Returning to school isn’t an easy decision
Connecting the dots about opening schools
Before I read Alexandra Petri’s outraged parody of the plan to reopen schools (July,
10), I had been mulling over that very dilemma, trying to connect a few dots. Dot 1: The 45th president is not well educated. Dot 2: Our children’s education has suffered egregiously from school closures during COVID-19. Dot 3: Even if schools are minimally able to open, many of the offerings will not be feasible (hot lunches, cafeteria banter, chorus, sports, drama, playing tag, etc). Dot 4: The president says that schools must open anyway. Dot 5: But with no extra funding to make them safer. Dot 6: Our children will come out of this experiment sicker, not as well educated and with less social/emotional intelligence. Dot 7: They will be more like our president! Dot 8: Many parents are already suffering a similar dumbing down. Dot 9: Leadership by its very nature replicates itself.
Reverse decision to deport students
The decision made by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport international students for not taking in-person courses this fall has been nothing short of horrifying. These students should not be punished for a virus that they cannot control. As the Santa Cruz Sentinel highlighted, thousands of international students are at risk of being put in harm’s way by being forced to leave the country.
Similar to their treatment of immigrants at the border, ICE has shown yet again their disdain for those who were not born in the United States. If followed through, this decision will not only increase the likelihood of international students contracting COVID-19 but will also put other countries in danger of experiencing a second wave of the virus.
That is why I thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for leading 136 other members of Congress and calling on the administration to reverse this decision.
Rail service on the Corridor, not buses
The Regional Transportation Commission has decided that there will be transit on the rail corridor — either passenger rail or bus. These are being studied to decide on a preferred alternative.
Passenger rail will serve the County’s needs better than a bus that would travel partly on roads and partly on the rail corridor. Rail service will not be delayed by road traffic and will go all the way to Watsonville on the corridor. Rail cars can be added or taken off to meet demand. Buses can’t do that.
Rail vehicles offer level passenger boarding with easy on/ off and can be coordinated with regular street buses at stops. Rail is most energy efficient per passenger-mile. Rail vehicles are quiet and reliable, last longer and are more ecologically sustainable... the responsible choice for the long term.
I am annoyed at the bullying tactic of President Trump to pull tax exemption for schools if they don’t open in the fall. (And this from a person who always disrupted the classes in the schools he attended). When his daughter, Ivanka, indicates her kids are returning to school, along with his son, Barron, then maybe parents will feel more comfortable allowing their kids to return. It isn’t an easy decision for the kids or the teachers.
Can’t reduce funding on essential services
I read today that the Santa Cruz Police Department refuses to take a budget cut. I agree with their decision. They stand on solid ground. Here’s why, Judge Richard McAdams, on Aug. 13, 2002, wrote a minute order in case No. CV 143899 that reads the following in part, “The court advises that the law requires, police, fire, public works, etc. to be fully funded.”
The city can shut down entire non-essential departments if it needs to. However, “essential services” of police, fire, public works, and street maintenance are required to be fully funded. The city has already “set the precedent” of what the necessary fully-funding of these essential departments is with its budgeting this current year. To “de-fund” them by 10% to save non-essential services and programs, like the Judge said, is against what is required by law.
“Locals!” Please start fighting back to stop these continuing actions against your essential services!