Letters to the Editor 10/13

HD opera thrilling

Recently, I attended the first of the “The Met: Live in HD” performances at the Performing Arts Center. To say it was a memorable experience is the understatement of the year. For most of the performance, I felt as though I was at The Metropolitan Opera itself!

Thanks to the generosity of the Hind Foundation, Cal Poly Arts and Opera San Luis Obispo, these performances will continue through May 2011. This makes it possible for San Luis Obispo County residents to hear and see some of the greatest singers in the world performing from one of the greatest opera houses in the world, with an immediacy that has to be seen to be believed.

Tickets are available for all remaining performances and I urge the art loving public to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. At only $25 per ticket, including all parking and other fees, attendees can experience truly amazing performances on Saturday mornings throughout the season.

As a lifelong opera lover, I can honestly say that outside of being in the opera house itself, I have never spent such a thrilling three hours in my life and I urge all those who have even a slight interest in opera to go to one of the upcoming performances.

Elizabeth C. Thyne

San Luis Obispo

Supporting Amgen

I attended a recent City Council meeting and the last item was the Amgen Tour of California.

Police Chief Lisa Solomon will again chair the local organizing committee as the Amgen tour will be promoting our community on a worldwide stage and we will receive long-term economic benefits.

Four out of five City Council members approved signing a letter of intent, but Duane Picanco voted “no.”

As was explained, this will put Paso Robles once again in the forefront of the world for a premiere event and showcase the wine and hospitality we are known for. It will be an economic boon to the community and a shot in the arm for morale.

Picanco voted “no” because he was afraid that the city’s general fund may have to come up with the $35,000 if the local organizing committee cannot raise the funds.

The local organizing committee has until May 2011 to raise the money. I support the Amgen tour and believe this is a great event for all of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County.

Gary Nemeth

Paso Robles candidate for mayor

Racism not dead

I have a “We Did It” Obama sticker on the back window of my SUV. It has lived there, unharmed, for more than 18 months, until recently.

While parked in downtown San Luis Obispo in the open public lot between Monterey and Palm streets on a Sunday afternoon for less than an hour, some racist fool decided to add their commentary to my car.

Over the Obama sticker, they stuck a similarly sized sticker with only four words on it: “Kiss My White Ass.”

I have never gotten so instantly sick to my stomach. This is 2010 in California, not 1963 in Mississippi. Racism is not dead in San Luis Obispo. And I just want to vomit.

Fred R. Munroe

Atascadero

Repair the roads

I am at a loss to understand why the roads in Paso Robles are not being repaired. We do not live in a Third World country or city.

Take a ride down Rambouillet Road and you will think you are driving over a cattle guard. It was kind of funny when they painted pedestrian crossing strips right through the potholes. People (visitors) entering the city along Spring Street must think that they have entered a west Texas town during the oil bust.

I have decided I will vote for any candidates who say they will repair these roads. I am beginning to wonder if the city is in with the local tire companies. Park development funds, how about road improvement funds?

Clayton M. Leavitt

Paso Robles

A proven leader

For several years, politicians in Sacramento have used smoke and mirrors to hide the serious problems facing California’s economy. We’ve seen too many clever accounting tricks, slick press conferences and empty promises.

With unemployment at a nation leading 12.8 percent and a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, we need to send someone to the state Legislature who will put an end to the magic show.

Katcho Achadjian will go to Sacramento and continue the service he has provided here in San Luis Obispo County. Serious-minded and sensitive to the needs of the Central Coast, Achadjian will focus on practical reforms like eliminating statewide departments that duplicate county and city services.

We need proven leaders like Katcho Achadjian in the State Assembly.

Rebekah Pleis

San Luis Obispo

An honest record

As a longtime employee of the Pismo Beach Police Department and a former Los Angeles deputy sher-iff, it irks me to hear Joe Cortez claim credit for “turning around” the “troubled” Pismo Beach Police Department during the time he was chief because it’s simply not true.

