured several huge fires. People were concerned about adequate funding for public safety, which includes fire and police services.

We the people did not vote on county ordinance 4088. It was passed by the Board of Supervisors in response to petitions gathered by the sheriff and the district attorney. The bulk of the funds have been devoted to their two agencies.

I believe the way the funds are allocated violates the spirit of Proposition 172. The fire departments and municipal police departments certainly should have been included.

I definitely do not support providing windfall benefits, particularly at the expense of other vital public safety services countywide.

VIRGINIA WEBER

Ventura

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Re “Board Puts Cap on Public Safety Budgets,” March 14.

This article helped me decide to start a list of persons I will never vote for.

We, the voters, voted for that sales tax increase of one-half percent for the purpose of public safety. Now, by a 3-1 vote, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors has overruled the electorate and voted to hold law enforcement’s annual increases to the actual rate of inflation. What a terrible thing to do. The three board members who voted to overturn the electorate’s wishes are on my list.

In contrast, I commend Santa Paula Police Chief Robert Gonzales for his influence at the March 5 Santa Paula City Council meeting. The council was deciding on the rental of our historic train depot, for celebrations and meetings. The council was considering a policy to allow liquor.

Chief Gonzales successfully argued against it. He said that alcohol use costs much more than could ever be expected in rental fees. Most importantly, alcohol has a history of causing injury and death. Of the 17 homicides occurring in the last decade in Santa Paula, 14 involved alcohol usage.

SANDY TWADDLE

Santa Paula