Perplexed

What a car!!!!!!! A 1965, Chevy, Malibu, S. S.

What to say, I’ve been perplexed about that and wondering about my ability to communicate. On the issue of Wal-Mart coming to Soledad and taking up 45 acres of prime farm land I was very concerned, not because of any direct effect it will have on me but on the creeping effect it will eventually have on all of us, this creeping sprawl is like a disease, if not put in check it has only one ultimate end.

I was told I have no idea what I’m talking about, nobody cares about the use of the land, wake up man it’s only 45 acres, expand your horizons, see the big picture, nobody will have to drive to Salinas to buy a pair of pants.

Maybe their right. I even brought up the idea of planed growth in the hills surrounding all that beautiful farm land and my thinking processes were promptly put into question; after all who hasn’t heard of the 25% slope policy?

Another comment: Yeah, 45 acres of productive farm land. Why don't you factor into your equation the fact that farmers are all losing their shirts because of over supply, weak markets, light demand? Who gives a rip about 45 acres of productive farm land if you can't make a living farming?

It is my understanding that supply and demand drive prices, why is it then that when I go to the produce section or any other section that I come away with so much less for my spending dollar then ever before? Somebody is making the money. The statement that farmers are losing their shirts may have some foundation in validity; but is it because of the arguments mentioned or perhaps may there be another underlying cause? Labor and unions pinching out every available cent, people receiving eight hours pay they may not have earned, property taxes that have a strangle hold on the property owners, the cost of fuel; these are just a few possibilities on which to engage in in-depth analysis and insightful prognostication. In time, with the attitude of who gives a rip about 45 acres of productive farm land Soledad, King City, Greenfield and Gonzales will all become like Salinas and someone, somewhere, sometime will once again gaze upon the land and remember what it once was and in total bewilderment ask why.

Then I took up the struggle of providing reasons, logical I thought, as to why everyone should come together and oppose this assault on our intelligence called a prison re-entry facility. I brought up financial reasons that will naturally have an adverse affect on everyone. I brought up an example describing similar situations in another state by a Sheriff there and how, through his ingenuity, creativity and care about his community millions of dollars were saved while obtaining the same result. I provided web sites for everyone to check for themselves. In the end few responded, and so it goes, the wheel turns and with no obstruction it will roll on faster and faster until, in the end, it can’t be stopped, it will be to late, and someone, someday will ask why. The city and the county watch very closely the way people react to things and as in a chess game prepare for their next move, I’m afraid they have already called checkmate.

If the illogic of current events isn’t profound enough now we have the Governor turning California into a nanny state. The government telling us what we can and can not eat. Trans fats, they say are bad for us, so the government is removing our personal options to use it or not. Talk about big brother, now it’s mom and dad as well. Where does this intrusion into our personal liberties stop? I am not the worlds greatest cook, or authority on cooking, but I know there are some great southern cooks that could care less about trans fats. The dishes that come from their creative skills are something to smack your lips over and write about.

In Santa Cruse and a host of other cities they can no longer use Styrofoam.

In San Francisco plastic shopping bags are banned, watch out for those rainy days. I remember going shopping for those must have items, the rain comes down, the paper bag falls apart, groceries everywhere. The people in San Francisco will remember to in about 4 or 5 months.

I remember cars when they were cars, not these little look alike boxes on wheels with lawn mower engines to propel them that they have today. Remember the 56 Chevy, the Dodge Charger, the 65 Chevy Malibu, the 283, 4 barrel carburetor and so on? In commercials on television young people are shown drooling over cars kids back in the 60’s wouldn’t look once at much less twice. Remember the roar of the engines, gearing down as you come to a known spot where the police sit and wait, the thrill of the ride? That has been forgotten because we have allowed ourselves to be herded into the situation we find ourselves in today. They were advertising the new 2008 Malibu, 4 door Sedan and the character it has. The only problem is it only comes in a pathetic 4-cylinder and a slightly better 6 cylinder. This car use to be a Super Sport. In its hay day it came with a 4 barrel carburetor on a 283 or later a 327, with an automatic gear down transmission or 4 or 5 speed manual transmission. My 65, 2 door coupe had the automation transmission on the floor, a maroon paint job with black leather upholstery, fancy wheels and spit fire out of the exhaust, what a sight at night and the power going through those gears sat you back deeply in the seat. Brand new, ordered from the factory, it cost me $3500. Look at the Malibu they sell today, it’s a family car and what use to be the family car, the Chevy Impala, known then as the “poor mans Cadillac,” is now a Super Sport that few can afford.

