All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content some comments may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Some weeks, due to the number of comments and space, some may not be published.

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“I’m calling because I have a problem,” began a woman’s call. “It’s about the tennis shoes always hanging on the electrical wires on the streets. Wherever I go I see them and it bothers me quite a bit. Can someone cut them down?”

A woman gave another reason besides “hatred and racism” about the complaint last week concerning ballots “being printed in foreign languages. It is a matter of economics. Consider in order to print materials in two languages a bilingual person must be hired to translate. Plus the extra costs for additional ink and paper that is using our tax dollars.”

“In response to (Madera South) Stallion baseball,” began a man. “It seems some parents have not learned the role of the parent spectator or do they care to. Try attending more than just one or two games. This might help you to understand and appreciate what is being done by both coaches and players on and off the field. Whether they win or lose, quit complaining and being a know-it-all.”

A woman who has read the messages the last two weeks about “the Madera High South (baseball) coaches,” had this comment. “There is a major American Little League team who is going to the city championship four years in a row with different kids; four years straight, different kids, same coaches. So yes, it is the coaches. And for the kids sitting on the bench, why, so they can learn to lose? Their record isn’t much better than last year. Sorry, they’re wrong. It is the coaches.”

Another woman who said was “the lady who responded to Mr. J. Gonzales’ complaint about Madera High South baseball and coach and key players. First of all, I would like to apologize to the coach and his team for responding in a negative way. I have realized the team is young and inexperienced in playing varsity (level) teams. But they try, and for that, I am proud of them.

“It upsets me, Mr. Gonzales that you not only bad mouth your son’s coach, but your team’s brothers in public. I hope it made you feel better. Your son may be sitting on the bench, but at least he is not out on the streets doing heaven knows what. When or lose I support the players and coaches. Keep up the good work, Stallions.”

A man called about the trees being removed at Centennial Park. “Why haven’t they planted new ones?”

Another man seemed concerned about “Centennial Park,” and asked the district’s current supervisor, “what happened to all the grass?”

(Note: The construction at the park is for the new Madera youth center that will provide many activities, programs and projects for Madera’s youth.)

A woman named an “auto sales on the 400 block of South Gateway,” and wondered, “why is it flying the Mexican flag and not flying the American flag? I think it is very disrespectful.”

A woman responded to last week’s caller asking “where (supervisor candidate) John Silva’s residence is. John Silva is not moving around seeking election in different cities because he’s a crook. He’s doing it because he feels he can make a difference to Madera County residents regardless of where he lives.” (Note: Silva is a local resident and former county supervisor.)

A woman, self-identified as D.W., writes on the Red Line online, “Testing is money. Testing is not Teaching folks. NCLB (No Child Left Behind) is creating a bunch of fill in the bubble students, and really leaving our future, our students behind. MUSD has their bottom line and it is not your child’s future — it is all about the money. So they don’t care about the old custom of 8th grade graduation ceremonies.”

Another Internet visitor asks if submitting photographs to the Red Line is possible and writes, “I have a picture of a couple of businesses in downtown Madera that for some reason started construction and then stopped without completing it — Now the unfinished add ons to the buildings are dirty and disgusting looking. … Why will the city build new shopping centers but won’t clean up this or force someone to do it? I think there’s something wrong here.”

An online guest, “Janet,” writes about the Fresno-area death of Meli Sandoval, “It seems in todays society that if you have a rich, white family, you can get away with murder. House arrest, community service and probation is a fairly good exchange for two young lives. I guess two Hispanics gone don’t matter to anyone except to the people that lost them. But then again the people who committed the crime are told they are only to hang out with people of their own color. Racist people are still here, even in the valley…

“Just so you know I am white. I brought my children to love everyone, to help no matter how much it will get them into trouble. Kindness starts at home, too bad not for the the boys who murdered our best friend, sister, daughter, and aunt.”

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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 www.maderatribuneredline.com.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 3:00 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.