Unconscionable city actions

4-08
To the editor:
The city of Ojai is planning to cut off access to some of the Arcade shops for two to four months during redevelopment. This will put some shops out of business and create extreme hardship for others. As yet, the city of Ojai is offering no compensation for this action.
All of this from a city that prides itself on community values and high cultural standing. The community leaders should consider the needs of the individual as well as the community as a whole when they make decisions.
For a city, with a conscience, to do this without compensation is unthinkable.
For the city fathers and mothers to go ahead as planned is unconscionable.

Gerald Paul Leblanc
Ojai

Ojai needs its own 'Raintree'

4-8
To the editor:
I was so glad to read in our Ojai Valley News that there is a "Henry Mancini Institute" in honor of that great composer.
We have all had that feeling - "Someone is watching me."
In the beautiful Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, on a balmy spring night, I suddenly looked up, and there in the distance, looking dapper in his tux, was Henry Mancini. He smiled at me, and I was stunned. I had been placing red roses in vases on all the small tables where we would eat. I looked nice. Didn't we all at age 33?
Henry Mancini was in his prime. We were both with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Association, and a good citizen, he was also mayor of Northridge in the valley. How did he look? Just like his pictures, very handsome. His twin girls were to model in this gala evening's style show.
The weather was perfect, this new shopping mall was great, it was a night to remember.
John Green, Dave Rose and Henry were great supporters of the symphony. I was a "Cadenza," one of the ladies who worked to aid the symphony with money from fund-raising events. Although new, I was made their secretary, taken in immediately. They were, for me, wonderful years.
Johnny Green was great, too. He always joked about who had the greatest music, he or Henry. Who could judge? Remember Henry's "Moon River" and John Green's "Raintree County"? I thought it was "cute," two fellows behaving like little kids with their desire to be No. 1. Even geniuses are human, with their human frailties.
"Days of Wine and Roses"? Roses, yes - wine, a very small amount. These affairs were people at their best.
How sad it is today, people blowing up one another, and other nice shopping malls. At least Henry and Johnny don't have to see this.
The last scene of the movie, "Raintree County," when the little boy found the "Raintree" and John's score was being played - isn't that what we all need? Our own "Raintree"?

Anne Youngdale
Oak View

De Los Reyes article enjoyed

4-8
To the editor:
I wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed the article "Saddlin' Up with De Los Reyes" in the Friday, April 5, issue of your newspaper.
Mr. De Los Reyes is my husband, and although I have been married to him for nine years, the details of his arrival in the U.S.A. as presented in the article were as interesting as if I had never heard them before. It was well-written and interesting to know the background story of those we do business with or encounter in our community every day.
These types of articles give flavor to our community by showcasing our diversity and interests clearly. I appreciated the listings of other equestrian-related businesses in our area as well.
Kudos to you for the great articles that I continue to read every week in the Ojai Valley News.

Laurie De Los Reyes
Ojai

Hospital gets public thanks

4-9
To the editor:
This is to Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
My heartfelt gratitude to the emergency and intensive care staff doctors and nurses. Quality professional care and sense of humor saved my life April 5 and 6.
Thank you.

Robert Frank
Ojai

Why the special treatment?

4-8
To the editor:
I have two questions about the Tawny Kitaen arrest for spousal abuse. Given that she was kicking her husband as he drove a car as well, why was she not arrested for felony spousal abuse? Why was she not charged with assault with a deadly weapon, to wit, her high heel shoes used to kick him?
Just wondering why she gets away with misdemeanors. Would the D.A. file a misdemeanor against her had she caused a fatal collision?
273.5 PC makes spousal abuse a felony with the slightest mark/injury/bruise.
245 PC makes it a felony to kick someone with shoes on, and especially with high-heeled shoes to boot, (pardon the pun.)