Chevy is coming out late this year or early next with the Camaro, sporting a Corvette engine that is supposed to have the power expected back in the 60’s and 70’s, we‘ll see.

I think if I hear one more advertisement or commercial on the television or radio about green this or green that I’ll throw the damn thing out the window. I want my country back!! All we hear is Al Gore says we should do this or that while he goes around, in the lap of luxury, laughing at how gullible we are. We are encouraged to give up our older cars and even truckers are encouraged to change over their engines, I even heard where $50,000 is offered to truckers towards the purchase of a new, “Green” truck. Where will it end? Oh and don’t forget the new light bulb, containing mercury, with all the hazard warnings in case of breakage, we are supposed to change over to.

I often ask myself what has happened to my county, yes and my country? I woke up, like Rip Van Winkle, and it was gone and I couldn‘t find anyone who seemed to care. I was under the impression that the truth is supposed to set us free, but in spite of trying to shine the light of truth on different subjects that, in my opinion, will leave us all vulnerable, the overall consensus seems to be, so-what? This whole mess looks like my kitchen after making pancakes, all battered up.

I guess it is ,after all, just a lot of bridge under the water.

Board Meeting

Posted 7/23/2008 11:15 AM PDT on thecalifornian.com

Well here we are, the day after the Board of Supervisors meeting and I must say I am not surprised; does anything ever get voted down? Is every proposed expenditure a worthwhile endeavor regardless of the financial struggle facing the people at the time? Doesn’t the fact that everyone is hurting, in one way or another, by the high fuel prices deserve even the slightest amount of their consideration? People all over the city and the Salinas Valley are losing their homes, people with credit card debt, pursuant to television news, are only able to pay the minimum payment, our water bill has gone up, then there is the matter of the Memorial Hospital and the added indebtedness that represents, then come the next election the school system will, once again as if on cue, try to dig deeper into our pockets with the argument that it’s for the children. I don’t know about any of you but my income has not gone up, my wife and I are trying to sustain our home on a fixed income while the City Council, the Board, the Water Company and a host of others are trying their very best to make sure that doesn’t continue. The alarming thing about all this is that the general public, facing all these financial woes, is remaining deathly quiet, acting as though they are all independently wealthy and any additional costs is of such little consequence that it doesn’t deserve even a little thought on their part.

If we don’t speak up and act the City Council and the Board will and it will be to late, the only thing left will be to think about how we should have and could have taken a proactive position and prevented it.

This training, educational center, called a prison re-entry facility (kind of hard to grasp the concept), sounds like a college my grandson is applying for, difference is he will have to pay dearly for it; what is wrong with this picture?
At the Board meeting when section “S-3” Prison Re-Entry Facility was brought up three men, I’ll stand corrected but I believe all claimed to have practical experience within prison facilities, stood up and spoke representing some religious group. They all expressed their desire for this so-called prison to go forward. There have been reports in the Salinas Californian about this proposed facility, the Mayor was promoting it on the radio last Saturday morning and the concept has been on the local nightly news, but what I find so striking is the deathly silence regarding the victims, the hurt, the loss and terror they suffered, forgotten as though swept under the rug. Their experience will be with them a life time, there is no consideration shown to them, no fancy technically sophisticated learning transitional facility for them, they live with the reality of their nightmare 24/7.

