Letters to the Editor
Submit your letter to the editor for publication. The letter must be less than 250 words. We limit publishing letters to local authors and one published letter every six weeks. Letters must be signed by an individual (not a group of people) and include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes. We will only publish your name and city. Email letter to opinion@bakersfield.com.
-
Water company must not care about shortage
I have been trying to get the well-known water company to repair a water leak in front of my mother's house on Cherry Hills Avenue in Bakersfield for the past three weeks. The service man that showed up promptly on the day that I called told me that it was not our problem (imagine the cost of having an open water line for three weeks), and that the water company would be responsible because the break was in their line.
-
Attention, vandals
Apparently those vandals in the Bakersfield Country Club area and other areas of the city and county are not aware of the law that makes tampering with any U.S. mail box a federal offense.
-
Concert uplifting
From the first downbeat of Director Col. Michael Colburn's baton, the recent United States Marine Band concert at Rabobank Convention Center was a huge hit with the capacity crowd.
-
Halloween trick indeed
I would like to personally thank the groups of adults and children that come into our neighborhood to trick or treat every year. You all know the ones I speak of. They don't live there. They don't even know anyone who lives in the neighborhood. They just bring their kids in to trick or treat and have a good time.
-
Focus on little things
One recent morning, while I was riding my bike near a local park, I noticed a van full of young men who quickly walked through the park picking up trash. I have seen them before at this park but never stopped think about them being there or who paid them. I'm sure they visit several parks in Kern County. Why is this necessary? I'm compelled to find out who employs them and what the employer budget might be for cleaning up after those who use these parks.
-
Spaying not a solution
In view of all the recent dog-bite cases, it might be useful to point out that one commonly cited solution is not a solution at all. The idea that spaying and neutering will reduce the chances of a bite is fictional. A 1997 finding published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association showed that less than a third of male dogs showed less aggression after neutering. The Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association wrote: "It is apparent that neutering does not guarantee a reduction in the aggression of dogs."
-
Council, wake up!
Just when you thought this "dirty little secret" with the city fire department was over, it's back, again. Bakersfield Fire Chief Ron Fraze and his wonderful cohort, Deputy Chief Gary Hutton, along with retired Battalion Chief John Weber, have really made a mess down at fire headquarters.
-
Our future in doubt
I am deeply concerned about our nation. Our government, both state and federal, has come to the point that they are unable to govern. They are so far to the right and left that there is no middle ground.
-
We should boo Costa
Here's a reminder about why Jim Costa was booed by the crowd in Huron on Sean Hannity's "The Valley Hope Forgot" special program back in September.
-
Point of agency?
I would really like to know what the purpose of our county animal control office is.
-
Throw them all out
We recently received our new property tax statement and observed a substantial increase.
-
Tips for new buyers
My husband and I have been looking for a home since May. We have written at least six offers and have faced endless frustrations -- until recently, when it all changed.
-
Shoe now on other foot
Congressman Kevin McCarthy is whining that the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is asking for votes on bills that are not being fully evaluated or discussed.
-
Stuck with PG&E
During the summer months, my thermostat is set on a timer. The AC comes on at 5 p.m. and is set to go off at 11 p.m. After a call to PG&E, it was recommended to set the high at 90 and the lower one at 76. Well, I went for the 90, but the low is set at 82 and never changed! The thermostat is in the hall, away from sunlight, etc., one of the coolest places in the house.
-
Arrogant apologies
Why did President Obama have to embarrass Americans by apologizing for our country? He is the president, the commander-in-chief and the representative of over 300 million people. If he takes no pride in these positions, he should never have run for president in the first place.
-
Sweep them out
Why was it not boldface headline news that the pack of thieves known as the Democrats in Sacramento have raised taxes on everyone by increasing the withholding tax 10 percent -- yes, 10 percent -- on everyone's check as of Nov. 1.
-
Attitude uncalled for
Recently, our minor daughter was pulled over on Highway 99, near Olive Drive, for excessive speed.
-
Obama's disconnect
So we have a president who completely disrespects Israel and Netanyahu, and sympathizes with Muslims. He allows them to have a "Day of Islamic Unity" on the Capitol which is presided over by Hassen Abdellah, a lawyer who defended Mahmud Abouhalima, who was convicted of conspiracy in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In the meanwhile, several Muslim extremists are arrested in the U.S. for plotting terrorist attacks.
-
It can be dangerous off the sidewalk
I generally enjoy a long walk every morning, starting out sometime between 6:15 and 6:30 a.m., and returning home by 7:30. The other morning I was crossing the road at a marked intersection and had a car bear down on me at 7:30 a.m., midway into my crossing. This was after another car at 6:15 a.m. approached me without slowing down. I was already three-fourths over to the other sidewalk that time, but I knew that driver wasn't going only 40 mph.
-
Incidents suspicious
It was with great anticipation that my wife and I looked forward to the new and free HD television broadcasting last summer. We bought the box, and the antenna, and for a while we received some pretty good reception. Then we lost some channels and now we notice that each evening after 8 p.m. the TV gets a lot of interference.