Regarding “Is this the change?” (Letters, Nov. 3):

The author cites irrelevant quotes; I presume to back up his inference that President Obama favors the killing of us senior citizens. Dismissing such drivel with the contempt it deserves, I submit the basic question: Who gets health care priority; the old, the young, the rich, the needy, the veterans or nobody, if there isn’t enough money for everyone? ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/915018.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/915018.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:01 PST Thank the police

I would like to commend Sgt. Kimberly Munley for her bravery at Ft. Hood. She stared danger in the face and without hesitation did what she was trained to do — protect and serve.

With so much going on lately, it’s easy to overlook the contribution that the men and women of our police forces make every day to ensure our way of life in this country. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913828.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913828.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:33 PST Thanks all around

This is a letter of thanks, both to the individuals and to our community about your response to our benefit for Fairess Dougall on Oct. 18.

Thanks to Sue Stroud, Megan Geiser, Lynne Nelson. Also, Pete Dougall, the Kiwanis, Art Dougall, Mary Bassett and Bob Fernamberg. Others were Nancy Davis and Erna and Jim Hilton. People serving were Jean Dunmore and her friend Paul; Arlene and Darryl Pilkington; Tish Dougall; Loni and Kent Kuentzel; Alan and Laura Sweeney; Janet Woodson and Heather. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913825.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913825.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:29 PST When 1,000 people march through downtown San Luis Obispo as an organized group that is surely a newsworthy event. … Is the editorial staff making decisions based on a political or social agenda of their own?

— Sheryl Collmer, San Luis Obispo]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913145.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913145.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:07 PST Thanks for book boost

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community of San Luis Obispo for so generously supporting the recent Borders Book Drive that included donations of books and library-related materials for the San Luis Coastal School Library Media Centers. The community’s generosity and support were overwhelming!

Special thanks go to Wayne Jessup, general manager at Borders, who made it all happen and boxed up and delivered more than 1,500 items to the District Instructional Media Center. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913135.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/913135.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:58 PST No issue illustrates that diversity of views and challenge of governance more than water policy — an issue that has produced huge conflicts and little progress over the past 30 years.

Successful negotiation of a comprehensive water compromise — one that would benefit our entire state — was viewed by many as an impossible feat this year. This week, the Legislature was able to break through all of the barriers, uniting a diverse and bipartisan coalition behind a landmark water solution. As Assembly minority leader and a member of the Big 5, I found myself front and center in these difficult and delicate negotiations. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/912079.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/912079.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:23 PST Remember this story

On Sunday, Oct. 11, Steve and I demonstrated in Washington, D.C., with the National Equality March, walking with an estimated 200,000 people, demanding full equality under the law as guaranteed to all Americans, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Many straight allies and tens of thousands of the younger people marched.

We are legally married in California, but the importance of being “married” was made evident because of a medical emergency on our flight home. While waiting in line for the restroom, Steve passed out. Awakened by the co-pilot who asked if I knew Steve Click, I said, “He’s my husband,” and I was taken to him. With oxygen, Steve was fine. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/910976.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/910976.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53 PST Something wrong

Both my daughter and son work in emergency rooms; one locally as an ER nurse and the other in Redding as an ER doc. Both have children under 3 years old and both have been treating H1N1 flu patients for more than two months now. Neither has been given the opportunity to get H1N1 shots.

How can we expect these ER doctors and nurses who come in contact with infected patients every day to continue to stay well without any protection for them or their children? And what about all the other patients they see on their shifts? ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/910969.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/910969.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:49 PST “No,” the fellow replies. Thus reassured, the man reaches down to pet the mutt and gets promptly and decisively bitten. “I thought you said your dog doesn’t bite!”

he complains. “He doesn’t,” says the barfly. “That’s not my dog.”]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909642.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909642.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:03 PST Honoring teachers

Nov. 1 through 7 is a week to honor our many retired teachers of San Luis Obispo County. Some may have been your teachers in elementary, junior/middle or senior high school. Some of our retired teachers may have taught your parents and in a few cases, your grandparents.

Take a moment to remember the teachers who helped you become the person you are. It might have been a drama teacher who provided you a chance to become a character very unlike yourself. It may have been your sports coach who worked with a group of individuals to help create a team. It could be an English teacher who assisted you in understanding Shakespeare.]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909633.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909633.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:59 PST Unimportant after all

Where were you? How are you going to look your children and grandchildren in the eye and explain why only 36.9 percent of the voters in Paso Robles voted on their future. 

