FOCUS ON JOBS TO AID HOMEOWNERS

There are reasons we are a nation of laws rather than emotions.

Every day, jurors are faced with making decisions based on the law, not what they feel or believe. Many believe that George resident Barack Obama’s owners in distress is in a famZimmerman got away with multicity “pivot to the ily with the refinance and murder, while others feel that economy” tour is coming loan-modification efforts crehe was only defending himself. to the Valley next week. The ated after the housing meltTo watch the media and even subtitle on the Phoenix-area down of 2008. the jurors stir up animosity tocampaign stop is “housing” As Catherine ward Mr. Zimmerman is disand the president’s plans for Reagor reported in mid-July, heartening. helping homeowners. those programs only recently Rather than crucifying

We have read that thesis, have begun to assist a decent George Zimmerman, we should thanks. number of homeowners. But be asking why there is still such

The title, subtitle, body of much of the improving homea distrust of young minority text and footnotes of the presiowner environment can be males. We should be looking at dent’s plan instead should be attributed to fast-rising home what in our society has helped about jobs and how he plans to prices that are lifting “unperpetuate the stereotypes of help make more of them. derwater” mortgages, not minorities. We should be look

Arizona unemployment government programs. ing into what influences people figures are ticking in the The best government “proto believe that common courtewrong direction. According to gram” for helping homeownsy and respect no longer need to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ers is in helping create an be practiced. the state’s unemployment rate economic environment that There is blame to go around, rose in June from 7.8 percent encourages job growth. When but the ultimate blame lies with to 8 percent — an indicator of people have jobs to pay their a society that has devalued an economy still struggling to mortgages, all of Washington’s common sense and common get Obama’s legs. plan courtesy.— to help home- dundant. HAMPs and HARPs are re-

PTish Malone,

Regarding “Robinson is right for District 8” (Opinions, Monday):

District 8 needs a Phoenix City Council member like Kate Gallego. She’s one of those unique combinations: a strategic thinker who also understands the tiny details of process and policy. I attribute this to the strengths editorial board acknowledged of her being a “familiar face at Phoenix City Hall” and her “service on various commissions and committees.”

As a constituent of District 8, I attended three candidate forums at the Kroc Center, South Mountain Community College and in Laveen. Kate proved she is already an expert in city ordinances and policies, with which

After visiting the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area on the Lower Salt River to do some fishing, I must say I am very disappointed in people. The amount of trash and garbage left in and along the river was so bad, I was ready to sit down and cry.

If people can’t pick up their trash, maybe the areas should be shut down or have trash police on patrol.

Take only pictures, leave only footprints.

— Richard Gordon,