In my previous entry I spoke of some of the things we can expect; at the meeting they told us the staff for this proposed facility will range between 325-350, of course the number could, and probably will, go higher. The promoters tried to buffer this by saying they will buy homes and become tax payers in our community. If this boondoggle goes through we will need all the extra help we can get. Don’t forget the benefits packages they will all receive, all coming out of our pockets. Everything imaginable that will be deemed necessary for these little angels to use and enjoy will be coming out of your constantly shrinking wallets. With this added burden how many of us will have to cut even more corners and do without all for their benefit? Prisoners have never had it so good. We need to be truthful with ourselves concerning this mollycoddling prison and while you are in thoughtful consideration, grab your wallet, because the tax man cometh.One gentleman stood up at the Board Meeting, I do not know his name, but he stood up on behalf of what I wrote concerning the “Toughest Sheriff in America,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who I feel, if we want to save endless millions in tax dollars, we should emulate. He brought up the $50 million the Salinas Californian stated we, the tax payers, who else, would have to pony up. He also mentioned a figure of $11 million. He told the Board we should give consideration to Sheriff Arpaio’s methods and his Tent City. Well how did the Board respond? There was a minute or two of talk concerning the $11 million but never a word about the $50 million, of course not, the tax payers shouldn’t be encumbered with the facts. Supervisor Salinas did his best to provide a few disparaging remarks aimed at Sheriff Arpaio, easy to do when the big man is not present to respond. Supervisor Salinas brought up that Sheriff Arpaio/Maricopa County have been sued for over $40 million dollars and he said that 14 of those incarcerated have died. I don’t have to defend Sheriff Arpaio but I have read that he has over 10,000 prisoners in his jail system and the “Vancy Sign” he has up never goes out, and that approximately 2000 occupy the tents. His arrests average 300 a day and he has a volunteer posse of over 3,000. He has been the Sheriff since 1992. The voters respect him and he has even been asked to run for the Presidency. He has saved the tax payers of his county over $70 million in what they would have had to pay should he have built another facility for overcrowding. The ACLU and a few others like them have sued over the last 15 years but Sheriff Arpaio has saved the tax payers many more millions then have ever been paid out, in fact, he returned $5 million this last fiscal year, go to: http://www.mcso.org/include/pr_pdf/s%20Budget.pdf
Also:http://www.mcso.org/

Which office in Monterey County has ever returned money at the end of the fiscal year, much less $5 million? Can you think of any?

In closing I’ll ask those of you who may read this how many times you have been hung up on when calling a County Supervisors office? I had that happen to me yesterday. I was asking a few questions of the person that answered the phone. I mentioned Sheriff Arpaio and his approach and how we could follow his example. I was abruptly asked about how he treats those that are incarcerated. I responded that these individuals are there because they broke the law, they are therefore criminals and are treated as such…CLINK!Criminal: somebody acting illegally: somebody who has committed a crime, a person that has done something wrong, unlawful, illegitimate, dishonest, against the law.

I find the stunning indifference demonstrated by the Board and certain members of the City Council concerning this matter appalling. Their minds are made up, no room for discussion, it’s a done deal, the only thing left is the formality of so-called public meetings and the drying of the ink on the dotted line.

In spite of this there is only one down card left in the game and it’s time to turn it up, that’s what this has all come down to, we all must express our loathing to the Supervisors on the Board, the Mayor and City Council members for this prison re-entry facility.

Remember, what Maricopa County has done Monterey County can do. As they say it’s only money, but it’s our money, our community.

Prisoner Re-Entry Facility

If the people do nothing to stop this then the city and county will be allowed to follow their own preconceived ideas and we will all end up with a nightmare.

Here is food for thought on saving the tax payers of Salinas and Monterey County millions of dollars into perpetuity.

In this country there is “one” Sheriff that has the reputation of being the “toughest” Sheriff. To those of you who may not be familiar with Joe Arpaio, he is the Maricopa Arizona County Sheriff. He became Sheriff in 1992 and has been continuously reelected by the voters ever sense.

He doesn’t play games with politicians or with tax payers money and he is tough as nails on those under incarceration in his system. He has been harshly criticized by many but he stands his ground, he is a man of conviction that will not give way to political pressure.

In our system, after our jail facility was built there were those, believe it or not, who would break the law in order to be housed there. Lets face it, three meals a day, work or not, cable television, basketball, weights, free haircuts and of course free medical for every real or contrived ailment (especially when it came to being removed from a work detail), then of course the eventual wake up when the poor things would be released back into the cruel, cold world where they would be expected to stand tall and be a productive citizen. For many the free cot, hot meals and benefits was and still is just to much of a deal to resist.

