Letters to the editor >>

Ivy Street memorial

Re “Vandals apparently hit overpass memorial twice” (Sept. 9):

The only thing worse than the vandalism of the impromptu memorial on the Ivy Street overpass of the 91 freeway is the politicization of the memory of these 13 soldiers. We ignore rules when public sentiment supports the spirit of the infraction.

Maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe we can no longer presume what public sentiment is without affronting the sentiments of others. I’m sure neither the fabricators nor the desecrators of this memorial bothered to ask for the thoughts of the family and friends of the 13 troops in whose memory this event played out. Sadly, like so many things today, their sacrifice too has become symbolic. The vandals should be ashamed, but the 27 flags should be relocated. And, in any case, those flags should be stuck before sunset.

Supporting Newsom, no governor recall

I found letter writer Robert H. Searcy’s defense of Gov. Newsom in the Letters of Sept. 9 quite revealing. He indicates he has many reasons to support the governor, but the only one he bothers to offer is the cost of the recall election, which isn’t a reason at all. Then he opines, “none of the reasons given by Republican challengers rise to the level of a recall at this time,” which suggests there are numerous issues and that only the timing can be questioned (If the effort had gotten started a year earlier, then he should go?). But what is really ironic is that Mr. Searcy specifically cites two of the reasons to consider removing Gov. Newsom, one being elitist/hypocritical and the other an act of stupidity as Mr. Searcy himself admits.

Having a disastrous leader in a state with so many ongoing and distressing issues is, indeed, a “big whoop.”

Voting integrity

Re “Voting shift bill raising concern” (Sept. 6):

As a citizen that’s been voting for more than 40 years, in the last few years for the first time I’ve strongly felt that our voting is not honest and legal. Voting laws were changed due to the pandemic. Once the pandemic wanes, voting laws must be changed back as they were.

I hear progressives claim that certain voting requirements infringe on their voting rights. Well, I feel that my voting rights are being infringed on by not having honest elections.

Voting is a very important right we have as citizens, and it should be regarded as a legal procedure that should require a valid Id.polls show that most voters of all races strongly support voter ID laws.

Progressives claim it’s racist. Is it racist for a bank to require an ID while banking? Voting applications should not be sent out to all driver’s license holders, as non-citizens are allowed to obtain driver’s licenses.

Let’s get back to honest, legal elections. Vote in person on election day, or request an absentee ballot. Show an ID upon voting, use paper ballots, and don’t allow ballot harvesting. Let’s get back to common sense voting.

— Joseph E Cagliero, Hemet

Governmental abuse of power

I agree with your Sept. 3 editorial “High court should stop its abuse of power.” Governmental agencies need to dramatically curb their habit of opening “administrative enforcement proceedings”, in order to prevent companies or individuals from going to court over unreasonable demands and regulations.

The problem as I see it goes much deeper. There are far too many government agencies period and the federal government as a whole is involved in far too many areas that belong to the individual states, counties and municipalities.

In addition, the federal court system and the Supreme Court are involved in far too many cases that are outside their purview. Whatever happened to a “balance of power” and “that government governs best that governs least”? It is way past time to get back to a government “by the people” and term limits to all politicians so that every individual is involved in the process, not just “representatives” that have their own interests rather than those of the people they represent.