Santa Maria

In communities across the country, people are changing the way they care for their health by limiting tobacco use, eating healthier, and becoming more physically active with the support of public health programs. Yet these recent advances are being dangerously and perhaps irrevocably compromised by recent budget cuts to proven community-based health programs. The current […]

It was disappointing to read about Mayor Alice Patino’s inappropriate attack on a law firm representing a city employee by calling them “bloodsuckers.” Her outrageous comments may lead to a lawsuit, but the important issue is compromising the employee’s constitutional right of due process. For any elected official to make such a derogatory statement before […]

It’s a new year, and people have precise expectations for themselves. Some want to improve on their health, and others want to improve their savings account—and nowadays, who can blame them? Those pursuits are great, but I think people should also look outward. Recently, I signed on as a volunteer with an organization that provides […]

As the Bush/Cheney administration is air lifted off the roof of the sinking White House, giving the thumbs-up sign, we all know better. We all see the results of eight disastrous years. Who will pay? Will it be only our military families, or people losing their homes, or prisoners who have no rights, or Americans […]

Regarding Norman Mehl’s letter (“I stand by my original opinion,” Jan. 8) in rebuttal to a rebuttal of a letter from Norman: First of all, I appreciate your Armed Forces service in World War II. And also your service with the space program. Your comment about Obama was disturbing. Okay, so you are not a […]

A couple of weeks ago, I gave an opinion about Tom Knepher’s commentary in the Sun, and it attracted a juvenile response from a Michael Smith (“Get it straight: Take a history class,” Dec. 18), who felt that I was wrong about most every opinion. I reread my submission (“History and another point of view,” […]

Once again, our bumbling president and his cohorts have proved they know nothing about our economy or how to fix it. To top it off, this crew single-handedly brought about a worldwide recession. What a legacy! Their ineptness and hindsight saw fit to bail out our financial institutions and the auto industry with billions of […]