Sheriff Arpaio believes in the punishment aspect of inmate incarceration, When the inmates complain he tells them, “If You Don't Like It, Don't Come Back.” Inmates meals are limited to twice daily, some food items were banned from the county jail, mainly coffee as it has no nutritional value, but later also salt and pepper, this, of course, resulted in considerable tax payer savings. Smoking was also banned, as well as pornographic magazines, weightlifting equipment is gone and entertainment is limited to G-rated movies.

He has a huge farm, where inmates can work. They grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food. He also has a hog farm, which provides meat, and fertilizer; gee this sounds similar to what Monterey County had up until the 70’s.

He has chain gangs, men, women and possibly juvenile by now, used as a means of rehabilitation performing menial tasks around the county. In today’s world he had to have a chain gang for women so he wouldn’t get sued for discrimination.

We were told in the Californian report that the prisoner re-entry facility must have the OK by Aug. 14, or the county will lose $80 million in state funds to expand the over-crowded county jail. Sheriff Arpaio was faced with a dilemma because of overcrowding, that on one hand could cost the tax payers $70 million or result in early release; sounds like all the talk we have been hearing doesn’t it? There is always an alternative if one looks deep enough and allows for a little creative thinking. Sheriff Arpaio obtained surplus tents from the military and set up tents in a parking lot adjacent to one of the jail facilities. This operation became known as “Tent City.“ Overcrowding? No problem, put up more tents. Early release? Don’t even think about it.

We were told the County will receive the $80 million. Then there is the matter of $50 million. Taxpayers will have to dig deep forever. The inmates, left to their own ingenuity, would take from the people whatever they could get away with, and yet the County wants to provide all these benefits for them, of course it will also require a considerable staff, all receiving their own very handsome benefits package. What a concept, endless money for staff, facility, equipment and the little angels under their care, all at tax payer expense.

It was reported that there are no state-operated re-entry facilities, but by establishing them the state hopes to lower the recidivism rate for inmates by 70 percent. Lower the recidivism rate for inmates by 70 percent? Through mollycoddling? Endless benefits? How about punishment? I thought such places were to be used as a means of punishment for crimes committed not as an R & R facility?

While the county Board of Supervisors has approved the jail expansion, they do not yet know where they will come up with the $50 million. This has to be the craziest statement I have ever read. There is no surprise that the Board would approve this project, but to say they don’t know where they will come up with the 50 mil is a joke. Where do you think? Right out of everyone’s pocket now and with an open budget line expense for posterity.

"By the time the jail is built it may already be overcrowded," This 50 mil is just the tip of the iceberg that people are conversing about, in my opinion, to pony up and commit more of our dwindling funds, is like throwing money into a black hole. There are alternatives but they don’t represent a nice new, clean facility with state of the art sophistication.

Sheriff Kanalakis said, referring to the county's legal liability. "If a court puts a cap on the number of inmates we can house we will have to release some." With everything under the sun going up and trying to maintain a family do we really need to hear more moaning and groaning, budget this, budget that, no room available for incarceration, have to implement early release, need more jails, tax payers must dig deeper or see the possibility of early release of these little angels onto our streets, in our neighborhoods and around our schools? I believe the idea for this undertaking is ludicrous.

I see no reason why we can not implement the same procedures here as are in force in Maricopa County. Our County could integrate new thinking, we don’t always have to settle for added debt onto the citizenry. We could have our own tent city, we could have our own chain gangs, we could remove everything in our jail system but the very necessary essentials. We could save our money. Why should inmates be allotted all these /or any benefits and in many cases live better then the tax payers whose money is collected which provide for their luxuries? We don’t have to go into millions and millions of dollars of endless debt for a re-entry facility, we can do as Sheriff Joe Arpaio did when faced with his $70 million dilemma. He found a new way and earned the respect and admiration of the citizens who were spared the financial pain they would have had to endure if encumbered with an additional $70 million plus of debt. Speaking of recidivism, I doubt that any person who was a prior inmate of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County, wants to go back anytime soon to visit his facility.

The following are a few sights to check out concerning Sheriff Arpaio:
CNN - Arizona criminals find jail too in-'tents' - July 27, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/27/tough.sheriff/
YouTube - Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Chain Gang Tent City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1tfIKUZ0fY
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
http://www.mcso.org/index.php?a=GetModule&mn=Sheriff_Bio
sheriffjoe.com - RE-ELECT SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO - Tent City: “Vacancy Sign Is Always On”
http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=49
WEBCommentary(tm) - America’s Toughest Sheriff
http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/ShowArticle.asp?id=barrettt&date=070321

It’s time to start thinking outside of the box, try something uniquely different, follow a proven example, something that has been proven to work and do away with the endless parade of excuses and implement a proven procedure.

