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Brentwood Press - AntiochPress_10.10.08 - Index

18A | BRENTWOODPRESS.COM OCOTBER 10, 2008
“ My dog has stepped in it, I have
stepped in it and it’s disgusting!
”
Elizabeth Sico
Winning Newspapers
Award
EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY
OPINION
National
Pet poop a health hazard
Editor:
I’m not sure if I’m the only person
with this complaint. I’m not sure where
else to complain, so here I go.
I walk my dog daily along a street
in Antioch’s Hillcrest/Via Dora area. It
sickens me to see the trash on this street.
I have to pick my dog up or walk around
the tons of broken glass all over the
sidewalks. I have to pull my dog away
from disgusting piles of food everywhere.
People are using the streets and sidewalks
for their garbage cans.
This area used to be so pretty and
people seemed to respect the city they
lived in. But the thing that bothers me
the most is the disgusting amount of
piles of dog waste everywhere. My dog
has stepped in it, I have stepped in it and
it’s disgusting!
Not only that, but I wonder if
people realize that dog waste left on the
ground eventually fi nds its way into our
waterways. It can contaminate and spoil
our water. Not only can it harm our water,
it can make your pet sick. Dog waste
contains harmful bacteria and organisms
that can spread disease.
Let’s face it: it’s just plain gross! Do
your part. Be a responsible pet owner
and clean up after your dog, please.
Elizabeth Sico
Antioch
Delivery denied
Editor:
Please take a moment to ask yourselves,
“Does Glover really deliver”?
Over the past eight years, all of us have
witnessed our quality of life shaken to its
core because the needs and concerns of
Bay Point, Antioch, Oakley and Bethel
Island continue to be ignored by current
Supervisor Federal Glover.
For example, the small community
of Bay Point is commonly referred to
as a “cash cow” by county offi cials,
yet essential services are being drastically
cut. Do the residents of Bay Point
believe “Glover delivers”? No. This
belief is regularly expressed by numerous
residents who have given up hope of preventing
their community from continuing
its downward spiral because Supervisor
Glover and his staff are too busy to
respond to their phone calls and e-mails.
When the residents of Antioch cried
out for help because many of our friends,
neighbors and loved ones were being
terrorized and victimized by neighbors
receiving Section 8 federal subsidized
housing assistance, did “Glover deliver”?
Of course not.
In July of this year, I arranged for
Mr. Glover to meet with two members of
the Antioch Crime Commission and over
50 homeowners to hear their terrifying
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
stories of being harassed and threatened
by their Section 8 neighbors. Throughout
the meeting, Supervisor Glover promised
residents that he would contact the
Housing Authority immediately and demand
that action be taken to help these
homeowners.
Did “Glover deliver”? Absolutely
not! It’s three months later and we have
never heard from him again. Even more
alarming is the fact that Supervisor
Glover provides funding to Bay Area
Legal Aid (BALA), which sued our city
and police department in federal court
for responding to community complaints
of criminal activity committed by Section
8 tenants.
Supervisor Glover prides himself on
being a strong supporter of law enforcement.
If this is true, why is he fi nancially
supporting an organization that tried to
extort money from the Antioch Police
Department? Glover’s monetary support
of BALA is a direct slap in the face of
Antioch residents and our police offi cers
who put their lives in harm’s way, every
day, to protect our community.
Sadly, over the past eight years the
residents and city leaders of Oakley have
been pleading with Supervisor Glover
to provide more fi re protection for their
community. Did “Glover deliver”? Of
course he didn’t. In the event of a devastating
fi re in Oakley, the lives of men,
women and children will be lost because
our current supervisor refuses to address
their need for more fi refi ghting personnel.
Last but certainly not least is Bethel
Island. I doubt Mr. Glover even recalls
that Bethel Island, with such a small
population, is in his district.
The time has come to elect a county
supervisor who will listen to the concerns
of his constituents and take action to
resolve our quality-of-life issues. We need
a District 5 supervisor who really “delivers”
on his promises. The choice is clear.
Elect Gary Agopian as our new county
supervisor.
Gary Gilbert
Antioch
Kalinowski for council
Editor:
The Antioch Police Sworn Management
Association is proud to endorse
Brian Kalinowski for re-election to the
Antioch City Council.
Brian Kalinowski is a proven fi ghter
for what he believes and has continually
demonstrated that he will support what
is in the best interests of the Antioch
community. As a member of the Antioch
City Council, he has represented the
interests of Antioch on a variety boards
and committees and has done so professionally
and ethically. He has demonstrated
that he is truly a team player, but
will not be swayed based on popularity,
demonstrating his individualism as a
member of the Antioch City Council.