Perhaps the 63-plus percent of the voters who didn’t vote — and were registered! — just decided that the future of the city of Paso Robles really wasn’t that important. Oh, that’s right, our kids can pick up the bill and pay their own way. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909632.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/909632.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:57 PST In July 2004, a contract was executed and water user fees approved to help pay for it. Initially, the rate plan called for $6 per month increasing by $6 per month every year until we reached $36 per month.

In early 2007, project cost estimates were refined indicating a need to increase the maximum monthly charge from the planned $36 to $60. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/908089.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/908089.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:25 PST A simple solution

If everyone is all wrinkle-browed and lip-chewing about locating medical marijuana dispensaries in their communities because they fear it will attract dangerous “undesirables” and drug addicts, I have a simple solution: Have the state or the feds certify and license certain growers, inspect, seal and slap a special tag on their product, just like we do for tobacco, and then sell it with a prescription in a DRUG store. Last time I went into my local Costco pharmacy to get my “drugs,” I don’t remember stumbling over hordes of loitering gang members, drug traffickers and addicts attracted by the prescription pot being sold there. I think the suspicious-looking people who were milling about were there to get Costco’s delicious hot dogs at the food stand.

Ann Calhoun]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/908087.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/908087.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:20 PST At SLO Green Build and the U.S. Green Building Council Central Coast Chapter we absolutely agree with that priority — after all, that is the very heart of our organizations. But even we recognize that energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy is simply not enough for our present situation.

According to the California Energy Commission, in 2008 in California, we used more than 300,000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of electricity, with projections to 360,000 GWH by 2020. Statewide, buildings account for about 40 percent of that electricity, used for cooling, heating, lighting and pumping water. The rest is for industry and agriculture. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/906807.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/906807.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:23 PST Never too early

I appreciate The Tribune’s front page and thorough coverage of Cal Poly athletic scholarships from a tobacco company (Oct. 28).

Regardless of the outcome, it is a potent reminder to parents and teachers, both of the health dangers of tobacco use and its tempting presence aimed at our youth. Tobacco-related cancers remain the largest cause of cancer deaths, even though they are the largest group of preventable cancers. As you know, getting a young child convinced to never use tobacco is a simpler job than the worthwhile but difficult task of breaking a subsequent nicotine addiction — an often lifelong and expensive battle. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/905652.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/905652.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:54 PST Safety heads up

The state of California in 1994 amended the bicycle helmet law to include any person under the age of 18. Creating this law requiring the use of bicycle helmets, along with visible enforcement from local agencies and the development of bicycle education programs, is possibly the most effective means of increasing the usage of bicycle helmets and the safety of our children.

When driving my daughter to school each morning I encounter at least one child not wearing a helmet. This concerns me because if an accident were to occur, whom would the responsibility fall to? I pose this question to all parents, school officials and local law enforcement agencies that ignore the fact that our children are riding their bicycles to and from school without wearing a safety helmet and without consequences. Who is ultimately responsible for our children?]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/904733.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/904733.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:56 PDT Precious panel program

On Oct. 15, three very precious people came together at Cal Poly to engage in a fascinating dialogue on problems facing organic and conventional agriculture.

Michael Pollan, an expert on problems concerning overgrazing and over consumption of meat; Gary Smith, Monfort Endowed Chair in meat science at Colorado State University; and Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm Organic, discussed current and future challenges to growing food on a crowded planet with diminishing resources. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/903994.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/903994.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:04 PDT Jerky turkeys

As our endless summer transitions to fall, I look forward to Nov. 2 and Dia de los Muertos.

This year, in lieu of honoring only those already dead, I entreat city and county Animal Control to form a band of turkey vigilantes to both rid San Luis Obispo of a destructive flock of wild banditos, and feed the homeless in the process. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/902612.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/902612.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:06 PDT Remembering Chuck

Many will remember Chuck Meissner and how important he was to the Morro Bay community. Whether he agreed with you or not, he was always a gentleman. His letters to the editor and to city officials are legend.

Chuck was leader of the Morro Bay Beautiful Cleanup brigade; an artist; an active member of the Morro Bay Art Association, helping for years to maintain their building and set up Art in the Park. He secured free water from the power plant for the Garden Club planter on the boardwalk. Every Friday he and his wife Floretta delivered Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/901268.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/letters-to-the-editor/story/901268.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:04 PDT Congrats on sewer

It appears that SLO County has decided to locate the Los Osos sewer plant at the 38-acre Giacomazzi parcel north of Los Osos Valley Memorial Park instead of the 645-acre Tonini property. Some of the treated wastewater will be recycled to an aquifer using leach fields at the end of Broderson Avenue.

The rest of the treated wastewater will be recycled to irrigate crops, farms and schools. Other possible uses could be for community facilities such as public parks. There is a market for this supplemental recycling and revenue could be used to offset some operating and maintenance costs for residential customers. ]]>