Ray Houle
Ojai

Sharon should be called war criminal

4-9
To the editor:
The final solution to Israel's brutal occupation of Palestinian territory is for a United Nations army - such as was mobilized to repulse North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950 - to be despatched to drive the Israelis back into Israel, there to be kept behind barbed wire to prevent further campaigns of terror against a homeless Palestinian population.
That done, Israel's Adolph Hitler, General Ariel Sharon, must be tried as a war criminal.
With which recommendation this British intelligence officer of World War II, who in 1946 joined the London-based Anglo-Arab Friendship Society (Chairman: The Earl of Norbury; Hon. Secty.: Dame Frances Newton), concludes his 55 years of patient activism for an independent sovereign state of Palestine.
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

D.L. Howard-Ady
(aka Al Howard ibn Ady)
Ojai

Senior drivers singled out

4-9
To the editor:
Although I heartily agree with Mr. Hartmann's approval of the field testing assessment for driving for senior citizens, particularly those with visual disabilities, I wondered what the accident rate is statewide for senior drivers. My observation has been overcautiousness rather than reckless driving. Many of the accidents that I read about seem to concern teenagers, and speeding among midlife drivers.
Have you observed, Mr. Hartmann, the drivers on Highway 33 from Ventura to Ojai? I wonder what the speed limit is these days? I thought it was 65 miles an hour. Most of the drivers I see are going 75, 80 and 90 miles an hour, according to my calculations since I, a senior, rarely exceed the 65-miles-per-hour limit except for passing, which I thought was part of our state's regulation for driving. No one seems to be watching or enforcing the law these days. It's much easier to pull over a vulnerable senior and give him a ticket for going 5 miles an hour in a 25-miles-per-hour zone than to pursue a 90-miles-per-hour driver on the freeway. And, I might add, at high cost to the senior, particularly those of us on limited income.
In addition to providing these safeguards for seniors, why not raise the age for teen drivers in this state to 18, as it was in New Jersey when I grew up in the '50s. At least it will give a chance for their coordination to improve along with the judgment and accountability that improves with age. Indeed, there would be less parading around in oversized pickup trucks occluding visibility on the road and parking, let alone speeding and filling the air with their loud obscene rap programs. And, think of what savings it would be for their parents both emotionally and financially. What's wrong with using a bike, certainly Ojai is small enough?
To return to driving on Highway 33 from Ventura to Ojai or vice versa, I noticed how the driving changes in this short drive to and from Ojai. Suddenly one seems to arrive at a place where no holds are barred. Speed limit increases, tailgating increases, shifting lanes increases, all in the effort to return to Ojai or to leave Ojai, and there are no police to be seen.
I have observed that the Ventura Freeway from Ojai to Reseda in the valley goes at the 65-miles-per-hour pace and is reasonable and then increases on the 405 in Los Angeles, and going north to Santa Barbara. It would be interesting to find out what these changes represent. Are there any ongoing studies going on concerning these driving habits?
I would like to add, Mr. Hartmann, to these concerns, the obscenity of the large oversized pickup trucks, vans and the like, that obscure the vision of the average motorist for driving and parking. There seems to be a lack of concern for our environment and the depletion of our oil reserves, leaving us dependent on outside resources for gas and oil to the detriment of the security of our nation, by the purchasers of these vehicles and their producers as well. Is there any legislation forthcoming in the future to limit the sale of these most dangerous speeding objects that are increasing in numbers on our freeways and small country roadways, particularly in Ojai?
Vans, pickups and vacation vehicles were once owned by persons in business and for vacation purposes. Presently, they seem to be a symbol of power, security and being part of the gang. As for large families, the large family station wagon was sufficient and at much lower cost I might add, but who cares about costs these days with so much money floating around, or is there?
I realize that your concerns lie mainly with senior citizens, but these observations impact the safety of all of us, particularly seniors who are doing their best and have much to contribute to the community. It is a sad thing to have them singled out for more testing without having mandatory testing for all. In the '50s in New Jersey, at the time of license renewal, everyone was given a visual exam and a written test, and a motor vehicle inspection was included for all drivers. I think it's time to implement this process again.
The pace of our lives today has increased and so have the distractions, as you well know. When I cross the streets these day within the crosswalk and with the walking signal, I have to direct traffic in order to protect myself. Too many tasks and too much information to process impact our driving. What is the current fatal accident rate in California since we increased the speed limit to 65 miles an hour, and what are the ages involved?
My concerns and many other voters are concerned about these issues and would like this information publicized for our review.

