Red Line (Aug. 24)
All comments are edited for length and content. Because of content or space limitations, some comments may not be published. More than one comment from the same person during the same week will normally not be published. Please limit calls to two minutes or less.
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“I must be a little dense,” began a man’s call. “I thought the casino out on (Avenue) 17 was a dead issue. I’m against it and I think if you took a survey of Madera they would be against it. Everyone should stand up and holler ‘no casino’ three times real loud. Maybe the city council, county council, council council, whatever they call themselves need to realize the people do not want a gambling place here.”
A few callers said otherwise after reading about the casino remaining a possibility. “That’s great. I think it will bring jobs, and most of all tax dollars for improvement to the city and county.”
Another caller said, “after reading that the next hurdle has been cleared by the casino on Avenue 17 I can hardly wait. I know there are people against it, but our economy is so bad here it can only help. Look what the mountain casino has done in support of Fresno and Madera. They gave a big grant to help with the new Youth Center and that’s just one thing.”
A woman “went to the hospital to have some tests done. Afterward, I ask one of the volunteers if she would please call me Dial-a-Ride. She refused. When I asked again, she picked up the phone and pretended to call Dial-a-Ride. I ended up calling them myself and didn’t get home until late.”
A lady “placed an ad for an English-speaking gardener. The lady who took my ad changed it to Spanish-speaking gardener. I got hundreds of calls from people that only spoke Spanish. The reason I put English only because I speak English, not Spanish. I hope these people would learn to write the ad as written by the customer.”
“Your coverage of the recent annual rib cook-off left a lot to be desired,” said a gentleman. “Good photos, but your reporter, Elsa Mejia, doesn’t seem to be able to get names or titles right. One of the volunteer judges was long time Shades of Grey vocalist Bud Sanders, yet she wrote his name as Buzz. The leader of the Elks Lodge is called the exalted ruler. It may sound a little uppity, but the title, and the history behind it, is deserving. She wrote president. A little more attention to detail by Miss Mejia would have made for a better read.” (WEBMASTER’S NOTE: Bud Sanders provided his name to the Tribune reporter as “Buzz” and confirmed it when she showed the name to him in writing at the event. If the name was in error, she could hardly be blamed.)
A woman who left her name, said, “in response to (people calling about) mistakes in the Tribune, pat yourself on the back. You’re more informed by reading the Tribune than most in the nation. I commend you. Even noting the mistakes you’re reading. Good for you.”
A woman “wanted to comment on last week’s caller that complained about illegals being on welfare. I disagree. Studies show that the majority on welfare are Caucasian, white people. You should get your facts straight.”
A lady said, “I think all schools should make kids wear uniforms. It would prevent problems with dress codes.”
A woman had a “message for John Stafford, Madera School District Superintendent, and his e-mails to CSEA (California School Employees Association). You’re not supposed to be using it for that.”
Yet another woman said, “The CSEA wants to have another vote to oust president Rachel Cam. I think that’s wrong. I sure don’t want Alice and don’t want the merit system.”
A similar comment from a female said, “The merit system can go out the window and Alice can go with it. I think Rachel is doing a great job and next time we vote I’d like to vote the merit system out. I know a lot of people that feel the same way.”
Online contributor Victor Sandoval said, “I’m glad we have the constitution to approve healthy programs like the one we’re working in Madera. It’s exciting to see progress in military efforts. Trust me, I know what it’s like to start over. I hope it follows the way its meant to be.”
“Invasion of illegals from other countries into the United States is an act of war, no mistake about it” said another online contributor. “(Problems happen) every day in our country because of illegals, and it is not just along the border states. They are taking our kindness, Bill of Rights, (and the 14th Amendment), and twisting it to meet their evil needs as criminals that hide behind their religion of hate.
“People need to know that the Madera County Courts will not allow you to borrow a pen when writing them a check,” writes a woman online. “They say it is due to budget. They stood there with a pen in their hand and told me I would have to leave and come back with a pen. When I took the issue up, it was then stated it was also a safety issue. I told them if it was a safety issue, then pens would not be allowed in the court house … then how would I write a check?”
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Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478 or by visiting maderatribuneredline.com on the Internet.
Five reasons why I’m voting Democrat this fall.
5. I want the government to take more money from me and give it to people that
don’t pay taxes.
4. While unemployment has stayed around 10% the federal government continues to grow. Bigger government is a good thing.
3. I am not a racist but everyone that disagrees with the president clearly is.
2. The government spends about $1,000,000,000.00 (that’s one trillion) on the “war on poverty” each year. We have the same percentage of people in poverty as we had 20 years ago. Obviously we need to spend more of your money.
And the number one reason I’m voting Democrat: I so enjoyed having health care reform jammed down our throats that I just can’t wait to see what Nancy, Harry and President BO will do next.
I’ll remember in November.
Don Williams
Madera, Ca.
I just wanted to know , how many of you are tire of these people running the state that are not doing their job correcly. you know the state budget is 3 months late, do they know how much money they are costing the tax payers. but then again they are probably getting overtime. no budget is going to be perfect, they need to stop looking for things to hen-pick at and do what they are payed to do and get it done. Democrat or Republican does not matter just make California the envy of our great nation, like it once was.
(GYM NAME REMOVED) in Madera is really trying to rip people off. We have paid our membership and last night were told they will no longer have any group excersice classes. Only a 1 day notice. Some of us joined the gym just because of the group classes….. Very sad for us that enjoy them,
County Courts Pen – response to pennies and “pen in purse” … In regards to the pennies and coin, they don’t accept coin and only exact change, so that won’t work either. I used to have the public do that to me when I at one time worked for the county treasurers office. Public hated paying taxes and would come in with hundreds of dollars in coin.
In regards to the purse comment, what if I was a man? Since this incident, I have heard from other Madera County residents about being denied a pen when being requested to fill out a form!? Also, I have heard from multiple county court employees (no names to keep their identities hidden for fear of retaliation) that this type of “ruling” makes their jobs more difficult, because the public does get upset. Many employees (secretly) “loan” the public pens. But the issue is not about just a pen, it is about the fact that the County Courts are a PUBLIC SERVICE entity and are paid for by PUBLIC MONEY and the public can’t even borrow a pen to write a check, fill out a form, etc.
Also, I am discovering that the Courts (being a public service entity) has absolutely no public oversight. In other words, no forum of any kind that the public can attend and listen to policy, which all other county agencies are mandated to have. Maybe the County Courts need assistance fromt the public and maybe a Oversight Committee can be formed to go over their budgets and assist them in determining where they can save some additional funds to assist them through the next budget year and in turn, also be able to assist the public with their “public funds.”