We believe that Brian Kalinowski
has demonstrated he is a change agent in
promoting a healthier quality of life for
those who choose to call Antioch their
home. He has focused on public safety
and neighborhood blight, continually
promoting the hiring of additional police
offi cers to combat crime. His commitment
to the citizens of Antioch for the
past eight years has proven his ability
and desire to be a leader in representing
a proactive approach to the betterment
of Antioch.
As an elected offi cial and change
agent, Brian Kalinowski is continually
promoting positive change for the now
and the future of our city. He has a
passion for addressing issues related to
transportation, the creation of new jobs,
developing recreational opportunities
and assuring that our neighborhoods are
safe. Most of all, he wants to assure that
“government” is working for us in a time
of fi nancial instability and uncertainty.
Brian Kalinowski is a leader and
true representative of the citizens of Antioch.
His desire to “make a difference” is
his greatest attribute as a member of the
Antioch City Council. His determination
and commitment to the citizens of Antioch
deserves a vote on Nov. 4, 2008 for
re-election to the Antioch City Council.
Pat Welch
President, Antioch Police
Sworn Manager’s Association
Non-endorsement policy endorsed
Editor:
Should the Antioch Chamber of
Commerce activate its PAC this year, I
would hope that the Chamber will recuse
itself from endorsing candidates for the
AUSD Board, since one of the candidates
sits on the Chamber’s Board of
Directors and another one is a Chamber
Ambassador.
Sandy Henry
Antioch
Educators rightfully revered
Editor:
Teaching is a labor of love where
recognition is not expected. As birds
naturally fl y and fi sh swim, teachers
naturally teach. They do what they do
precisely because it is their natural inclination,
their chosen calling, to speak to
the future; their bottled notes of compassion,
instruction and inspiration wash on
the beaches of eternity, touching beyond
our son’s life to the life of our son’s son.
Nevertheless, awaited or not, praise
and support are appreciated for they
invigorate the weary spirit. Thank you,
then, Antioch Schools Education Foundation
(ASEF) for being that wave of
moral invigoration.
It is refreshing when somebody
knows a hero and heroine when they see
one and makes the effort to acknowledge
the good and honorable fi ght these gentle
classroom warriors are fi ghting.
Your Mary Allan Fellows Award
dinner at the Lone Tree Gold Event Center
on Sept. 18 was a rousing success. The
food was scrumptious, the raffl e fun. The
room joyously overfl owed with teachers,
school staff and citizens. Public offi cials
were amply represented by County Supervisor
Federal Glover, County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Joe Ovick,
Antioch Mayor Donald Freitas, Mayor
Pro Tem Jim Davis, former Mayor Len
Herendeen, former City Councilman
Allan Payton, AUSD Chief Academic
Offi cer Christine Hiroshima (Superintendent
Dr. Deborah Sims was not able to
attend, as she had a previous speaking
engagement at an East County Heart Association
event, but had a congratulatory
letter read by Joyce Seelinger), Antioch
Unifi ed School Board trustees Gary
Agopian, Joyce Seelinger, Claire Smith
and this writer.
Master of Ceremonies Bill Leach,
2007 Antioch Teacher of the Year,
was equal parts earnest and downright
hilarious. Gary Hack, President of the
Antioch Education Association, gave a
stirring speech. Mary Allan, who taught
for 20 years at Bidwell and Jack London
Elementary schools, demonstrated, with
her passionate presentation, why she was
chosen the 2001 California Teacher of
the Year.
Congratulations extend to the
Classifi ed Employee of the Year, Louise
Green. You do us and your hardworking
colleagues proud. Kudos to the Mary Allan
Fellows recipients Jaime Lynch (also
Antioch Teacher of the Year), Larry
Widener and Dennis Sheehan. Your
award of $1,500 to enhance academics
in the classroom and $500 for personal
use (modest appreciation for all you,
invariably, spend out of your own pocket
on supplies) is well deserved. We thank
Comcast for fi lming you, stars that you
are, in your classrooms.
ASEF Board President Barbara
Herendeen, Vice President Bart Miller,
Secretary Martha Goralka, Treasurer
Debra Walls, Directors Dale Hudson,
Joyce Lee, Gloria Martin and Dave
Naro: you are to be heartily commended
for unstintingly supporting, materially
and spiritually, our teachers. You wisely
appreciate what Socrates said: “Those
who educate children well are more to be
honored than parents, for these only gave
life; those the art of living.”
Walter Ruehlig
President, AUSD Board of Trustees
see Letters page 20A