Red Line (Feb. 16)
Short Video: Tom Mabe’s Cell Phone Prank
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Due to the Tribune’s move to its new location, at 2890 Falcon Drive, some calls may not have been received this week. We apologize if you do not see your message.
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 Because of content or space limitations, some comments may not be published. More than one comment from the same person during the same week will normally not be published.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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The Red Line continues to receive a record number of calls about the Madera Unified School District. Too many to list individually, but the main concerns are reflected in the following calls.
A woman said, “I can’t understand why the school district and county did not have enough foresight to see what was coming. The city government has done a wonderful job in keeping jobs and services during these times. That is showing good leadership.”
“I went to that (school) board meeting last night,” said a lady. “It is funny how the superintendent just sits there with a geeky little smile on his face. Never says a word, but lets his underlings do all the work, presenting, answering questions, helping get out the questions. He just sits there and nowhere on the agenda is there anything about him giving back his astronomical raise.”
A man, “commenting on the school board cuts for the next three years, believes the cuts are coming from the wrong places. They need to start at the top with the superintendent and work their way down. Plain and simple.”
A lady had a message “for the parents of Madera Unified School District. Your superintendent wants to cut teachers and busing for your children. Do you have the time and the money to take them and pick them up every day? Start going to your school board meetings. All of you need to know what is going on.”
Another woman who attended last week’s school board meeting said, “I’ve never been so dismayed and disappointed and appalled at the people who have been elected and appointed to be the leaders of the educational community. They don’t know their budgets. They’re being led around by their noses and they seem to like it. To eliminate schools, programs, ask teachers to do more with less, do you realize the administration got almost a 30 percent raise last month? Where was that in the Tribune? Are you going to support the public? Do some research? What a wonderful school district it was when (superintendent) Julie O’Kane was there. Now look what it has become.”
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A woman “expressed her condolences to the family, and especially the children, of that puppy that was killed by that hit-and-run driver. Secondly, my condolences to the family of the dog that was murdered at the high school campus. I am saddened and sickened by these events that are happening to our poor animals in this community. I just don’t understand how some people can sleep at night knowing what they’ve done to these innocent, helpless animals.”
Another lady wanted “to make a comment about the cruelty to animals in the Feb. 9 edition. This isn’t an isolated incident. It happened a couple of years ago to my daughter’s cat. They live across the street from the high school. Either a security guard or a janitor caught some kids throwing it in the air, throwing rocks at it and kicking it. It turned out to be my daughter’s cat. I don’t know what is happening to the kids in Madera.”
A man called “about an ad in the paper under ‘handyman.’ It advertises tile, concrete driveways, etc. The law requires that person to state that he is a contractor’s member or state that they are not licensed.”
A lady responded to last week’s item about “the police mural. That money comes from Redevelopment, not the city’s general fund. The people of Madera do not realize that when the police department was built it wasn’t even built to the original plans. A lot of things were cut. There was a bond measure a couple of years ago that would have increased patrols. Everybody wanted it, but nobody wanted to pay for it. So you get what you asked for.”
A lady wanted to “thank everyone who came to the Madera Coyote Boosters dance Saturday night. We’re all in this together in trying to raise money for our kids.”
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Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478 or by visiting the Red Line online at www.maderatribuneredline.com.
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Music Video: “Sorrow” by Flyleaf
We are in bad times in Madera and in our State. Our high cost social programs are finally hitting everyones taxed pocket book. We are seeing taxed paid social programs finally being looked at for it’s services instead just having the tax paying citizens paying for all these social programs.
Several of our bleeding heart government officials in the past years have created these social programs, because they did not have a pay as you go program. Now that many of our States tax paying citizens are out of work the tax revenue has stopped for these houndreds of social programs.
The tax paying citizens are seeing inmates being let out of jails because taxes that keep us safe are going to tax paying social programs. Our Supervisors and City Officals need to start looking at these social programs for fraud and needs. A couple weeks ago on the evening news they stated marriages are down, they didn’t know why?
They can figure that generations of social programs have paid our young people to not marry because they get paid for ever child they have out of wedlock. “It’s called the single parent social program.” Each single parent gets paid hundreds of dollars for each child that is born out of wedlock. This does not stop the couples living together and both having jobs that can actually support them. This is just one of several frauded social programs.
The Tax Paying Citizens need to be appalled at these type of social programs that have become abused. The governments job is to keep us safe, and our roads and infrastructure kept up. Not hundreds of social programs that are dysfunctional and abused.
A guy apparently opened fire on middle school students with a rifle. The math teacher, David Benke, stopped him and probably saved dozens of childrens’ lives at the risk of his own life. This man is a true hero…
We should all take a moment of silence for this man. Thank you.
Pet Peeve “People who think they are better drivers than you, so they think they do not need to put on their HEAD LIGHTS in the FOG!”
It is not solely for you to see in the FOG but for others to see you like other drivers and children walking to school!
You are putting my and my childrens life in danger and you are an (WORD REMOVED)! Yes You!
The response to national disaster is awesome but it’s a d-mn shame that so many citizens take advantage of the negative situations.
I mean everytime there is an earthquake, a flood, an oil spill – there’s always a group of heartless people who rip off tax payers.
This is in response to reading that 4 of Oprah Winfreys “angels” got busted ripping off the system. Shame on them!
(WEB SITE LINK REMOVED)