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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Food security vital
Sen. Dean Florez's proposal to eliminate the California Department of Food and Agriculture threatens this nation's food security and countless jobs in Kern County. As the state scrambles with a $24 billion deficit, consideration must be given to the consequences.
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Clearing out on the 4th
I live in a neighborhood that is very enthusiastic about its use of fireworks. Minor explosions begin sometimes weeks before the 4th of July and will last until the last kernel of powder is exploded. Many of the incendiary devices used are derived from the powder of "Safe and Sane" fireworks.
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Ban necessary
I kind of hate to see a ban on fireworks. I have fond childhood memories of 4th of July celebrations, complete with adult supervision and a bucket of water. However, with our air quality here in Bakersfield, I suppose it is necessary.
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CSUB graduation day was ruined by 'that one lady'
I am a recent graduate of CSUB. I see the paper has received many responses to Dolores Huerta's disrespectful and biased presentation. I'm not going to go into detail about what she said, but I will give a brief description of what we graduates felt while our ceremony was being massacred.
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Health benefits for people who don't care
As I waited for my political science course to begin at Bakersfield College, two of my peers broached the topic of government health care coverage. One said she would settle for any government health care, even if it was of poor quality. My other classmate agreed.
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Common sense gone
It's time to do it, folks, time to ban personal fireworks. The common-sense factor is gone, and it's a different time and place. The environment is in shambles and so is our economy. We can't keep spending money we don't have to overstaff fire and law enforcement to cover this. Don't forget, by some measures we have the worst air quality in the nation.
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Don't ban freedom
Fireworks have been a long-standing tradition. Some people think they should be banned altogether because there are idiots out there in the world doing terrible acts with fireworks.
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Fish over families?
I'm in complete agreement with Inga Barks regarding the Delta smelt ("Stop putting fish before the needs of real people," June 20).
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Jacko verdict: Press killed Michael
Congratulations paparazzi. You have, once again, contributed greatly to a celebrity's death. Michael Jackson, although a world known entertainer, was also a human being. He could not make a move, anywhere, anytime, without the sneaky slithering of someone snapping photos or shoving a microphone in his face. It's not surprising the man became "strange" or "eccentric."
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Two final words on Huerta's speech
I am genuinely disappointed with the negative reporting and subsequent reaction of Delores Huerta's commencement speech at CSU Bakersfield on June 13.
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Choice words for trustee Mettler
Appalled at pay cut
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Had her for a minute
Columnist Valerie Schultz recently wrote a very poignant story about the care she is participating in regarding the final stages of her father's illness. I'm sure many hearts were touched.
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We should be livid
Our country has been in a recession for some time now. Administrators are forced to choose between supplies and personnel. They are forced to make decisions which will affect our children. They are given the ability to frame the way our children learn and are taught. This power does not start in colleges and universities, but can be readily seen at the elementary and even preschool levels.
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State park funding
The proposed state budget includes the addition of $15 in vehicle registration fees to help maintain state parks. This is for all vehicles, not just RV's or trailers to entice them to use state campgrounds, rather than Wal-Mart parking lots, which are often safer, tidier and more cost effective.
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We're missing a great opportunity
I've read the Sharktooth Hill article that appeared in Sunday's Bakersfield Californian with interest. While my attraction in the hill is mainly paleontologic, the historic, ecologic and environmental conditions of the area are enormously important. The map outlining of the STH deposit reveals an area of some seven by 28 miles. This would indicate a prehistoric estuary of a river quite wide that had a flow of something approaching that of the present Amazon River dewatering a surface area of immense dimensions.
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Greed everywhere
Here we go again. Gas prices have gone up over $1 per gallon in the last 58 days. Standard Oil just announced last quarter profits were the largest in their history. That makes the guy who just lost his job feel really good.
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State of the unions
Your June 14 editorial, "Voters knew what they were doing," was good. I agree with the premise.
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Speeders have created a jungle out there
Everybody cries about the price of gas, and about pollution, but nobody does anything about it.
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Meanwhile, my reality
The Legislature has voted itself yearly raises so often, the pittance 3 percent that they turned down isn't going to hurt them.
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Fix death traps
Randy Ariey's May 30 Community Voices article, "How to prevent more park drownings," regarding the tragic deaths at the Park at River Walk was excellently written. Ariey clearly emphasizes the potential for more drownings in these unrealistically deep bodies of water, reportedly as much as 12 feet.