Joyce McWilliams, R.N., P.N.
Ojai

Déjà vu on school gang issue

4-11
To the editor:
In reading Mr. Roberts' article on the suspension of students at Matilija and the resignation of Mrs. Malkin, I feel I need to make a comment.
I had three boys attend Matilija from 1991 to 1995 (approximately). My complaints went on deaf ears. The gang OSL apparently started about l990 to l991. My oldest son was punched because he was caught alone behind a building on his way to his class. My second son at the end of seventh grade was fearful of his life, being threatened to be knived and beat up. All because another boy said to move, you are sitting at my place at lunch. It was so severe he would cry and shake. I told him to protect himself and I would protect him from the school.
It still continued at the beginning of eighth but he was able to work his way through it. The school was of no help. My letters and meetings went nowhere. By the time my third son came to Matilija it was sad to see and have him express to us about discrimination and reverse discrimination.
We raise our boys to treat everyone equal and it was a very sad experience for my boys. I'm sure many other parents had problems, I know I heard about many issues. But it was always dealt with as "this is the way it is." I remember once telling a parent in the parking lot about these experiences and it was sad to hear her say this school was sort of "a rite of passage." I was horrified!
My husband and I raised our boys not to discriminate. At the end of our experience at this school, I met with the principal. It appeared to go in one ear, out the other.
Don't get me wrong - these boys should not have simulated any gang-like attitudes and retaliation should not be tolerated, in my opinion.
What will the school do about OSL? Probably there is where the real punishment should be.
You know in my day, suspension was not taken lightly. It was one step from expulsion. Now suspension for a day or five days means nothing. Students brag about sitting at home playing videos, watching television, etc. It's sad times when your child sits home for suspension unsupervised when maybe the punishment should be at the school working it off or with community service.
Thank you for your time.

Lonnie Perdue
Ojai

Writer guilty of sloppy reporting

4-12
To the editor:
Re: "Ojai Among Sites for New Medical Device," Wednesday, April 10
If the "article" was intended to inform, then the writer was guilty of sloppy reporting.
If the "article" was intended to advertise a new device, then Dr. Wray is guilty of misinforming the public by saying that the device was named after the inventor of the Pap smear, and a retraction is called for. The inventor of the Pap smear was George Papanicolaou.

Jacqueline Dorfman
Oak View

CPO's lawyer speaks on lawsuit

4-15
To the editor:
Re: Article entitled "Los Arboles sued by CPO, again" appearing in OVN April 12
Mr. Singer's press release contains a misstatement which I must address. The misstatement reads: "Singer states that the initial lawsuit, though eventually dropped by the CPO, garnered the organization $20,000 - money he said that is likely fueling this second attack on the city and developer Lance Smigel "
As the attorney of record in the initial lawsuit, I can speak to the issue of payment and who received it.
The city manager should be aware that Lance Smigel and Los Arboles Partnership each paid $10,000 which was made out to the attorney of record for the CPO and the Environmental Coalition, not to the CPO. This $20,000 was agreed to by the two environmental groups, the city and Mr. Smigel, in settlement of the attorney's fees and costs portion of the first lawsuit. The settlement was for reimbursement to the CPO and the Environmental Coalition for the expenditures made by both of these organizations to file and pursue the lawsuit which resulted in the city being forced to correct one "CEQA" violation of the Environmental Impact Report on the Los Arboles Project. In addition, this settlement amount was to cover my attorney's fees.
It is unclear where Mr. Singer garnered the information that this money is "likely fueling this second attack."
It might be more beneficial to the City Council if Mr. Singer would ascertain accuracy of his facts before he puts forth press releases on the city's behalf.

