Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - DiscoveryBayPress_05.16.08 - Index

16A | THEPRESS.NET MAY 16, 2008
Winning Newspapers
“ If they want to take their lives into
Award
EDITORIALS, LETTERS & COMMENTARY
OPINION
their own hands with their irresponsible
National
behavior, fine, but leave me out of it.
”
Stop the Marsh Creek madness
Editor:
I’m writing today because of the dangerous
situation that unsafe drivers create
on a daily basis on Deer Valley and Marsh
Creek roads. I leave at approximately 7
a.m. to go to work in Concord each weekday
and each weekday I deal with the same
thing: insane drivers who have no respect
for the speed limit, my life and the lives
of other law abiding drivers and the poor
animals whose bodies line the road.
I guess the memorial crosses that line
the two roads provide no clue to these
disrespectful drivers. I want to inform them
that riding my bumper will not make me
break the law or drive in a reckless manner.
In fact, I drive slower in the event I should
have to come to a sudden stop when wildlife
runs across the road.
When these irresponsible drivers pass
me on a blind curve, they are putting my
life and the life of the person or persons on
the other side at risk in the event of a headon
collision. If they want to take their lives
into their own hands with their irresponsible
behavior, fi ne, but leave me out of it.
I have a lot to live for. I have plans for my
life that should not be taken away because
someone else can’t leave for work on time.
I only wish there were some law enforcement
out there. Who is responsible for
patrolling Deer Valley and Marsh Creek?
I’m guessing nobody. How many accidents
and lives, both human and animal, must be
lost before this madness is stopped?
Steele Colby
Brentwood
In defense of home schooling
Editor:
I was disappointed when I read the
article on home schooling, “Home schooling
poses constitutional questions,” in the
April 4 issue of the Oakley Press.
The article covered the Los Angeles
appellate court decision that ruled that all
children must be taught by credentialed
teachers. The type of home schooling that
is being threatened by the recent court
decision is private, not district-supported
schooling.
With that being the case, I was
surprised that the only people interviewed
for the article were those involved with
the district and one woman who doesn’t
even home school. It made the article
seem biased in favor of district-supported
schooling.
In addition, I found the comment
made by Gene Clare, “It is in the best
interest of the children to … be monitored
by an accredited institution … otherwise,
if the child wants to go on to college, there
may be diffi culty because of accreditation,”
to be ignorant. When my husband
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
and I fi rst moved to the area, we knew
little about home schooling. We met and
became close friends with two families who
privately home schooled their children. I
was very impressed by the maturity level
and the abilities of the kids.
Seeing the success that those families
were having had an infl uence on my decision
to home school (I was a credentialed
elementary school teacher at the time).
Neither of the mothers in those families
were credentialed, yet all of their kids have
gone or are currently going to college.
In that group is a piano teacher, a public
school teacher, two future police offi cers,
a future nurse and a medical assistant.
Clearly none of them have had “diffi culties”
getting into college.
It is worth noting that those of us who
home school privately do not receive any
money to help pay for our children’s education.
We pay hundreds of dollars a year for
curriculum for our kids. At the same time,
we pay our taxes so other people’s children
can receive a “free” education. The only
thing we ask for is the right to retain our
freedom to educate our children the way
we think is best.
Julie Froisland
Oakley
Nunn – headed in the right direction
Editor:
I have been carefully reviewing all of
the candidates in the current District 5
Board of Supervisor race and have made
my decision. We need someone that will
truly stand up for East County’s interests,
and I believe Erik Nunn is that candidate.
Erik is a former Marine and a born
leader. He was a reserve police offi cer in Antioch
and also served as a public service offi -
cer for Contra Costa County. Erik understands
that we have a crime problem here in
Antioch and that it will take the cooperation
of parents, teachers, police and the greater
community to address the issue. Bringing
everyone together to solve our problems
takes leadership, and I believe Erik is committed
and possesses the leadership qualities
we want in our next supervisor.
Please join me in supporting Erik
Nunn for District 5 Board of Supervisor
this June, so we can get East County
headed in the right direction.
Clinton Davis
Antioch
Predictable predicament
Editor:
Two years ago we warned, and foretold,
that the Antioch community would
be sued because of Mayor Don Freitas’
and the councilmen’s misdirections (excluding
Reggie Moore). It’s happened!
