A different era in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez; the passing of Paul Conrad; Arizona’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Those were the days

Re “A positive border image,” Column, Sept. 3

Hector Tobar’s column brought back memories of my mother and father, who were from Juarez but lived and worked in El Paso.

I was born and raised in El Paso too. Thank you for the article, especially at this time in my life.

I remember crossing over to get a haircut and going with my dad to the dentist in Juarez. Back then you just waved at the border officers on duty.

Rigoberto Vasquez

Rancho Cucamonga

I read your wonderful article on the easy crossings between Ciudad Juarez and my hometown. I was born in El Paso and remember the crossings with my parents and sisters in the ‘50s.

And the photo of Luis and Guadalupe Chavira in 1933 reminded me of one of my parents on a Juarez street at about the same time. Thanks for a great story.

Miguel Rodriguez

Buena Park

Memories of Paul Conrad

Re “Cartoonist had sharp pen,” Sept. 5, and “A man and his pen,” Opinion, Sept. 6

My ritual of digesting a daily newspaper began during my early college years, some 30 years ago. The legendary icons from that era — with Paul Conrad as the most quintessential “can’t miss a day under any circumstance” — hooked me early and contributed profoundly to my worldview.

Thank you, Paul, for opening my eyes, engaging my heart and stirring up my indignation. Your work and your spirit will resonate for generations.

Darrell Hennegen

Huntington Beach

I am saddened by the passing of Conrad, in my opinion one of the most brilliant practitioners of his craft.

Though many will rightly acknowledge his ideas and his ability to express them so vividly and dramatically, I would like to point out that he was also a fantastic draughtsman and was arguably the most gifted artist ever to work as a political cartoonist.

As a young illustrator just starting in my profession in the 1970s, I was often “taken to school” by Conrad’s drawing, line work and composition. His work was always impeccable.

Tony Gleeson

Los Angeles

One of my most memorable experiences was auditing Conrad’s class on political cartooning at Whittier College in the 1970s. He thought it was — his word — “high-larious” that he was filling the college’s Richard M. Nixon chair.

Although he affected a curmudgeonly demeanor, this never disguised the fact that he was also compassionate, incisive and “high-larious.”

Linda Harris

Whittier

Like Conrad, my father loathed Ronald Reagan and Nixon. Conrad brought a lot of joy, laughter and insight to my father’s life.

I often awoke to the sound of my father’s hearty laughter after he had just read Conrad at the breakfast table. When I was in high school, my father would eagerly point out Conrad’s latest gem, which we discussed and admired together. Those moments provided me with some of the fondest memories that I have of my dad.

Conrad and his pen could strike at the heart of the matter and masterfully capture the essence of his subject. His genius rendered brilliant depiction with just pen in hand.

He will be missed, because in the times in which we live, an artist is always needed to expose all the injustice that exists in the world.

Mark Richardson

Cardiff, Calif.

I read with great sadness about the death of Conrad. As Tim Rutten so poignantly stated, he was an inspiration to those of us coming of age in the 1970s. I remember opening my parents’ Times every morning and going right to the editorial pages, where I looked for Paul’s work. I would cut out the cartoons and post them in my room as a reminder of the day’s current event. He taught history, politics and the power of the pen at a time in my life when such influences are so lasting.

I was disappointed at his departure from The Times. I hope you find a way to do a special edition showing many more of his great cartoons.

Sean Skehan

Arcadia

I wonder if Rutten would be praising Conrad if he had been a “thorn” in the side of Democratic presidents?

Bob Guarrera

Laguna Niguel

The Late Great Editorial Cartoonist Paul Conrad Was A Man Whose Powerful Drawings Always Kept Words To A Minimum. So Will I. He Was Just “The Greatest.”

Arthur Stokes

San Diego

A controversial Arizona sheriff

Re “U.S. sues popular Arizona sheriff,” Sept. 3

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was quoted in your article saying that “it’s time Americans everywhere wake up and see this administration for what it really is: calculating, underhanded at times and certainly not looking out for the best interests of the legal citizens residing in this country.”

That’s funny. Many people felt that way about the former administration.

That’s the reason our country, for the first time, elected a person of color (and around the same time conservatives started shouting “we want our country back!”).

The Obama administration only requested standard paperwork, normal for legal matters such as this. The sheriff refused, instigating the latest lawsuit.

He says that President Obama is playing politics. No kidding — so is he.

I’m with the sheriff when it comes to his right to fix serious problems in his county. He just comes off as a bit hypocritical while doing so.

Kyle Laurent

Santa Clarita

Isn’t demanding records “demonstrating that he [Sheriff Arpaio] avoids racial discrimination” presuming guilt until proven innocent?

And how do you prove a negative?

I have no interest in Maricopa County and consider Arizona a flyover/drive-through state, but the Justice Department lawsuit smells like a political fishing expedition.

Darcy Vernier

Marina del Rey

The federal lawsuit against Arpaio is shameful. Here is a man who is sworn to uphold the laws of the United States, and he does it exceedingly well.

Arpaio is a true American hero who has more courage and patriotism in his little finger than all the Justice Department put together.

Bob Wallace

Corona

For a change, The Times should interview some of the U.S. citizens of Mexican descent who are in favor Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration efforts.

Ron Romanosky

Tustin

Cash-for-cars plan in Bell

Re “Bell impounded cars to boost coffers, police say,” Sept. 6

Bell is just following in the footsteps of its bigger sister, Los Angeles.

Recently, I took visitors to downtown Los Angeles for the first time, and got smacked with a $294.50 fine for towing plus “penalties” for parking seven minutes after 4 p.m.

on Broadway in Chinatown.

My car was joined by a whole row of other cars that I’m sure were as unfamiliar with the area as I was.

I guess I won’t try shopping there again.

Elizabeth Denis

Rolling Hills Estates

Bell officials have a lot to answer for in terms of their behavior, but every police department in the state of California should be doing the same thing Bell has been doing — enforcing all DMV and driving-related rules.

Jamie Hill

Garden Grove

I believe this practice of citing and impounding for the sake of generating revenues is widespread. Many cities do it, and deliberately so; they calculate ticket and towing revenues into their budgets.

Apparently, Bell was just a bit more blatant.

Vasco Sena

Santa Barbara