Roads are Clearlake”s problem and no one else”s
City Administrator Dale Neiman thinks that having people from inside and outside Clearlake paying sales taxes will fix our road problems. What a great idea, if all applicable taxes went to this problem and it was planned over 200 years.
Let”s have a bond issue to fix this problem from below the ground all the way up to the sidewalks and streetlights. This is Clearlake”s problem, no one else”s.
The amount Clearlake”s citizens would save on car repairs would give them a better frame of mind with new and better roads. If Mr. Neiman doesn”t think this is possible, I”ll tell you what is ? a class-action lawsuit by the citizens of Clearlake, against the City of Clearlake, because of the conditions of the roads.
Let”s get heads buried in the sand out, pride in this community in. Be part of the problem or the solution. Let the race begin; will it be the good ol” boys network or the citizens of Clearlake? Who will win?
Michael Juell
Clearlake
Attorney General Gonzales”s resignation is opportunity to strengthen civil liberties
The evidence that U.S. attorneys were fired for political purposes has mounted for almost a year, and the credibility of our nation”s justice system has increasingly suffered. Rather than fix the problems as he promised, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has only stonewalled Congress” attempt to hold the Bush Administration accountable and has given questionable testimony about his own involvement.
His resignation was long overdue. Moreover, if the investigations find that the law was broken or justice obstructed, Gonzales should face charges.
I hope the president will use this as an opportunity to bring integrity back to the office of the Attorney General by appointing a nominee who holds the law above politics and aims to strengthen, not diminish, our civil liberties.
This is also an opportunity to re-examine the continuation of warrantless surveillance. The House Intelligence Committee will be crafting new legislation to replace the flawed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the law that governs the surveillance of foreign targets for intelligence purposes. We need a law that allows us to collect information on those who threaten our nation”s security, without violating the rights of law-abiding Americans. FISA should also be altered to ensure that an independent court, not the Bush Administration, determines when the communications of Americans need to be monitored.
U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson
Washington, D.C.
Editor”s Note: Rep. Thompson released this statement in response to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Thompson is Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence. Five months ago, Thompson sent a letter to President Bush calling for Gonzales” resignation.
KUSD supports passage of Senate Bill 840
To Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of the Legislature: We need your help! The spiraling cost of health insurance is having a devastating impact on our school district”s ability to provide our hard-working and dedicated employees fair and reasonable compensation. It is a desperate and frustrating situation that neither our district administration nor our teachers and support staff have created.
These annual double-digit premium increases are negatively influencing our ability to attract and retain the top quality staff we need to obtain our ultimate goal — increased student achievement. In our small district (annual budget $26 million), we spent over $500,000 in 2006-2007 to maintain the health benefits our employees deserve. This is money that is not available either for salaries or for support for our students.
Senate Bill 840 seems to us to be a thoughtful and reasonable alternative to the costly and bureaucratic nightmare that characterizes the current health care system. Under SB 840, all California residents would be covered and most importantly, no new money would be required. For us, it would be a savings of $3 million annually. We feel this money should be spent on students and staff who are striving diligently to meet state and federal mandates for accountability, and not go into the pockets of insurance brokers and health care administrators.
The school board members, administrators, teachers and support staff of the Konocti Unified School District implore you, as elected officials, to do the difficult job that voters sent you to Sacramento to do. Put aside the political hard lines and come to the table to find a solution. This is a problem we cannot solve at the local level. It requires true leadership from the governor and state legislators. Please do not exacerbate this situation with more delays. Act now. Support SB 840.
Carolynn Jarrett, KUSD board president
Louise Bennicoff-Nan
John Lee, KEA
Anita Gordon, board clerk
Hank Montgomery (board member)
Mary Silva (board member)
Herb Gura (board member)
Johnnie Hathcock, CSEA
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to letters@clearlakeobserver.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Pleases include complete name, address and telephone number.