The city of Antioch has two recent
lawsuits fi led against it, in April and in
May, in federal court. Antioch’s fi nances
are now at risk due to Freitas’ and his partners’
ill-conceived activities. Oh, and let’s
not forget Gary Gilbert and his group’s
(UCBN) questionable personal pushings
and involvements in these matters. We
warned you, we were ignored, and now we
all may pay the price.
You can review the lawsuits fi led at
the San Francisco Federal Court’s Records
Department (case #3:08-cv-01914-JCS and
#3:08-cv-02301-BZ). The city of Antioch
(in reality it means us) stands to spend lots
of money and resources just defending itself
from the misdirected decisions and related
actions of Mayor Freitas, Conley, Davis,
Kalinowski and Simonsen. They can no
longer hide. The truth will fi nally be known.
It could’ve been avoided if they’d instead
listened to us. They need to be fi red!
Yes, the Antioch Police Department,
its chief and some offi cers are named as
defendants. Unfortunately, Mayor Freitas
and the council members’ use of them in the
questioned activities has now also dragged
them into the fi re. Using the police for some
perceived political propaganda, and other
reasons, was wrong from the beginning.
We hope that Freitas, involved council
members, Gary Gilbert and the UCBN
group put up their own personal money
and resources to defend what they helped
cause – and not use our limited taxes and
resources to defend them. They should put
their own money where their mouths have
been.
If Gary Gilbert and his group think
they’re out of these lawsuits, they’re not.
When the police offi cers and others are
deposed, their input into all of this will
be disclosed. I repeat, “Silly rabbit; tricks
are for kids.” Perhaps that’s why Freitas,
councilmen, Gary and the others would
not agree to a public debate back then. The
public needs to understand once and for all
their defi ciencies and subjectivities.
Ralph Hernandez
Citizens For Democracy
Antioch
Agopian has our best
interests in mind
Editor:
I’ve attended many school board
meetings on behalf of Residents of
Antioch for Improved Schools & Education
(RAISE) and have been consistently
impressed with Gary Agopian as School
Board Trustee.
Gary has been a positive leader for
our youth in Antioch. He always does his
research and is not afraid to go against the
grain and speak up for what he believes.
I’ve also seen Gary at every Quality of
Life Forum joining our city leaders, police
department and residents in a collaborative
Steele Colby
effort to make our beautiful community of
Antioch a safer and more enjoyable place
to live.
While serving as president of the
school board, Gary never hesitated to respond
in a thoughtful manner to questions
or concerns we forwarded to him from
RAISE members.
Gary has especially taken a stand
against violence and bullying among our
students – he served on the task force to
improve safety at Deer Valley Plaza, supported
resident outrage when police offi cers
were attacked in the Gas City parking lot
and has supported and participated in
Challenge Day at Deer Valley High School.
The bottom line is that Gary Agopian
has Antioch’s best interests in mind and
has a real heart for our community.
I personally believe that Federal
Glover has turned his back on Antioch on
several major issues and only responded
when public outrage became too loud
to silence regarding Section 8 abuse and
building a prison in East County.
Erik Nunn was not the fi rst candidate
for District 5 Supervisor to speak out
against the prison, as he claims – it was
Gary Agopian! Also, I question the integrity
of Nunn for changing his political party just
prior to running for Supervisor as well as his
deep-pocket support by a Pittsburg-based
homebuilder. By contrast, Gary Agopian’s
campaign is truly grass roots, with volunteers
knocking on doors and holding meetand-greets
in their homes.
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure
of volunteering with Antioch Police Chief
Hyde’s fi rst Neighborhood Clean Up.
Gary and his wife Robin were there picking
up trash and recyclables in downtown
Antioch – unlike any of the other candidates
for District 5. This is just one small
example of how Gary Agopian has been
at the forefront, working side by side with
citizens to improve our community on
every important issue.
Please join me on June 3 in voting for
Gary Agopian as our next District 5 Board
Supervisor. I believe without a doubt
that Gary will act in the best interests of
Antioch and his entire district.
Mary J. Peinado
Co-founder, RAISE
Antioch
Nunn’s not the one
Editor:
Erik Nunn wants to be all things to
all people. While I fully expect anyone
running for public offi ce to have ambitions,
Mr. Nunn takes the cake.
Are you a Christian? No problem – he
is an ordained minister. Are you a union
see Letters page 17A