Cheesy yellow ribbon magnet not enough
08/19/2010
I’m sorry, but Americans do not “support the troops.”
SAYING you support the troops, and putting a cheesy yellow ribbon magnet on your car does not “support the troops.”
Taking care of injured and disabled vets adequately when they come home is support. We fail at that.
Ensuring the vets come home to the same freedoms they were supposedly “defending” is support. We fail at that.
Having an economy that can provide adequate economic opportunities to troops who muster out is support. We fail at that.
Finally, making DAMN sure that any man or woman wearing the uniform of an American service does not risk their his or her needlessly or for mere corporate gain is support. We fail miserably at that.
There’s a big difference between supporting two unethical and immoral wars, and supporting the troops. In fact, much of the time, those two things are mutually exclusive.
So, next time you talk to someone who “supports the troops”, ask them exactly HOW they do that. Chances are that they don’t. Not really.
Tom Becham Oxnard
Getting away with noise pollution
How long will Ojai allow this noise to continue?
Ever try having a party in Ojai with live music? Forget it; the Sheriff will show up in threefold to tell you to shut if off or go to jail. So why in the world do they allow the constant noise of the motorcycles roaring though our town, and not just the heavy flow on the weekends. This has become a daily nuisance.
California law requires mufflers on all motorized vehicles — what, except bikers? The noise levels are far past the occasional weekend partiers, yet it is allowed to persist, upsetting babies, older persons crossing the street, a conversation at a local coffee shop and it goes on. Why? Does Harley Davidson have that much power in our small towns? No, even though the same sheriffs who work Ojai also work Calabasas, Westlake and Newbury Park, where these guys are stopped regularly and ticketed for excessive of speed and violation of the noise ordinance. Why do the Ventura Sheriffs allow the noise to drive most Ojai residents to a point of distraction?
What we need is a large sign at Casitas Springs: Rev ’emm go to jail. All motorized vehicles require adequate mufflers — including motorcycles
No, we don’t need a new law — we already have enough laws, and there is very plain law. Section 27150 of the Vehicle Code requires that every motor vehicle subject to registration be equipped with an adequate muffler. It further states that no open tail pipes are allowed on city streets or highways. California law clearly does not allow for unmuffled motorcycles to go rampaging through town. When the sheriff starts writing tickets, they will either comply with the law or head to Santa Ynez.
While pedestrians are ticketed for jay walking, these cyclists continue to raise hell though Ojai.
Enough is enough already. Shut off the noise. And still, forget trying to have a party with a few friends and music.
Jay North, Ojai
Happy med MJ smoker
I am writing to thank you for bringing attention to medical marijuana supporters (News, 7/29).
It is ironic that there was an article in the paper on “Hard Drugs.” I was happy to see, for once, they didn’t include a beautiful plant in their article.
I would be lost without my marijuana! I have hep C and haven’t drunk alcohol for more than three years. Marijuana has no damaging effects on the liver. It is my medicine. I am so thankful for it.
I am writing this e-mail to you in hopes of getting the e-mails of the people whom you wrote the story about. I would love to help them in any way I can. I am tired of having to go all the way to Santa Barbara for my stuff. I think it is ridiculous that we can’t have a collective here in Ventura!
C.P. Ventura
The highway widening project debacle
Good job on this article (Highway 101 project, News, 7/29)! The best reporting I have seen in a long while (on any subject): Keep up the great work!
FYI, we have been told by the Coastal Commission that the organization that is going to fund the bike path refused to do so unless it is on the ocean side of the highway; that is why the CC pushed to have it there.
What needs to happen is to separate these two projects to get the widening to happen. If the project is held up for too long in appeals this year over the bike path, it will lose the funding for the highway work that is desperately needed.
Unfortunately, this is the usual bungling of a bureaucracy: trying to do too much at once, short changing the whole. Our legislators are great at this!
Steve Bennett, Mussel Shoals Resident
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