Letters to the Editor

Imagine Santa Paula Forum a hit To the Editor:Imagine Santa Paula was a great event! The speakers, who are truly respected leaders in their fields, had a message for us: “Don’t take your town for granted...because it’s an ideal place to apply beautiful mixed-use, live work, traditional town housing developments.”It’s happening across the nation - folks are moving back to their town centers. Finally, Santa Paula has an opportunity to build on its assets. With demand up for new urban housing and with more support for smart growth by financial institutions and public policy - investment in town centers is the new hot market. In short, we really can create the kind of healthy and vibrant community that we all like to Imagine in Santa Paula.To the 130 people who attended the event - thank you. To all the people who helped organize the forum, set-up, provide art and décor - Thank you. And to Rick Cole (City Mgr. Azusa, former Mayor Pasadena), Mainstreet Architects, Sargent Town Planning, Moule & Polyzoides Architects, Odyssey Development, Creative Housing Associates, and Fannie Mae - Thank you, for seeing the potential in Santa Paula. We’ll be in touch!And for those who were unable to attend, but would like to learn how traditional town planning can enhance your neighborhood and our city center - call Imagine Santa Paula at 933-0075.Michael MillerSanta PaulaDifferent prioritiesTo the Editor:Re: Dee Johnston remarks on 5/3/02I’m responding to Ms. Johnston’s remarks and concerns about me not attending the growth and housing conference held at the high school on Saturday, April 27, 2002. I’m pleased that she was able to attend this meeting along with other Santa Paula residents, three council members, city staff members and other guests.While you were attending this informational meeting I, along with other city supporters, was at the newest mural dedication at the Bank of America. We first listened to the high school band, and then were treated to a brief history of each photo depicted in the mural.Because I chose to attend the mural dedication you attacked me and Mr. Johnson, who was also at this dedication.I have and will keep attending the Women of History dinners, the Macho Man roasts, DARE programs, mural dedications, and many other enjoyable local events I’ve been invited to. My wife and I have purchased all of the murals, Cruise Night T-shirts, Chamber shirts, and numerous Bar B Q dinners from our local schools and nonprofit organizations.My questions to you are: Besides this one meeting you attended that you chastise me about, what other community events have you attended? How many T-shirts do you own from Cruise Night’s past? How many dinners have you bought from the FFA, how many kids have you helped? How many Little League teams have you coached? How many football teams have you coached? How many murals have you purchased? How many mural dedications have you attended? How many years have you lived in Santa Paula? What is your real agenda?Hopefully you will question, voice your concern, and chide the NEW developer’s vision for Fagan Canyon as hard as you have attacked the Adams Canyon project. I hear tell they now want to build 1,000 homes in that little Fagan Canyon instead of 450. Hmmm...I wonder why? I wonder where their sewer waste will go? Where are they going to get their drinking water? Talk about traffic flow and congestion, Fagan Canyon only dumps out onto Santa Paula Street, a residential area.We all have our own priorities, likes and dislikes, religions, political opinions, and ideas on growth. So please don’t condemn me for choosing to attend something I wanted to go to, and for having a different view on growth other than yours.See you around town....Rick CookCouncil MemberOff the track...To the Editor:A fundraiser barbecue was held on April 6, and the Santa Paula Track and Field team would like to thank those who made this possible: Wild Bill’s Catering, for donating his equipment and services; Michocana Bakery for preparing the bread rolls; Tresierras Market for the chicken; El Pescador Restaurant, Chuy thanks for all you did for us; Sylvia Ming for the firewood and the little extras; Coach Ed Hernandez for making the tickets; and most of all everyone who bought a ticket and made this a successful fundraiser. We were able to make $900, and this will help pay for our uniform debt.If you would like to make a donation, please send your donation to: Santa Paula Track and Field, 404 N. 6th St., Santa Paula, CA 93060.Thank you.Coach Hank AlmanzaSanta PaulaWhat if...?To the Editor:The other evening, after the stores had closed, I saw a young woman with broom and dustpan cleaning up the street. My heart was immediately grateful and I took the time to personally thank this conscientious citizen.My first thought was “What if” everyone took the time each day to clean up the street in front of their home or business? My second thought was “What if” each of us took responsibility not to throw down our trash in the first place? “What if” each of us taught our children to put trash in proper receptacles?Could we imagine a Santa Paula so clean that visitors to this fair city would go away with an impression of cleanliness? Why not? Visitors to cities in northern Europe come back with remarks about how clean it all is over there.If this clean campaign took hold, could we imagine a city that would be attractive just through the cleanliness and thoughtfulness of its citizens? Would that attraction bring new citizens and new business and manufacturing and new jobs to Santa Paula?Future Santa Paula could begin with a “clean sweep” plank in a platform of progress. This first step would not be hard on the budget, but could bring rich rewards. Leaders would not have a hard time selling this to their groups. And all of us could participate and be a part of this new future.My hope is that the young woman cleaning the street will give each of us a new vision for a future Santa Paula and a motivation to join her in building that future together.Pastor Ron DybvigEmmanuel Church of Santa PaulaChildren part of CentennialCelebrationTo the Editor:For whatever reason, the president of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce took an unwarranted poke at the Centennial Committee in his letter last week when he said children were overlooked in the planning of centennial festivities. He is mistaken. Children’s entertainment extends above and beyond carnival rides.Leading up to the big centennial celebration, there were three weekends of free educational entertainment for both young and old featuring Mexican regional music and dance. I saw many children enjoying those events as well as taking part in them. Then, during the big centennial weekend festival, we had a petting zoo, pony rides, arts and crafts, two Jolly Jumpers, face painting, skating events, a magic act, and chalk art with prizes. Additionally, on Saturday afternoon the band Acension presented a free live concert designed especially for teenagers.No, children’s activities were not missing from the planning of Santa Paula’s birthday celebration. What was missing, however, was something that would have been most welcomed by me: the unifying assistance or even moral support from the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce and, for that matter, the Latino Town Hall as well. They missed a great opportunity to help us step over the threshold, hand in hand, into our second century.Bill GlennSanta PaulaSanta Paula comes through again