It is not necessary to cripple ourselves financially; we don’t have to listen to the politicians who are trying to cajole us into adding further incredibly crippling tax burdens onto our already stooped shoulders only to have them passed onto our children and grandchildren.

This is just another scheme the politicians think they can pass onto an unknowing, unconcerned, apathetic, indifferent, public. It is up to you, the public, to let the Board and Council know that you are not going to stand for it, not in your community.

The Mayor said there are communities standing in line for this opportunity, well fine, if they are that naïve then let them have it, but don’t presume to think that just because the State, the Sheriff and a few on the City Council and on the Board of Supervisors want this that they are speaking for the community as a whole, they aren‘t.

Sense overcrowding is a major issue we can solve that the same way Sheriff Arpaio did, not as a thoughtless, insensitive tax burden, but through cleverness and originality he created “Tent City,” savings the tax payers millions and the argument concerning overcrowding is no longer an issue. We can implement the same procedures as he did. Call you County Supervisors and City Council members, don’t stand for the status quo and don’t be condescended to, demand this alternative, it’s your money and it’s your community.

I’ll end by quoting something I once read from Galileo Galilei, “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.”

Prisoner Re-Entry Facility In Salinas

Here is food for thought on saving the tax payers of Salinas and Monterey County millions of dollars into perpetuity which may not be considered as appropriate to some, there are bleeding hearts everywhere and in some areas they might even make up a majority and anything like I’m about to suggest would never be supported. Participatory interaction of our citizens accompanied by their suggestions for an alternative to this facility, along with tax savings points of view is paramount.

In this country there is “one” Sheriff that has the reputation of being the “toughest” Sheriff. To those of you who may not be familiar with Joe Arpaio, he is the Maricopa Arizona County Sheriff. He became Sheriff in 1992 and has been continuously reelected by the voters ever sense.

He doesn’t play games with politicians or with tax payers money and he is tough as nails on those under incarceration in his system. He has been harshly criticized by many but he stands his ground, he is a man of conviction that will not give way to political pressure.

In our system, after our jail facility was built there were those, believe it or not, who would break the law in order to be housed there. Lets face it, three meals a day, work or not, cable television, basketball, weights, free haircuts and of course free medical for every real or contrived ailment (especially when it came to being removed from a work detail), then of course the eventual wake up when the poor things would be released back into the cruel, cold world where they would be expected to stand tall and be a productive citizen. For many the free cot, hot meals and benefits was and still is just to much of a deal to resist.

Sheriff Arpaio believes in the punishment aspect of inmate incarceration, When the inmates complain he tells them, “If You Don't Like It, Don't Come Back.” Inmates meals are limited to twice daily, some food items were banned from the county jail, mainly coffee as it has no nutritional value, but later also salt and pepper, this, of course, resulted in considerable tax payer savings. Smoking was also banned, as well as pornographic magazines, weightlifting equipment is gone and entertainment is limited to G-rated movies.

He has a huge farm, where inmates can work. They grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food. He also has a hog farm, which provides meat, and fertilizer; gee this sounds similar to what Monterey County had up until the 70’s.

He has chain gangs, men, women and possibly juvenile by now, used as a means of rehabilitation performing menial tasks around the county. In today’s world he had to have a chain gang for women so he wouldn’t get sued for discrimination.

We are told in the Californian report that the prisoner re-entry facility must have the OK by Aug. 14, or the county will lose $80 million in state funds to expand the over-crowded county jail. Sheriff Arpaio was faced with a dilemma because of overcrowding, that on one hand could cost the tax payers $70 million or result in early release; sounds like all the talk we have been hearing doesn’t it? There is always an alternative if one looks deep enough and allows for a little creative thinking.

Sheriff Arpaio obtained surplus tents from the military and set up tents in a parking lot adjacent to one of the jail facilities. This operation became known as “Tent City.“ Overcrowding? No problem, put up more tents. Early release? Don’t even think about it.

