Letters

Editor,

I find it appalling that the parade committee could not find a solution to allow the Redwood City Twirlers to march in their own hometown’s parade ("The tradition of twirlers” column by Michelle Durand in the July 3 edition of the Daily Journal).

I have attended almost every July 4 parade since I moved to the area over 20 years ago, including last year’s parade. I can state for a fact that last year, where I was on the parade route, there was no three-minute gap caused by any of the marching/performing units. The biggest gaps, and slowest movers, were the "important people” driving oh so slowly in the fancy old cars (and the cars were the only interesting part). I saw no one leaving because of any gaps. And don’t forget that many of the units are expected to stop and perform at the reviewing stands (for the competition part of it). This is going to naturally create some gaps. The parade planners should be responsible to put the parade together in such a way that these gaps are absorbed. But I will say that the parade has deteriorated over the past few years, and, on the whole, has become a lot more boring. What happened to all of the exciting drill teams, the military and (multiple) high school marching bands, the bagpipe units and interesting floats? Most of the parade now seems like advertising instead of entertainment.

My daughter joined the Redwood City Twirlers about five months ago, and she (and we) are very disappointed. My son has been in the parade with his scout troop, and we were looking forward to our daughter having the same opportunity. The Twirlers were recently in the San Carlos Hometown Days parade and had no problems keeping up with the units in front of them.

All things considered, this just doesn’t sound right. I don’t know what the committee’s real agenda is, because I just can’t believe that they are being as petty and off-standing as what they are passing off as the reason for this. What a sad day for the Twirlers. What a sad day for the parade.

Jim Beaumont

Redwood City

Sanchez stands a chance

Editor,

What a clueless woman. Daily Journal columnist Sue Lempert does not have any idea on what is going on in her own hometown. Of course that can happen when you spend most of your time in places like Hillsborough and Woodside.

Saying that Bertha Sanchez has basically no chance in the next City Council election is laughable but suggesting that John Lee and Jack Matthews would easily be re-elected makes me wonder if Ms. Lempert ever spends any time in San Mateo.

People in this community are sick of this bunch that now occupy our City Hall, Ms. Lempert.

New office buildings get the green light while seniors and middle class workers are being forced out of rental units they have spent most of their lives in all because of the out of control greed of landlords and developers.

In short, Ms. Lempert, the real estate industry now controls City Hall in San Mateo and we plan on changing that come this next election.

Robert Bacon

San Mateo

Good King George?

Editor,

We have an administration that seems all too happy to turn our country into an authoritarian corporate state where all power and prerogative is shifted to the wealthy. No more ‘Rule of Law’ except for the peasants. Worse yet the Libby scandal is actually the sideshow to the real treason; that being the use of known forged documents compiled by a retired Italian intelligence official purporting to reveal an Iraqi effort to buy uranium from the African country of Niger. When Joe Wilson went to investigate and uncover the forgery he had the audacity to publish this ‘inconvenient truth’ in the New York Times, that’s when the Libby games began. Wilson’s CIA employed spouse was outed and the trail covered up by Libby’s lies but, King George to the rescue.

Mike Caggiano

San Mateo

Breeders: Common slaveholders

Editor,

"Breeders” objecting to mandatory spay/neuter laws are nothing more than modern slaveholders, forcing sentient souls into servitude for profit.

Too many Americans take smug satisfaction in condemning Chinese prison labor camps while participating in the same activity here through the buying and selling of living beings.

For every home filled by a breeder’s offspring, another life is murdered in the governmental death camps.

Two hundred years ago, people of color were exchanged for money by those who were likewise "filling the demand”.

Adolph Hitler, along with breeders, was a firm believer in the Eugenics movement, working to create the perfect being, discarding those deemed inferior.

God does not create junk. All, whatever the pedigree, are beings deserving of a full life.

Terry L. Clark

Arcata

Healthy Pets Act

splits animal lovers

Editor,

Pet owners must understand that owning a pet is a privilege and a hobby not a right.

Irresponsible pet ownership and pet overpopulation are out-of-control — endangering the health, safety and well being of all citizens. Abandonment of unwanted pets has become a dangerous nuisance and costly burden on the non-pet wing public.

For years, many pet owners have refused to take responsibility for their actions. The results of their inaction are self-evident. The time has come for pet reproduction regulation and strict enforcement of existing and new pet ownership laws. Pet licensing fees and fines must be increased to cover the cost, in total, for cleaning up the aftermath of irresponsible pet ownership.

When a citizen subscribes to the hobby of pet owning, they must also have the ability to bear the expense of their hobby. Taxpayers must not be forced to pay for more animal shelters and suggested "free” spaying/neutering services. Vets and pet owners must donate their time and money to their cause — not the general taxpayer. I don’t get a subsidy from taxpayers to pay for my greens fees.

The most logical solution to irresponsible pet ownership, pet overpopulation, increased dog bites and the increased risk of contracting diseases from animals is to ban future pet owning.

How can anyone who enslaves an animal as a pet for self-indulgent, self-serving reasons call themselves as animal lovers?

Doug Donato

Margate, N.J.