A way to help
I wish to applaud Mr. Jim Hall for his thoughtful and compassionate letter concerning the mentally ill and indigent of our communities. It is truly sad, verging on the shameful, that a nation so blessed as ours hasn’t delivered the resources to those who need it so much. I hope that many others will think carefully about what he has said. Thank you.
As I drive through our city here in Clearlake, I see more and more abandoned or at least, empty buildings. I realize that the owners of these properties wish to rent or sell them or, in some way to generate an income or profit. At the same time I think of all those homeless individuals who spend the coldest nights without shelter of any kind. I can’t help but wonder if some kind property owner might actually step up and offer temporary use of his or her building, only for a few hours each night — thereby providing a place for those without to find shelter from the elements. I realize that this may seem somewhat simplistic and that there are issues such as liability and supervision. It seems, though, that supervision might be provided by one or two of the police officers already patrolling the night, often in the homeless camps themselves. Perhaps the burden of liability might be waived.
I am not suggesting that there be anything but a place with walls, floors and a roof where one might lean against a solid place and sleep on those really cold and/or stormy nights. I am not suggesting that anything be offered in the way of pillows, blankets or food — although that would be something I hope comes to fruition some day. I know it would take some careful planning and that obstacles could be thrown up, but surely it is worth trying to figure out. A few tweaks here and there, some generosity of spirit?
After all, any one of us, at anytime, could actually BE one of those left out in the cold.
Shirley Hunter Clearlake
A few thoughts
Mr. Wink we had a warrior President in George W. Bush, you see how well that worked out. I suggest Mr. Wink go back and watch Fox News Comedy hour and drown his sorrows at the next Tea Party.
Mr. Sparks is right on mark with his solution to the bus schedule and it’s drivers. In my experiences the opposite was the norm. I commuted to San Francisco on AC Transit for five years. I cannot count the times they were late or not even show up. They did not have to be running late to pass-up riders at a designated stop, no matter how much they waved. It is such a simple remedy to solve the problem that Mr. Sparks experienced.
Ray Richards, Clearlake Park
Retirement
A man who is getting past the working age sees retirement as it compares with his working life, with the unpleasant experiences and time restrictions of employment. He sees retirement in relation to the freedom to do as he pleases, his time restricted only by the sun. After retirement he gets used to his total freedom, the trip by recreational vehicle around the United States that he had so long anticipated by comparison with the daily drudgery of his job beings to look like a long duration of road rage, danger and fatigue — no longer an exercise of freedom, but a long and laborious self-imposed vexation. A hundred miles down the highway he turns around and comes home, puts the RV up on blocks in the front yard, pours himself a highball, and brings a lawn chair out under the shade tree.
Dean Sparks, Lucerne
