Porterville Recorder

Have an idea for the newspaper? Ask

- By CHRISTINE L. PETERSON

Reader: Among the many things I dislike about President Trump and the Republican Party is the way immigratio­n reform is a favorite wedge issue, and immigrants are despised and scapegoate­d is what I find to be the most distastefu­l.

Our immigratio­n system is broken, so why is it that The California­n in its Market Watch section of the paper in the stocks of local interest column doesn’t report the daily stock price for GEO Group Inc., the private prison company that runs the Mesa Verde detention facility? Mesa Verde is frequently in the news, and it runs on taxpayer money and there’s a lot of human anxiety and suffering going on there.

Is the paper just too chicken to keep the need for immigratio­n reform in the public mindset? — Tony Amarante Peterson: Not running a particular company’s stock price in a list of only 22 stocks of local interest makes us chicken? Let me repeat that: The list has 22 stocks. That’s it. And you’re the first person, Tony, who has requested that GEO Group be added.

But based on your request, I had it squeezed in starting Friday.

I’m willing to entertain more requests. But for each stock we add, we’d have to either take another one out (that will bring some complaints), publish them in a super tiny font size (that will bring a lot of complaints!) or extend the box to include more (a possibilit­y, but it would cut into space for other items). Gone are the days when newspapers printed two full pages — and sometimes even four on Sundays — of stock prices.

You’re right on this: Mesa Verde is frequently in the news. I counted 11 stories and columns that we’ve published since the start of April. Whatever your take on immigratio­n issues, Mesa Verde is hardly ignored. ••• Reader: The whole page (the Saturday, May

16, Opinion page) is a total winner for me — it’s good and good to look at. I don’t know what the comic book newspaper-editor character Perry White would say, but after he’d chew out everyone for the lousy job everyone did (remember this was an afternoon paper) he’d only give out

a little grunt this time before telling everyone to get out.

Today’s Opinion page result was contest-worthy, maybe my favorite page of the year. It was different but seemed to be evenly balanced, though I do not care for most of Mr. Thiessen’s theories. However, his last sentence was good.

If I could choose one thing only, political cartoons are the best. Please print more, if it’s not too expensive. Thank you for your time. — Matt Jett Peterson: Glad you liked the May 16 Opinion page. More political cartoons? Fair question. Like other features and elements in the newspaper, more of one thing is going to mean less of another. Fewer syndicated columns to fit more cartoons? Readers, weigh in and we’ll consider this idea. ••• Reader: Hello, I have read comments by

several readers regarding recent columns written by Robert Price. I might as well contribute my two cents.

On May 17, an article by Robert on the last few months of the life of the legendary Fuzzy Owen was printed.

Thank you, Robert, for your articles over the years on the Bakersfiel­d Sound musicians. The research and the stories by family members and others who were there “back in the day” are first rate.

I’m glad that The California­n has allowed Robert to continue his articles on Bakersfiel­d music history. I can agree or disagree regarding politics. (But seriously, do we really need Leonard Pitts’ column?)

Oh, well, I can skip over Pitts and read what I want. Keep up the stories on the music history when time allows. And thank you to our good friend Fuzzy Owen and his family for all they have done.

I’ve been a subscriber since the 1980s. Every time I’ve seen Robert Price, he has always thanked me for being a subscriber. — Joe Stormont Peterson: Joe, allow me to add my thanks for being a longtime subscriber. I appreciate it.

Robert is definitely an authority on the Bakersfiel­d Sound musicians. His recent column on Fuzzy Owen brought tears to my eyes.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States