Pismo Beach did experience difficulties before Cortez came but they were resolved through the leadership of the interim leaders and the chief who preceded Cortez. These are the leaders who got the Pismo Beach Police Department back on track, not Cortez. It says a lot about someone’s character when they attempt to take credit for something that was done by others.

I support Ian Parkinson for sheriff. He’s got an honest record of leadership and doesn’t try to claim credit for the work done by others.

Marilyn Morris

Arroyo Grande

A great mayor

I graduated from Cal Poly a year ago and started for the women’s basketball team while I was there.

I know Paul Brown because we graduated from a law enforcement academy together. For five months, we carpooled and were in the same study group.

I had the opportunity to see how he reacts under the rigorous pressure of a training environment that pushed each of us to our limits physically, emotionally and academically.

Brown is the type of person who everyone looks toward for leadership. He listens to everyone’s problems and finds solutions that benefit the group.

Brown is almost twice my age, but he always treated me as an equal and encouraged the rest of us as we faced our daily challenges. He came through in times when others wouldn’t, and I am proud to know him.

I respect his opinion and even used him as a background reference to get my current job in law enforcement. He has proven to me that he can effectively communicate with college-age residents as well as responsibly deal with the needs of the overall community.

Paul Brown will be a great mayor for San Luis Obispo.

Megan Harrison

Santa Barbara

Accomplished board

The current Cayucos Elementary School Board is a strong and diverse group of professionals. The current five members are Elaine Thompson, Cathy Launchbaugh, Ginger Ortiz, Ron Wilson and Eric Jacobsen.

This existing board has demonstrated true leadership in so many ways over the past few years. Here are just some of their outstanding achievements:

• The successful completion of a brand new school.

• The new community library located near the campus.

• An on-campus community facility where concerts, sporting events, etc. have been held.

• The successful process of contract negotiations with this school board has been collegial, productive and even pleasurable.

As you can see, this school board has accomplished much. Our current board members are people who really listen and understand.

We, the undersigned teachers, feel this is the wrong time for a change in the governance because this Cayucos School Board has a proven track record of excellence.

For all the reasons mentioned, the teachers below announce our strong support for the current Cayucos School Board members. We hope you will vote to support those candidates who are running for re-election.

Linda Jaso, Jaine Rice, Pat Siemer, Susan Mathias, Sterling Heck, Suzanne Henderson, Sherry Lessard, David Leary, Sean Anderson, Jessica Peterson, Lisa Shinn, Victoria Doust and Eric Schofield

No prejudgments

It seems that we have two fine, experienced candidates for position of sheriff here in San Luis Obispo County. Each would probably do a fine job in this position.

However, it seems to me that because of the innuendos and undertone of improprieties swirling around the department recently, it might be prudent to vote for the outside candidate who cannot be thought of as having any prejudgments of personnel or events during the incumbent’s tenure in office.

Jim Harlow

Templeton

Negativity tiring

It’s election season in Morro Bay again, and we’ve seen the usual negativity of one side against the other. I, for one, am tired of all the insults.

Morro Bay is at a crossroads as far as its economic future is concerned. We need common sense solutions and real answers to bring jobs and business back to Morro Bay.

For that reason, I will be supporting Bill Yates for mayor. For City Council, I will be supporting George Leage and Nancy Johnson. It’s time to come to Morro Bay’s rescue and end the negativity.

Stan House

Morro Bay

Full support

As the race for San Luis Obispo mayor unfolds, I am doubly reminded of why I will be voting for Jan Marx on Nov. 2. 

Marx has experience. She’s been a member of the City Council for almost six years, and she always does her homework before the meeting. Her deeply inquisitive mind digs into issues with a thoroughness that is needed in deciphering the very complex and challenging fiscal and environmental issues that are facing the city. 

Marx is a mother. She sees the need to leave San Luis Obispo greener, cleaner and more sustainable for future generations. She’s fair, she’s a good listener and she invariably makes decisions that fall on the side of justice.

I give Jan Marx my full support as mayor of San Luis Obispo and I hope you will too.

Linda Seeley

San Luis Obispo