Busybodies should mind their own business
Editor: I have been a resident in Lodi for almost eight years. Since living here, I have come across some nice people as well as some rather untrustworthy characters. While I do enjoy living here, I feel that there is a growing problem — busybodies.
These people, who are either unemployed, underemployed or retired, feel the need to poke their nose where it doesn’t belong. They call the police or code enforcement to report minor and unimportant infractions. Things such as long weeds, a vehicle that has not moved in a few days or a vehicle that is parked on dirt.
While some infractions do need to be paid attention to, long weeds, a vehicle parked in dirt or a vehicle that has not been moved are infractions that, in my opinion, should not be ones that need to involve code enforcement or the local police. Whatever happened to the “good neighbor”? Neighbors that would actually help each other versus reporting them repeatedly for infractions that are inane and inconsequential.
While I do get the importance of code enforcement, I do not see the necessity of pestering those who are having either financial difficulties, space issues for parking or are busy people that have little time to do yard work and cannot afford to hire someone to maintain it. Let alone living in a neighborhood where the local children throw their candy wrappers and trash on their neighbor’s lawn.
My advice to those who are busybodies is plain and simple: do not poke your nose where it does not belong. If you are going to poke your nose into someone’s business, be prepared to get a deep understanding of what those people are going through before passing judgment and calling the code enforcement or police. It will make you less of a heel and may possibly turn you into a better individual. JASON SILVA Lodi
Frustrated with political extremism
Editor: Much more often than we like we are “treated” to the dark, vitriol of ignorance, anger, and disinformation of the extremist right wing. Such is the letter of July 12 authored by Mr. Portal.
There are many conservatives I admire, even though I disagree with their positions on political issues. Portal’s “whole cloth” disdain of those he describes as sensitive leftists is absurd.
Just as there are racists, there are politicists. Castigation of anyone who doesn’t subscribe to their view of the world shows a very troubling and fundamental disrespect of other patriotic citizens of this country who hold different views. It is anathema to the democratic ideal as well documented in our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and it’s various amendments.
More to the point, it is an abdication of responsible citizenship, in this country. Too, Portal’s opinion that Trump is what the Republican Party has been waiting for since Reagan reminds me of the story about a mother attending her son’s graduation from Army boot camp who exclaimed: “oh look, my son is the only one in step!” GARY MAURER Lodi
Letters invited
The Lodi News-Sentinel welcomes opinions from its readers. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address and phone number for internal verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing. Letters from local readers dealing with local issues are given priority. Letters from outside the local area are published at the editor’s discretion. Letters longer than 350 words will be cut to fit or returned to their writers. There is a holding period of 30 days between publication of letters by the same person unless no other letters are queued. Send letters to P.O. Box 1360, Lodi, CA 95241-1360; or email to let-