Homeless issue is a real concern

According to a recent Antelope Valley Press article, a proposal for discounted rates at a local motel for people associated with Antelope Valley College was rejected apparently for safety concerns. That perhaps reflects alarm regarding the significant homeless population and debris that occupies the culvert that runs parallel to the AV freeway.

That is a legitimate concern and should be a priority for both city governments. The area is a visual blight and will affect the attitudes towards the region for new and current residents, plus affect future development. Although Caltrans may have primary responsibility, perhaps funds from tax Measure LC (Lancaster), and Measure AV ( Palmdale) could be directed toward enforcing cleanup there and many other parts of our valley. Regulation, perhaps including incursion on private property, needs to be considered.

The 14 freeway has been operating and fueling the development of our High Desert area now for over 50 years, during which time we have grown exponentially. Basic infrastructure of population, housing, roads, utilities, schools, etc., are in place. The delightful and proud rural nature is gone and we are now passing to a new generation in which we will pass from the stepchild of Los Angeles city to our separate personality based largely on aerospace and a refuge/suburb for many from big city problems.

Our local letters section has become a confrontational, mindless miasma of simplistic gibberish.

Some persons use argumentative verbiage and insist on titles such as doctor to try to appear like having a higher significance. People who do indeed have wisdom/intellect are more concerned with articulating themselves and communicating effectively. Wisdom and intellect does not come from a textbook or rigid ideology.

We are all entitled to our own opinions, but when we believe we are more intelligent and of higher character, we place personal judgment at the center of how we relate to others.

John Manning

Palmdale