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Letters
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- Written by: Nancy Perrin
The ad campaign called “Flavors Hook Kids” shows how the tobacco industry is using candy-flavored nicotine juices and cartoon-shaped e-cigarettes to attract the next generation of tobacco users. Each year in California nearly 11,000 youth start smoking. Studies have shown that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to switch to traditional tobacco products.
Policies that limit youth access to flavored tobacco products make it harder for them to start down the path to a deadly habit. Cities can pass tobacco retail license policies and restrict the sale of these products near schools and other youth centers.
Tobacco use remains the number one cause of disease and death in California and that’s why volunteers like me are speaking up. We must work to protect our children from Big Tobacco.
Nancy Perrin lives in Cobb, Calif.
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- Written by: Phil Murphy
I do acknowledge the fact that the county is facing some very real financial challenges and that it is likely some tough decisions will have to be made – this much we can all agree on.
When the Board of Supervisors decided to put measure G on the ballot back in February, I told them I might be in favor of raising the sales tax IF they first conducted a serious review of the budget to see if they could keep any future tax increase to a minimum.
This never happened, and after having hundreds of citizens attend their “visioning” meetings that were supposedly held to get new ideas, none of the cost-cutting measures suggested were even considered by the BOS.
The many examples of waste in the current budget remain, and if the new tax is passed they are even less likely to be ended.
This isn’t my view alone, as both supervisors Scott and Steele have said inefficiencies exist but have never identified them or brought them to the board’s attention, and instead decided a new tax was a safer path for them.
What really bothers me about this is that the claim has been made that I have never offered any alternatives to the funding gap, when I have steadily been doing that for nearly twenty years now.
The list of county-funded boondoggles I have tried to shine a light on is long and varied, everything from $42,300 worth of satellite photos to study the lake that proved to be worthless, to the pay raises the supervisors gave themselves that they sneaked passed the public days after the Valley fire.
Right now I have a list of items I would eliminate from the budget that totals roughly $2 million in annual savings, but if Measure G passes they will never be even considered let alone be enacted. With well over 100 county employees making over $100,000 annually in pay and benefits, we need to address the fact that if you want Bay Area wages you need to find a job there, and not depend on this poverty-stricken community to support your lavish lifestyle.
We all make a choice in life as to where the balance point is between the need for money and the need for sanity and happiness, the fact is that most people accept that they won’t get rich living here but avoiding the rat-race makes it worth it.
But some in county government (starting with the supervisors), still whine that people doing the same jobs in Napa or Sonoma county get paid more, and never mind the fact that the average family here makes around $36,000 annually and many live in abject poverty.
This election isn’t just a referendum on taxation, it’s a chance to finally take a hard look at the county finances and fix the inequities and waste. We have the choice to try to make the system work as it should or to just throw more of our money at it and hope things work out.
In my view the latter has been tried, and we need a more efficient and professional county government if we want to avoid facing the same problem again in a few years.
Phil Murphy lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Barbara O’Rourke
Amongst them I have seen communication from folks that seem to represent the Democratic Central Committee in support of their candidate for district attorney.
While I respect their right to support the candidate that they have chosen, their goals as a partisan group don’t reflect my goals for Lake County.
I have been a registered Democrat since 1980 but I am proud of the fact that I am independent when it comes to the candidates that I support.
The office of district attorney is a nonpartisan office and has no place for partisanship. We need the candidate that best suits the public safety needs of Lake County and that is why I proudly support Steve Brown for district attorney.
I have known Steve and his family for most of my life and I am confident in his desire to represent Lake County in a manner that ensures public is considered in every matter that comes before him.
Steve has worked hard and has earned the trust and support of law enforcement, the same law enforcement that has worked with his opponent for several years. She touts her experience but, it’s that experience with her that has convinced most of our local law enforcement to support Steve Brown.
I am joining law enforcement in that support and I hope you join us in voting for Steve Brown on June 5.
Barbara O’Rourke lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Peggy Wika
I had the pleasure to watch Shanda grow up and become the intelligent, vibrant, ambitious, adventurous, compassionate and considerate lady she is today.
Please, when you vote, choose Shanda Harry for judge. She will make the difference.
Peggy Wika lives in Modesto, Calif.