Debra A. Benci-Woodward
Ojai

Cluff's generosity inspires writer

4-16
To the editor:
Everyone who has lived in Ojai for a while comes to realize that it's not just the beauty of this valley which makes it unique, but also the many remarkable people who live here. Two of the most extraordinary I know are Sheila and Don Cluff.
In November of 1999, after several years of negotiations, the Cluffs and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy reached an agreement with the owners of the vacant triangle property at Ojai Avenue and El Paseo Road that the conservancy would purchase the land on one condition: the deal must be concluded by the end of the year, just six weeks away.
Like the Land Conservancy, Sheila and Don had long wanted the triangle to become a public park. The city of Ojai and the conservancy committed funds toward the purchase. What made the difference between success and failure, though, was the Cluffs' extraordinary gift.
The partnership between the Cluffs, the city and the conservancy has continued ever since. With an energy that simply amazed those of us who worked with them, Sheila and Don chaired a campaign committee which raised the funds necessary to develop the park. They brought to the task a deep desire to give something back to the community. Their warmth, energy, unfailing optimism, and continued generosity inspired everyone. Together with the city and the conservancy, they demonstrated how much a private-public partnership really can accomplish.
Before 1999, some of us in the community had wondered whether the Libbeys, Soules, Dennisons and Sarzottis of decades ago would have any similarly generous counterparts in the 21st century. Now we have an answer. I hope that the wonderful example set by the Cluffs will inspire generosity in others who have a comparable devotion to this valley.

John Broesamle
Past President
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

Smoker laments social burdens

4-16
To the editor:
According to the Associated Press, a study by the Centers for Disease Control says that each pack of cigarettes sold in the United States costs the nation $7 in medical costs and lost job productivity.
As a smoker, I was flabbergasted to think that my nasty-little-habit-induced premature death would bring about a $3.73-per-pack job productivity loss. Not being someone who would wantonly harm my country's job productivity, I figured I'd better quit smoking tout de suite. But then I realized that if I did quit, my annual $365 contribution to Rob Reiner's 50-cent-per-pack child welfare fund would be lost. To make matters worse, I remembered that the tobacco companies were using some of my money to pay the $260 million that Ventura County will be using to fund a host of other social programs for the next couple of decades. Now I really felt bad because if I quit both of these groups stood to lose my share of the money, and if I die early, I'm going to leave them hanging in the wind.
And as if this empty helplessness wasn't enough, there was the $3.45 per pack the CDC figured I was costing taxpayers in smoking-related medical costs to consider. I mean to tell you, I was really feeling low.
Then, just as the horns of this dilemma were about to drive me to drinking or pigging out on junk food, the answers to all my questions came to me like a bolt from the blue. The very nature of sin taxes helped me realize that trying to help the kids and the county was a no-win situation; quitting at this point and dropping dead would have virtually the same effect. The obvious solution was to not kick the habit and help my fellow countrymen by kicking the bucket prematurely. A little "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!" was the ticket.
The way I figure it, someone will surely step forward to take up any slack I leave, but the kids and the county can still count on me to be there until my timely demise. And since the cards suggest that I'll probably work 'til I drop anyway, by not quitting, my premature passing should create an opportunity for some member of an upcoming generation to take over my productivity spot without inflicting any major economic damage. What's more, as a gesture of good faith, I'm pretty sure that I can defray most, if not all, of the medical costs my habit might inflict on taxpayers by not collecting Social Security benefits for all the years I would have lived had I not smoked.
Sure, it's a terrific burden, but thanks to the CDC, at least I know it's there.

Bruce Roland
Ojai

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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