TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

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1. A man is dead and we're worried about image?

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Monday, May 20 2013 11:00 PM

   I am writing in regard to the May 19 news story "Kern's image may be taking a hit." What I find most disturbing about this article is that the city leaders of Bakersfield appear to care more about our image than the fact that a terrible thing has happened with the death of David Sal Silva. While it is yet unclear as to who was at fault, a young man, a father of four children, was killed. This is a tragedy, one that is played out far too many times in our city.

   For years, our city's image-makers have tried to "brand" Bakersfield as a "family-friendly city." The facts say otherwise. Our high rates of poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, child neglect/abuse, crime and murder are the reality in our city and a real threat to family welfare. Yet our...

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2. We're losing our freedoms

   Many throughout the county are outraged because Kern County sheriff's deputies went into a private residence and took cellphones of private citizens because they believed the phones contained evidence of a crime. I'm referring to the...

3. Renegades' sanctions: It's on the chancellor

   Because of school budget constraints, the Helmet Club was formed more than 25 years ago as a nonprofit to help the Bakersfield College football program. It has always done so with utmost integrity. The chancellor of the Kern Community...

4. Unintended consequences

   The Bakersfield College football situation is one more example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Or how about the law of unintended consequences forced on us by power-blind bureaucrats. Without supporters, booster clubs and...

5. Guns, batons not just for show

   With regard to the David Sal Silva case, why are the media and the general public so quick to blame law enforcement? A man died and that is awful, but how do we know it was a result of the officers' attempt to detain him? Notice I didn't...

6. DA should lead investigation

   Now is the time for the Kern County District Attorney's Office, under the leadership of Lisa Green, to immediately take over the investigation of David Sal Silva's death at the hands of local law enforcement officers. What role Kern County...

7. Kids these days have too much homework

   Am I the only one who is alarmed by the huge amounts of homework students are faced with every day? It's horrendous! As soon as they get home from school, they start doing their homework with a break for dinner -- then back to the homework...

9. Another inspiring welcome

   As a World War II Air Force veteran, I was part of Kern County's "Honor Flight" to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial and other national shrines, a fulfilling and thrilling experience. However, for me the most emotional...

10. Say hello to a fellow student

    Interacting with special needs students on your high school campus makes a big difference to them. I would like to ask all regular-ed students everywhere in Kern County to take the time next week to say hi to a special ed student on their...

11. CPUC commissioners should be elected

    For those who feel like they've been spinning their wheels with regard to the increased water rates put forth by Cal Water in Bakersfield and Lake Isabella, I suggest the California Public Utilities Commission is the wrong avenue to get the...

12. Parties keeping us divided

    Nothing is going to come of this IRS stuff or this Department of Justice stuff or this Benghazi stuff. Nothing. You want to know why? It's because the Republicans jumping all over it are doing so from a hypocritical position, since they...

13. We're still one nation

    This country has become way too politically polarized. Elected or appointed federal officials wind up serving about one-half of the country. These people, once chosen, should be required to pledge that they will represent all of the...

14. Irony in Democrats' criticisms

    Apparently, the talking-point word of the day in the local Democratic Party is "transparency" since it appears in two letters on the same day ("Vidak didn't show up for his interview" and "Vidak lacks transparency," May 14). I wonder if the...