We are told the County will receive the $80 million. Then there is the matter of $50 million. Taxpayers will have to dig deep forever. The inmates, left to their own ingenuity, would take from the people whatever they could get away with, and yet the County wants to provide all these benefits for them, of course it will also require a considerable staff, all receiving their own very handsome benefits package. What a concept, endless money for staff, facility, equipment and the little angels under their care, all at tax payer expense.

It is reported that there are no state-operated re-entry facilities, but by establishing them the state hopes to lower the recidivism rate for inmates by 70 percent. Lower the recidivism rate for inmates by 70 percent? Through mollycoddling? Endless benefits? How about punishment? I thought such places were to be used as a means of punishment for crimes committed not as an R & R facility?

While the county Board of Supervisors has approved the jail expansion, they do not yet know where they will come up with the $50 million. This has to be the craziest statement I have ever read. There is no surprise that the Board would approve this project, but to say they don’t know where they will come up with the 50 mil is a joke. Where do you think? Right out of everyone’s pocket now and with an open budget line expense for posterity.

"By the time the jail is built it may already be overcrowded." This 50 mil is just the tip of the iceberg that people are conversing about, in my opinion, to pony up and commit more of our dwindling funds, is like throwing money into a black hole. There are alternatives but they don’t represent a nice new, clean facility with state of the art sophistication. I’ve discovered in my career that the things that aren’t being said, create an enigma, they are like supportive but unheard notes in a composition, these are the important things, the things that matter, you must listen very intently to distinguish them.

Sheriff Kanalakis said, referring to the county's legal liability. "If a court puts a cap on the number of inmates we can house we will have to release some." With everything under the sun going up and trying to maintain a family do we really need to hear more moaning and groaning, budget this, budget that, no room available for incarceration, have to implement early release, need more jails, tax payers must dig deeper or see the possibility of early release of these little angels onto our streets, in our neighborhoods and around our schools? I believe the idea for this undertaking is ludicrous. Maybe for those with big paychecks, looking at big paydays at retirement, who may move out of the area once retired, this may not seem like much, but to many of the rest of us the idea is unconscionable.

I see no reason why we can not implement the same procedures here as are in force in Maricopa County. Our County could integrate new thinking, we don’t always have to settle for added debt onto the citizenry. We could have our own tent city, we could have our own chain gangs, we could remove everything in our jail system but the very necessary essentials. We could save our money. Why should inmates be allotted all these /or any benefits and in many cases live better then the tax payers whose money is collected which provide for their luxuries? We don’t have to go into millions and millions of dollars of endless debt for a re-entry facility, we can do as Sheriff Joe Arpaio did when faced with his $70 million dilemma. He found a new way and earned the respect and admiration of the citizens who were spared the financial pain they would have had to endure if encumbered with an additional $70 million plus of debt. Speaking of recidivism, I doubt that any person who was a prior inmate of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County, wants to go back anytime soon to visit his facility.

The following are a few sights to check out concerning Sheriff Arpaio:

CNN - Arizona criminals find jail too in-'tents' - July 27, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/US/9907/27/tough.sheriff/

YouTube - Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Chain Gang Tent City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1tfIKUZ0fY

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
http://www.mcso.org/index.php?a=GetModule&mn=Sheriff_Bio

sheriffjoe.com - RE-ELECT SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO - Tent City: “Vacancy Sign Is Always On”
http://www.sheriffjoe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=49

WEBCommentary(tm) - America’s Toughest Sheriff
http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/ShowArticle.asp?id=barrettt&date=070321

Having said all this I must say that I’m sure our Sheriff is doing his very best. He may well be snagged down with a mountain of bureaucratic b. s., from an endless parade of bleeding hearts and liberal politicians, that may be hindering his approach to alternative measures that would enable him to navigate around this immense financial obstacle.

It’s time to start thinking outside of the box, try something uniquely different, follow a proven example, do away with the endless excuses and implement a proven procedure.

Wal-Mart

I’ve waited to read the various opinions of those opining over the proposed Wal-Mart. I have a different view.

