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.
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Beating death horrific
I voice my opinion with great sadness for a grieving wife and mother of four children whose husband was savagely murdered by a mob of thugs on Feb. 7. ("Man dies after group attacks him with bat," Feb. 8.)
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A salute to Spartacus
I appreciated Robert Price's Jan. 31 column on Milton "Spartacus" Miller ("'Spartacus' issues a verdict on new Padre"). I have fond memories of Miller. I first met him at a City Council meeting back in 1986. He was there to support the Castro area residents in opposing annexation to the city.
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Bring water back home to Kern River
I've worked on the Kern River Parkway for 35 years. In that time I have observed, often in disbelief and amazement, what goes on in water politics in California.
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Earth is warming
I take strong offense to the headline for the Jan. 18 letter, "Geologists understand earth isn't warming."
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Bulldog Ed needed
I totally support Ed Jagels in his run for the state senate. I worked with Jagels and his staff while serving on the Kern County Grand Jury. I still miss Steve Tauzer, who became a good friend to me and all who knew him.
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Return access to public
I have been running along the river for years. I especially enjoy running on the dirt horse trails on the north side of the river.
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River has PR potential
Unclaimed water and the potential to see the mighty Kern River flow more often is an exciting possibility. If we (the government and citizens of Kern County) determine or have determined that our agricultural water needs are met, then I think the beautification and color the river could bring to Bakersfield and surrounding areas would be fantastic. It would allow for more recreational business and an increase in business potential near the Kern.
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'Wet' river is just what we asked for
The Bakersfield community strongly supports restoring water to the Kern River through the downtown area to Beach Park. Evidence of this support stems from a community visioning process undertaken a decade ago -- Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020. More than 13,000 residents participated the process, which resulted in the development of a plan, complete with strategies and specific action items, released back to the community for implementation in January 2001.
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Resist lawyers, let river flow
The Bakersfield Water Department has the right to keep supplying our citizens and farms with clean Kern River water. Having our river back will allow our community to grow, enrich itself, and become stronger and more vibrant.
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The estate tax
Kudos to the writer of the Feb. 1 letter, "Once we're dead, feds, leave us be," a response to Brain Miller's Jan. 24 Sunday Forum article, "It's time to bring back the estate tax." The letter writer said everything I wanted to say, but I just didn't take the time to write it down.
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Not the job of voters
I was disappointed, although not surprised, by the action of the Bakersfield City Council as reported in the Jan. 31 article "Issue may go to voters," whereby the council (at least David Couch and Zack Scrivner) want the voters to now take the responsibility to reduce pension benefits for new city employees.
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McCarthy needs to come to bat for HS rail facility
Will someone, anyone, please run against Kevin McCarthy in the Republican primary for California's 22nd Congressional District?
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Flow, Kern River, flow
I am with the U.S. Army's 923rd Movement Control Team, stationed in Iraq. The 923rd MCT is the reserve unit based in Bakersfield, just off the river on Chester Avenue.
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Few high school papers
The decision about whether to offer journalism classes at a school is complex ("High school newspapers folding," Feb. 1). It's made especially difficult when students are given a voice in determining the content of their newspapers and principals feel threatened by repercussions from parents and the public.
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Beware of city's work
Bakersfield citizens should be alarmed with the announcement by City Manager Alan Tandy that road repairs will commence with the end of the rainy season. People along the Stockdale Highway corridor from Highway 99 to Gosford/Coffee Road have witnessed firsthand what this means.
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Check out Levan Institute
Thanks to the generous endowment of Dr. Norman Levan, the creation of the Levan Institute for Lifelong Learning was established at Bakersfield College. Local residents are fortunate to be able to enjoy a program geared toward those who would like to enrich their minds and explore new ideas.
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Culver pitched another gem at Hot Stove
A tip of my Dodger blue cap to George Culver. For those of you who did not attend the Jan. 23 "Hot Stove" dinner with Tommy Lasorda, you missed a fantastic night. The man is a legend, a Hall of Famer, a great speaker and a great guy.
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Can't ask for more
I'll be 84 in about a month. My wife died a little over two years ago. I have a son and a daughter.
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Seatbelts save lives
The headline of the Jan. 30 front page story screamed in bold print, "I miss my daddy." What followed was the latest in the three-year-old story of Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Hudnall's death while transporting a 19-year-old inmate through the Kern Canyon.
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Find new use for sludge
Kern County sits atop some of the finest agricultural land in the world. We should protect our land resources to ensure future access to clean water and healthy agriculture.
