Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27, 2019 | What do you save by displacing disabled workers?

Don’t make this about money

Re “Modesto nonprofit that helps disabled faces loss of city contract” (Page 3A, Jan. 16): The contract that United Cerebral Palsy has with the city of Modesto is about to expire and staff is recommending that an out-of-state firm take it over. I served on the United Cerebral Palsy Board of Directors. I can attest to the quality of services provided by this organization. For the last 10 years they have had a contract to clean, repair and maintain the benches at city bus stops. They have done a commendable job and there have been no complaints regarding their services.

With the contact about to expire, city staff put out a request for bids. A Florida-based for-profit business named Creative Outdoor Advertising of America outbid UCP and city staff recommended them to the council.

This is outrageous. UCP, a nonprofit, provides job training for the disabled and hires local companies to create the advertisements. They help people who would not otherwise be employable. Some of their “employees” get jobs in the private sector. By awarding the contract to another entity, the city would gain by $18,000. This is a measly sum in a budget that runs in the hundreds of million of dollars.

The council’s Finance Committee will consider staff recommendation at their Feb. 4 meeting in the basement of 1010 10th Street. Mani Grewal chairs the committee. The other members are Kristi Ah You and Bill Zoslocki.

Call your city council representative. Tell him or her that money should not be the issue. This is a humanitarian issue.

Even one destitute family is too many

Did I miss a Bee article describing how our community is helping federal employees who are under fiscal attack by the Trump machine? How many feds do we have in Stanislaus County and its cities? Can’t be that many, but one family being afflicted by insane politics is one too many.

Last week MSNBC celebrated a pizza restaurant in Denver for its generous assistance to all laid-off federal employees and to the impacted companies that are also within the web of economic interdependence .

Where are our angels who can respond right now? Has the Chamber of Commerce stepped forward?

Then let’s see if this effort can become a model for involving the private sector in preparation for the increasing natural disasters, many of which create refugees.

Our community is beginning to address the homeless challenge. We must continue to include them into the bigger solution.

Meanwhile, we suffer from the most disgusting and inept presidential politics this country has seen in modern years. The Bee has done some good editorializing, but the battle is barely begun. The era of comfortable apathy is over.

Editor’s note: The wrote about the plity of TSA employee Amira Muhammad in our Jan. 16 editions.

It’s time to pull back our military

The president is trying to reduce our combat troops overseas, is it any wonder? Brown University recently published its findings in National Geographic. We, the public, have spent through our government, since 2001, some $1.9 trillion on the war on terror. That’s just the military. The State Department has spent another $127 billion.

Today we are in 80 countries engaged as follows: 40 military bases, 65 counter-terrorism training camps, 26 countries in which we perform military exercises, 14 countries in which we have U.S. combat troops, and 7 countries where we perform air and drone strikes. We basically cover the whole world. Didn’t Rome try to do that?

Don’t let PG&E execs off the hook

The editorial “We can do better by owning our own power,” Jan. 19 relates examples of PG&E’s long record of corporate mismanagement – if not criminal negligence. Regardless of how this gruesome situation plays out, some legal or authoritative entity should take immediate action to cancel and/or recoup the millions of dollars of bonuses and golden parachutes paid to PG&E senior executives for their “outstanding” performances. One might question the role of the California Public Utilities Commission in granting rate increases in light of the appearance of malfeasance. Perhaps the PUC might consider junkets within California rather than Hawaii.

Brown’s legacy: Liberal do-gooder

Gov. Moonbeam, as you carried out your last acts as governor, pardoning these murderers, I wonder what the victims families were feeling. These murderers might have repented and found peace with the true judge, who is not you. But they received their sentences and those should be carried out. If the victim was your family member would you show the same leniency? I know you would because you’re so forgiving. You’ve always been a self-glorifying, self-aggrandizing liberal do-gooder. There’s your legacy. Wear it.

Don’t let anyone alter Prop 13

Reading “With a ballot fight looming, Newsom suggests dealmaking to revamp state’s tax system” (Page 2A, Jan. 21), my first thought is: Shouldn’t he be working for us and not just gaining fame and power for himself? Second, he wants to bring the parties together. That does not mean Democrats and Republicans. He’s talking about pro “split roll” and anti “split roll.” He sees it as a way to split up those who support Proposition 13’s tax-roll reforms. We have already heard from those who want to split the tax rolls into commercial properties (which would be taxed higher) from the residential rolls (which would not change). Even former Gov. Jerry Brown wouldn’t touch that issue.

Folks any change in Proposition 13 hurts all of us. Example: if businesses lose Proposition 13 protection, will they absorb the increase or pass along the higher costs to consumers? We all know the answer.

Shouldn’t we be looking to government to live within its means and stop just giving away our money? Shouldn’t they be asking us what we think!

Editor’s note: An initiative to change Proposition 13, removing commercial properties from rules limiting property tax increases, has qualified for the 2020 ballot. It cannot take affect unless voters approve.

Josh Harder is off to a good start

I would like to give kudos to our new Congressman, Josh Harder. On Jan. 21, Rep. Harder took met with his constituents in Manteca. His willingness to meet one-on-one or as a group was a breath of fresh air. I’m hoping this will be the first of many get-togethers. He spoke about his first days in Washington and let us know the House is working hard to reopen the government. He showed concern for farmers and families of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties affected by the government shutdown. He was receptive to our comments and assured us he would bring our concerns to Washington. I have every confidence Josh Harder will be transparent and continue to have open communication with all his constituents.

Impressed after Harder’s visit

Our new representative, Josh Harder, met with many of his constituents last weekend, keeping his promise of accessibility and transparency. His observations as a newly elected leader in Washington helped set the tone of open communications as he conducted “visiting office hours” and met with constituents in person.

Josh has voted to re-open the government twice and added funding for the Department of Agriculture. He has worked with bipartisan support to take care of the farmers relief funding affected by the shut down and tariffs. From farmers to federal workers and teachers, he listened to constituents. Josh co-sponsored HR 1, a massive anti-corruption and voting reform bill that would level the playing field between millionaire donors and everyday people.

Josh is working to change the political climate and restore a more equitable distribution of resources. There is new hope in the air! Josh is an excellent communicator and listener. We are fortunate to have him represent us.