JBHS cell phone policy unfair to students...

JBHS cell phone policy unfair to students

As a student at John Burroughs High School, I favor the existing

policy that allows us to carry our cell phones even if we can’t use

them. This is better than the old policy where we could not even have

them on campus, which was unfair because our parents buy us these

phones so we can communicate with them.

Burroughs does not have the right to say we can’t use our cell

phones on our break time when they didn’t buy them for us, nor pay

the bill. If we aren’t disturbing class, then who are we hurting by

being able to use them on our free time at school? Why buy a cell

phone, then, if we are in school Monday through Friday and can’t use

them?

At school, girls overcrowd the restrooms so they can use their

phone. I see some boys being nonchalant and using their cell phone

walking around freely. The existing policy gets broken every day. I

urge the school board to [change the existing policy]. There will be

less temptation and hopefully everyone will be happy.

CATHERINE NGUYEN

JBHS senior

Seniors deserve a real prescription drug benefit

We live at a time of miraculous scientific achievement -- a time

marked by the development of prescription drugs with the power to

cure and improve quality of life. We in government have the

responsibility to capitalize on these advances. By adding a

prescription drug benefit to Medicare, a program that seniors know

and trust, seniors will have the opportunity to live with greater

dignity and less pain in their twilight years.

Medicare beneficiaries have waited a long time for help.

Unfortunately, the recently passed Republican legislation falls far

short of what is needed by seniors, many of whom have too much of

their income and savings drained by the high costs of prescription

medications.

A Medicare prescription drug benefit should be: affordable,

reducing the prices of drugs; meaningful, with guaranteed benefits;

within Medicare; and available to all, regardless of where they live.

Unfortunately, the House Republican bill fails to meet each one of

these basic standards. The House bill does nothing to reduce the cost

of prescription drugs. It creates a coverage gap so wide that 50% of

seniors would fall into it. Anyone paying between $2,000 and $4,900

annually for medications would receive no prescription drug benefit,

even though they would continue to pay Medicare premiums. People with

annual medication costs less than $850 would actually lose money,

because their premiums would exceed their benefit.

We have a responsibility to our parents and grandparents to

improve and strengthen the Medicare program they know and trust. We

also have a responsibility to future generations to leave them with a

country that is even better and more secure than the one we

inherited. We cannot in good faith unravel the very programs we came

here to strengthen.

There have been improvements at the state level, however, which

provide cost savings on drugs for seniors right now. California

requires pharmacies participating in Medicaid to offer customers with

a Medicare card the same discounted prices that Medicaid recipients

receive. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, please check with your

pharmacy to be sure that you are not being charged more than the

Medicaid rate.

U.S. REP. BRAD SHERMAN

Editor’s note: Sherman (D-Burbank) represents roughly half of the

San Fernando Valley.

Why were shade trees removed from park?

Two magnificent trees were removed from Ralph Foy Park during the

past few days. Not only did they help create favorite shady picnic

areas, they prevented sports activities from entering too close to

the main picnic area behind the library.

I walked through the area of the removed trees Thursday, and there

was a soccer game, a mini football game and a tee ball game.

I met with a small group of residents, and we couldn’t understand

why the trees were removed. One man was thinking far ahead when he

asked a tree surgeon friend of his to examine the felled trees, only

to discover they were very healthy, with no indication of disease.

TALBERT KANIGHER

Burbank