Editorial cartoon was disgusting
To the Editor,
Your approval of the opinion expressed on the editorial page is disgusting (Pajaronian, “Birds of a Feather” editorial cartoon, Aug. 17-23).
George Limburg
Watsonville
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Trying walking a mile in an officer’s shoes
To the Editor,
To the many people who criticize police action, I say, “Walk a mile in their shoes” before you speak. Police officers are tasked daily with life-threatening situations and have to react quickly to save lives and protect property. The police are the fine line between utter chaos and living civilly with each other.
So, before you speak, go on a ride-along or actually talk to a police officer and attempt to grasp what they go through on a daily basis. Yes, I am a retired police officer that has lived through having to react quickly to what could have been a deadly situation.
Chris Seymour
Watsonville
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All-Express: Improvements in transportation (and housing)
To the Editor,
An All-Express passenger rail system could have been safely implemented 50 years ago to actually provide:
1. Everyone non-stop express between any two stations concurrently — regardless of how many stations are involved or added later.
2. Gentler starts and stops than BART.
3. Probably a more favorable cost/performance to alternatives
If such an All-Express concept was implemented on the High Speed Rail corridor, the increased supply of affordable housing in the Central Valley with practical access to jobs would lure people out of their cars. People moving to the Central Valley would in turn help to alleviate traffic on Highway 1 and other local roadways.
The concept is on the U.S. Government patent pending website and is also viewable via the following link which presents the concept and more justification: tinyurl.com/yd7unoax.
Please help to make the concept of All-Express happen for a better path into the future.
Bob Fifield
Aptos
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The rip-off scheme by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry
To the Editor,
Mr. Chris Collins, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, has been arrested on charges of insider trading and lying to the FBI. The trading involved an Australian pharmaceutical firm that ran a failed test in the U.S. that exposed a group of insider traders including Collins.
This incident brings to mind one of my pet peeves: The rip-off being conducted by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. I have not studied this problem but it is a prominent subject of discussion on radio and TV. I am one who makes frequent visits to the drug store and have been shocked by the price of some of my prescriptions. More than once I have refused the item as the price was simply ridiculous. Anyone paying attention is aware that drugs are more expensive here than elsewhere in the developed world. Many Americans travel abroad or arrange for mail delivery to acquire less expensive drugs.
Unfortunately, costly drugs are only one of a number of problems that have come with the evolution of our economy and the political situation, particularly during the past 40 years and the administrations of the four Republican presidents who have sent the national debt soaring sky-high.
Thomas Stumbaugh
Aptos
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Thank you for taking pride in Watsonville
To the Editor,
I want to thank the City of Watsonville’s Parks Department for the beautiful job they have done at Crestview Park.
I was living on Arbol Drive when the park first opened. My family and I enjoyed many hours of tennis, baseball and football catch there with all the other neighbors. It is really great to see so many homes in our area and all around town looking so nice. Thanks to all of you who take pride in our lovely city of Watsonville.
Scott Taylor
Watsonville
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Big money trying to kill rail trail
To the Editor,
It did not make sense that a rich organization, Greenway, would suddenly appear in our community with one purpose: kill rail-with-trail planned for almost 20 years when groundbreaking is within months. Especially when the current rail-trail plan essentially builds one-half of the Greenway unapproved, unfunded “concept plan” with walk and bike use beginning so soon.
Bud Colligan, Miles Reiter and William Ow financially backed the Capitola Greenway initiative which undermines the current rail-trail project. It makes no sense to scrap the rail-trail plan and start from scratch setting back progress by 20 years.
Then I read the June articles in NYT and LA Times which outlined how the Koch brothers’ organization is winning at removing rails against communities’ best interests and their desire to keep them. The big money backing removal of rails is “Americans for Prosperity,” a Koch-financed conservative group. Koch companies produce gasoline, asphalt, seat belts, tires and other automotive parts, so now it makes sense. I wonder if our local individuals are being used by the Kochs.
Rob and Mary Murphy
Watsonville
