Letters to the editor | Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020: This Valentine’s Day act of love will warm your heart

An act of love on Valentine’s

After a long week, I decided to treat myself to dinner on Feb. 14, although it was Valentine’s Day and I hadn’t a reservation. I stopped at a restaurant I frequent — Papapolloni — and the waitress I know found me a table, despite the crowd. I recalled how only a few years before, I had tried to take my mother for dinner there but without a reservation we had no luck. I resolved to enjoy dinner, when I noticed the couple to my left celebrating the holiday.

When the waitress reappeared to bring what I thought was the bill, instead she delivered the news to me that the couple to my left paid for my dinner. I had barely caught their eye and yet these total strangers extended to me such generosity and left before I could thank them.

Thank you to the anonymous couple who paid it forward! Modesto has so many generous people.

Affordable housing mayoral candidate

I express my approval of Naramsen Goriel for mayor of Modesto.

Naramsen is an amazing community organizer and has great plans to address the housing issue in Modesto. His housing-first plan would renovate many places to allow for affordable housing and to finally make use of several empty plots of land that cover Modesto. He cares so much about this community, and affordable housing is a no. 1 issue in our beloved town.

Keep church and state separate

Re “Brandvold loses prominent support in re-election bid” (Front Page, Feb. 13): I’m a little surprised this article got through The Bee’s screening process.

Mike Zagaris, who is an exceedingly successful and smart businessman, is welcome to support whomsoever he chooses for the mayoral position in the upcoming election, however, I would assume he’s looking for a seat at the table. Therefore, I’m distressed by The Bee’s total misrepresentation of Mayor Brandvold’s performance statistics, which reflect those of his architecture business, not those of his mayorship.

I’m skeptical of any religious leader being able to balance the needs of a commitment to his or her icon and congregation — whether Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, or whatever — with the practical, nitty-gritty requirements of municipal governance. Remember, this is America, land of separation of church and state. Please understand that I am a committed Lutheran, so I do envision, to some extent, the challenges a person of the cloth will face. Unto Caesar, or unto God? Jesus had no problem with it, but I’m not sure Rick Countryman is up to the challenge, unless he, too, is willing to be “crucified” for his beliefs.

Mayne will make a good judge

John Mayne is a fair and respected prosecutor who handled over 70 criminal cases including DUI, child abuse, and vehicular homicide cases. He has been a prosecutor for almost 20 years. Before, he was a civil attorney for 3 1/2 years, during which he handled personal injury, contract disputes, and products liability.

Mayne is running for Superior Court judge because he wants to bring fairness in court, be honest with attorneys and spectators, and get cases done fast. He doesn’t want to be involved in major politics like Democrats or Republicans. That is why he has received endorsements from judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, community leaders, and community members.

I ask all voters in Stanislaus County to vote for John Mayne for Judge, Office 5, on March 3 because if he gets elected, he will treat all fairly, with understanding.

Eggman is good for the Valley

I represented Stockton and San Joaquin County in the Senate and I worked closely with Susan Eggman, first on the Stockton City Council and then in the Assembly.

Susan has represented the Delta well. The Delta is the heart of the California Water System, and she is one of few representatives in Sacramento who can persuade and convince her colleagues of its critical importance. Water policy is not only about defeating the tunnels, but it is also about clean drinking water, the lifeblood of agricultural industry, and an economic and environmental necessity. She was respected by her colleagues and by the administration.

Susan never forgets the people she represents. She works hard for those who are underserved — children, the elderly and the dying. She pushes hard to create safer neighborhoods.

Susan will be able to immediately serve our community in the State Senate, where she is well-known and admired. She will partner with the governor to get the best for her constituents. She will lead her excellent staff to continue their effective service.

I hope that voters will allow Susan Eggman to continue her service to Stockton, the Central Valley and to California.

This vet has Harder’s back

I served in the USAF and spent 1968-69 in Vietnam. I have worked as a counselor for combat veterans for over 35 years.

I was invited to be a part of Josh Harder’s Veterans Advisory Committee. It has been a pleasure working with Josh and his staff. He has sponsored or co-sponsored many bills to help veterans, including bills that stop discrimination against veterans, that helped get the building of the French Camp facility started, and that helps veterans needing a service dog. His actions rather than words show his commitment to help and honor veterans.

Prop. 13 opinion missed mark

Re “What Modesto voters must know about Prop. 13 on March ballot” (Page 1B, Feb. 16): I’m very disappointed in your editorial regarding Prop. 13 stating why it is a good idea. With a $21.5 billion surplus, the state wants a $15 billion school construction bond that will cost taxpayers $27 billion when interest charges are added, a whopping $12 billion more, and indirectly increase local property taxes. This is wrong on every single front. This should concern every taxpayer regardless of party affiliation.

If the governor is serious about schools and their lack of funding, just divert the surplus money to schools. We, the taxpayers, must stand against these makes-no-sense propositions and say “no.”

Impeachment acquittal satire

Democracy suffered a death blow when Forever Trump senators declared a clearly guilty Trump innocent. By granting him immunity from any man-made laws, the 2020 election, with Putin’s assistance, is assured. Trump can now fulfill his wish: ban future presidential elections, and declare himself ruler for life.

The Trump camp issued this statement: “To Make America Great Again, the Republican Party is declaring democracy and the democratic process a liberal hoax. Eradication is mandatory. Americans are like little children, unable to think for themselves. They need someone to watch over them. God spoke to the Trump camp with instructions that Donald J. Trump is to be anointed king, and rule supreme over his children.”

In anticipation, Trump has commissioned the royal silversmith to create matching crowns for himself and his third lady, the Duchess of Mar-a-Lago. Financial supporter, business partner, and trusted ally Comrade Putin will host the coronation ball in Moscow where the future Trump-Putin Tower will soon begin construction. Forever Trump supporters will be given a shiny silver commemorative ruble as a cherished memory from the royal coronation.

No break on student loans

To all who are willing to vote for a socialist just because they might forgive your student loans: First, not going to happen; way too expensive. Second, you purchased a product — a college degree — and signed a promissory note to pay for it. You got what you contracted for. Now pay for it.

Here’s an alternative solution: If you took out a loan to purchase a car, house or any other product and did not pay, they would repossess it. Don’t pay your student loan? The government takes back your degree, be it graduate or post-graduate. No big deal, you say — It’s only a piece of paper. No Degree? Can’t be a professional, as in CPA, doctor, attorney and so on. Needed a degree to get whatever employment you have? Sorry, you’re out of a job.

Quit sniveling and threatening to turn this great country into Venezuela just so you don’t have to fulfill your obligations. Pay Up!

Where is school compassion?

My niece is in second grade now and it was shocking that the importance of school switched from comprehension to speed. Specifically, with reading and math. I suddenly felt sorrow for all the children who would fall behind because they are slower than their classmates, sorrow for those who didn’t have help with homework to practice speed, and sorrow for children who would shirk with shame of not being fast enough. My heart hurt for those who would think that they were stupid or who could read fast enough but had no comprehension of what they just read. The setbacks that would come from feeling inadequate throughout their lives is detrimental.

My niece is privileged to have multiple people at home who can help with her homework. Think of the lower-income children whose parents are busy working hard to support family and don’t have the support my niece has. What an injustice.

Why are we doing this to our children? As an adult, I’ve never been asked, “How fast can you read this or do these math problems?” Plain and simple, it’s just not fair and has no advantage at this stage of the educational process.

This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor | Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020: This Valentine’s Day act of love will warm your heart."