There is a lot of talk of building a giant Wal-Mart in Soledad that will consume 45 acres of productive farm land, eliminate the precious resource of that top soil and the production it contributes to this and countless areas. Stores as far east as New Hampshire sell lettuce from the Salinas Valley. We were once rightly referred to as the "Lettuce Bowl" of the country, now because of thoughtless politicians, greedy speculators and builders our farm land is being encroached upon and ravaged at an alarming rate. Listening to KION I heard it said that the Salinas Mayor, Dennis Donohue, who says he is a farmer, commented that there are possibly 20,000 acres of unnecessary farm land in the Salinas Valley that are not needed for production. I thought this was an amazing thing for anyone to say.

With Salinas and the surrounding areas growing exponentially, our farm land dissolving away, what is our and our grandchildren’s future going to look like? At the present rate of development, because of supply and demand, will the price of vegetables grow out of site? Will there come a time where we will eventually have to revert to digging up our back yards to try and grow what we need? Mayors/politicians come and go (usually everyone is happy to see them go), speculators and builders come, destroy the farm land and leave in their wake over crowding, dirty streets, increased crime, the need for added police, increased taxes, and substantially less productive land for the area to use for crops and grazing. Without the food and livestock we grow, without the necessary farmland required for these endeavors, we have only one end.

With the coming of Wal-Mart to the Soledad area does anyone believe that it will end there? Soon there will be talk of building another box store, more acreage lost. Look at the building that has been going on from Salinas to south county, consider the loss of all that precious top soil and the crops grown from it. At what point do we say that’s enough, stop and draw that line in the rich ground, that’s left, and say not one foot more? How much are we as a people willing to give up? We say it’s only 45 acres of productive agricultural land; once it’s gone it’s gone.

I was told the price of vegetables is to low; to coin what one person said, “that’s a croc.” The prices keep going up and the cost of living is a real burden, especially to those on a fixed income. Much of our agricultural land, as you know, is being taken out of food production for the purpose of ethanol, and the cost of everything we consume is being affected. Combine the effects of land being used for ethanol with land going under for building and we have a real problem looming on the horizon.

I tire of politicians showing little regard for protecting our dwindling farm land, our limited water supply and displaying condescending attitudes towards the people in their communities. I do not live in Soledad but my wife and I have lived in the Salinas Valley since 1969 and we remember how it once was as do many of you. This unbridled growth is going to eventually destroy what once was proudly referred to as “The Salad Bowl of America.”

Salinas, Looking Back

Saturday, July 05, 2008

In my previous endeavor, “Coming to Salinas,” I spoke of our trip coming to Salinas and what we found once we arrived. The following is a continuation of those thoughts.

When we (my wife, two kids and I) arrived in the area we somehow found ourselves in Monterey, we spent the night there in a big motel, I remember how nice we thought everything was. We were exhausted, the kids were grumpy, we had just traveled nearly six hundred miles, how we ended up in Monterey I’ll never know. My wife had family in Salinas so we called them and her brother-in-law came to Monterey to guide us to Salinas and to their home on California Street, which was lined with Flowering Magnolia trees, they were beautiful. Coming into Salinas, near the River Road exit I was blown away by all the farm land, farming operations going on everywhere, I couldn't believe it. I grew up near the mountains and only saw things like this in books, so to me this was fantastic to see and quite beautiful.

As we were getting settled we had no choice but to enjoy the hospitality of my wife’s sister and her husband, the 3500 mile trip out here had proved to be an enormous drain on our meager savings. The people were also open and friendly, not like today, everyone acting as though they are afraid to speak, we use to call such people stuck-up and rude, now it seems to be normal practice, it’s funny and sometimes sad how things get turned around.

I started work at the Monterey County Hospital, I was so happy to land a job, after being here just two weeks, I was willing to do anything and put up with any inconvenience just to be able to bring a pay check home to my family and to get us started looking for our new home. My wife’s brother-in-law never said anything but I know it had to have been a blessing to him for us to move into our new home, four extra people in a home not set up for it can be brutal. I’ll always be grateful for their hospitality.

The County Hospital was unique, as I drove in the public parking lot was on the lower left, the boiler/maintenance department was on the upper left above the parking lot. Following that to the right brought you to the Emergency Room, then to the front entrance, there were stairs leading down to the parking lot. The back of the hospital was nicely arranged, in a homey sort of way, there was even a house used as doctors quarters. At the far end of the hospital was the kitchen and receiving area and there was a loading dock leading into the back kitchen. There were a few scattered buildings followed by two at the end that were utilized by the maintenance crew, whose activities included mowing, sweeping around the hospital grounds and tree trimming. I was part of that crew. The County Farm facility was behind our maintenance building.

