Letters To The Editor

As a conservative Republican and Christian, and also a disabled middle-aged man, I am concerned about Social Security being cut under Mitt Romney’s plan to reduce the budget deficit. The percentage of disabled people in percentage is, I believe, a large number like 30 percent to 40 percent approximately or “guesstimation.” If we have earned […]

My neighbor just found out he has stage four cancer. How is he going to get through his treatments? The pills the doctors give don’t do squat. My wife found this out when she had cancer. Seventy-five percent of the population of this country wants access to medical marijuana if they need it. What is […]

Did you know that our nuclear power plants have a fund of more than  $20 billion? However, our government doesn’t want that money touched until we have a permanent solution for nuclear waste. While they are trying to come up with a permanent solution, the nuclear power plants are piling up nuclear waste with nowhere […]

The city has Measure U on the June 5 ballot. I have heard the presentations on this measure and have watched this community grow rapidly. I understand how important it is to hire more police officers and firefighters, but the city does not have the funding to do so. With our city’s growth, there is […]

The pressing issues before us in the national elections for president are the same as we voters and taxpayers all face at the local levels. A shortage of jobs, less income, higher deficits, and more taxes are driving the selection of candidates in the up-and-coming local elections as at the national level. Unless we as […]

There is no one better qualified for county supervisor than Joni Gray. She has worked hard to gain the confidence of the other supervisors to enhance their working relationships. It is important that county decisions are arrived at in a fair manner. Joni Gray, being well educated and experienced, knows the importance of negotiation and […]

Please be advised of a telephone scam happening on the Central Coast. Our home has received two scam calls since last week. Today’s call started out with a male saying, “Hi, Grandma! This is your long-lost grandson,” as he coughs in my ear. Then he tries to pry out information about me to get a […]

I encourage locals to vote yes on Measure U to restore and maintain essential city services. I can attest from personal experience that the city of Santa Maria has repeatedly cut its workforce and expenses, but still is unable to fund all essential services. I have worked for the city 21 years. Most employees have […]

I’m voting for Peter Adam for supervisor on June 5 and encourage all other 4th District voters to do so as well. It’s time we have a real shake-up at the county level. I think Peter would be a breath of fresh air on the Board of Supervisors. Peter’s not a politician; he’s a long-time […]

There are a number of legal cases winding their way toward federal courts that address the issue of whether the equal protection clause of the Constitution guarantees gay men and women the same access to marriage rights as heterosexual men and women. There are several challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars gay […]

I don’t like taxes any more than the next person, but I am voting for Measure U on June 5, and here’s why: It will save me $320 a year when it contributes to the completion of the levee and my home is no longer in a flood zone, allowing me to discontinue my flood […]

Santa Maria is my home, and I work with many people in this community through nonprofits. I have seen firsthand that Santa Maria has a huge need for more police officers and firefighters. I want to see our city restored to a safer condition so that it is more attractive to live here and retain […]