Returning veterans should receive help in reacclimating into society
Dear Editor,
I’m writing this letter in response to the article “Murder-Suicide Update: Police find grim evidence inside Iraq veteran’s car” posted in the Morgan Hill Times (March 15, 2012 and updated March 20, 2012.)
War tears families apart in so many ways.
Who would expect a war veteran to return home and kill his little sister and perhaps mother?
Our men and women endure terrible conditions and have haunting experiences during war. It isn’t uncommon for people to come back traumatized. Many have a hard time letting go and trying to have a normal life again. They can be a threat to themselves and society.
Something needs to be done so that our soldiers get wellness exams upon return to their families. They should have a caseworker to offer continued services, monitor behavior and offer support. This could have a highly beneficial affect on our veterans, families and society.
Imagine how this could decrease homelessness of our vets if they had a rehabilitation program that would support their re-adaptation to society. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, according to the national coalition for the homeless. (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html)
Perhaps we could prevent tragedies like the one in this story.
The military should be proactive and require support for our soldiers that return home from combat. As a community we can petition that they do.
Our soldiers deserve it. We owe it to them and our communities for all that they have done for our country and our freedom.
Thank you for your attention. Best wishes to all of the veterans and their families.
Lisa Graser, Morgan Hill
Drink up – we are supporting the police department
Dear Editor,
I think it is vital to support our police department and all of our city government departments.
(Recently) I went into the Mount Madonna office of the Young Men’s Christian Association at the Centennial Recreation Center. A poster was placed on the wall just outside the Teen Center. The large multicolored poster promoted a party for the Cops and Robbers Ball to be held at an alcohol factory. This poster uses words designed to entice children to the idea that having a booze party is a proper way to support the police.
Who printed and authorized the Cops and Robbers signs to be posted in public buildings? I hope the YMCA was not given this authority. Selling alcohol creates more problems then any piece of equipment is worth.
Other, not so good ways, to raise money for a police department might be to have a gun auction, sell marijuana, sell tobacco, organize street racing and set up gambling events.
Public law enforcement must be financed so that they can perform their duties without prejudice. Logically the police should be stationed outside of this public party to assure that no friend, cop, or robber leaves drunk or with an open bottle. Who can be sued if an intoxicated person kills someone after the party – the mayor, who promoted the party in the newspaper – the YMCA?
It is mentioned that some of the money raised by the Morgan Hill Community Law Enforcement Foundation purchases nice things for the police department. The mayor said that the chief of police is a big supporter of CLEF. This advocacy is a conflict of interest. The police chief’s advocacy must be to the city council. They are responsible to finance his department. City department managers are assigned to provide as much service as possible with the resources provided. They are not assigned to raise money. It is detrimental to our public safety for city managers to participate in the promotion and sale of alcohol.
Each of the city departments is underfunded and each is the responsibility of the mayor. All are vital to protect the public.
Setting up little corporations like CLEF is not a way to define or finance public services. The mayor has many options to fund the police department. Increasing the CRC/YMCA membership fee by one dollar will generate at least $10,000 per month. Charging the Mount Madonna YMCA for the headquarters offices at the CRC will generate another $10,000 per month. Eliminating all of the “CRC/YMCA member discounts will generate another large sum of money. There is major money in the hidden Redevelopment funds.
Our elected mayor is promoting voluntary taxation that keeps resources out of the public view and budgetary process. He is probably subjecting our city to legal risk.
All decisions about the funding of public services must involve the city council in public meetings. Their job is to define and provide sustainable services with reliable funding.
Staten M. Johnston, Morgan Hill
EDITOR’S NOTE: The letter writer is referring to the annual Cops and Robbers Ball to be held April 27 at Guglielmo Winery. The event raises money for the Community Law Enforcement Foundation.
Thanks to volunteer parents for their work in putting on play
Dear Editor,
Kudos to Reaka Bushman, Janell Cummings and volunteer parents of Nordstrom Elementary School, who did a fantastic job in coordinating a cast of 70-plus students to create a delightful version of the musical – Seussical, Jr.
Those of us in the audience were privileged to experience the singing and acting abilities of our young students who were encouraged by Mrs. Bushman and Mrs. Cummings. These two special women have been working on the school plays at Nordstrom for many years.
Thanks, too, to Mrs. Alice Jones, who did a great job as costume coordinator. The outfits were bright and flashy and the kids really enjoyed singing and dancing in them.
Once again, the play was a fun activity for the students and the families and friend who were in the audience.
Thanks, Reaka and Janell for your dedication to Nordstrom and to our community.
Cindy Rupp, Morgan Hill
Would letter writer have the same response had it been his relative?
Dear Editor,
In response to Fred Oliveri’s letter (March 20) I am asking if he could answer this question honestly; would he feel the same way if his daughter, mother, sister or wife, stepped up to do what they thought was right, (testifying in Congress) and then was personally attacked over a three-day period, not only called a horrible bunch of names and finally demanding that her sex life be filmed and shown to the man (Rush Limbaugh) because someone could not afford medication (hormones) to treat a ovarian cyst?
Remember this was done on a nationally broadcast radio program and names were used. I realize that he is not a woman, but ovarian cysts are treated with estrogen, one of the ingredients in birth control pills. I just tried to post this online with the names that Limbaugh used to humiliate Ms. Fluke and the program won’t allow it because of profanity!
Great work Lisa!
By the way, I plan on attending the meeting of the Morgan Hill/Gilroy “Patriots” on Thursday Night!
Swanee Edwards, Morgan Hill