The County Jail had a good thing going back then, they raised their own food plus vegetables for the hospital. The inmates were housed a in labor camp type facility and during the day had to report for work in the fields surrounding the hospital, incredibly productive fields that are now littered with houses, what a waste. They also raised chickens, gathered eggs, and had hogs and cattle. This was all used in a self sustaining way, beneficial to the inmate population and to the county hospital and other county facilities. This type of farming operation also provided training to the inmates. Salinas was surrounded by farms so there would be no excuse why they couldn’t find gainful employment once released.

The hospital changed its name to the Natividad Medical Center, I helped put up the new sign. I remember how people would go horse back riding through out that back area, now a horse would get run over.

The hospital also had a T. B. wing at the back side and four or five homes across from the back parking lot used as doctors quarters, I have no idea if they are still there, probably not. I remember how the families of the doctors were not very happy when the County built the new jail facility behind the hospital.

After the facility was built there were those, believe it or not, who would break the law in order to housed there. Lets face it, three meals a day, work or not, television, basketball, weights, free haircuts and of course free medical for every real or contrived ailment (especially when it came to being removed from a work detail), then of course the eventual wake up when the poor things would be released back into the cruel, cold world where they would be expected to stand tall and be a productive citizen. For many the free cot and hot meals was and still is just to much of a deal to resist. This county desperately needs a “Sheriff Joe Arpaio.”

I remember one of my jobs was to clean around the hospital parking areas. The Eucalyptus trees were dropping leaves constantly, that and the litter deposited by people going to the hospital kept me busy a full day out of five. I was given two brooms, a flat shovel, a rake and a large horse cart with big wagon wheels to push around the property, it was heavy. Going up and down that hill to the right of the hospital was a killer, especially when the cart was full, I still wonder how I did it, just plain strength and determination I guess.

I utilized inmates for added labor but was restricted in what they were allowed to do. If it started to sprinkle they had to be rounded up and taken back to the facility, they couldn’t be given anything to strenuous to do, like pushing that horse cart up and down hills, they could help with the raking and sweeping but it was my responsibility to push the cart. Mowing the lawns or using any kind of power equipment was also off the table.

So what have we got now? The productive farm land is all gone, that rich, fertile top soil gone forever. The cattle, hogs, chickens and the eggs they produced gone. The inexpensive labor camp facility used to house the inmates also gone, nothing but memories of a bygone era, but not so very long ago. Those elected as leaders of our community over the past years can sit back, swelled with pride and expound over how fortunate we are to have experienced such growth. After all, who needs all that top soil, all those crops? The farming operation that once was doesn’t amount to a pile of sand when compared to all the houses, roads and business that now litter the landscape and lets not forget the tax dollars. Everything takes precedence over what once was, after all, this represents progress. Does it?

Casual Leadership

I find it amazing how some politicians take their positions of leadership whether city counsel, county supervisor, mayor or President of the U. S. A. so casually, as though everyday is casual Friday. In my opinion it shows no respect for the office they hold. If they don’t respect their office how can they respect the people they are there to serve? If they don’t respect the people how can they be trusted to serve at their best interest? I have been told that you can judge the inside of a house by the exterior appearance and thereby judge the character of its owner. I believe this also applies to those elected to offices of high responsibility. If that elected leader goes to his/her office as though coming in from a back yard barbeque, showing absolutely zero respect for that office, or to the people he/she is there to serve, it should make one wonder.

The following is an example of what I am writing about.

Both Ronald and Nancy Reagan revered the Oval Office.

As President, Ronald Reagan made it a policy always to wear a suit and tie in the Oval Office.
Before taking office in early 1981, Reagan told aides he was stunned to see photos of Jimmy Carter lounging in the Oval Office in blue jeans and no tie. The soon-to-be-inaugurated 40th president then vowed that "things are going to change."

In this time of everyone speaking of change, although most could not provide rational particulars, wouldn’t it be nice to see elected officials attired in a dignified manner showing respect to the people and to the office they hold?