Nunes and Clovis vigils | Letters to the editor, Oct. 27, 2018

Misleading about Clovis vigils

The Nunes campaign has made many false claims about the Tuesday protests on the corner of Clovis and Third avenues. Dave and Bev Derby started the “Every Tuesday Vigil” 20 months ago. Bev is a retired teacher, and Dave is a retired principal (he was principal at Valley Oak among other schools in Clovis Unified). Because conscience calls, persons from various faith traditions, and no faith tradition, have regularly participated in these protests. Every one of us protests in the spirit of non-violence and care for our communities — even when detractors have sought to provoke incidents among us.

We stand in solidarity with both the deep traditions of American democracy, and the ancient Jewish tradition of “prophetic theater” staged when greed and corruption in high places were rampant. Jesus himself acted out of this tradition when he overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple. Before him, Isaiah walked naked and barefoot through the streets of Jerusalem for three years, and Jeremiah wore an ox yoke on his back to sound the alarm about the direction the nation was heading.

A yes vote coming for Measure P

Darius Assemi certainly presented a dark assessment of Fresno’s public safety in the recent “Point-Counterpoint.” His either/or argument between public safety and city parks is so short sighted. Hasn’t history proven that our current system of crime and punishment does not root out the problem and will therefore never stop the recidivism we have today. Just once, I would like to have something done proactively instead of throwing more money at fighting crime.

Isn’t it much more efficient and less costly to reduce the causes of crime rather than to punish and incarcerate after the deed is done? One positive way to reduce crime is to give our youth something to do that will foster cooperation and a sense of community. Give them a clean, supervised place to play.

Vote yes on Measure P. It will provide more green space and help to improve the parks we have. Look at how much has been accomplished at the zoo and with our public library system with a small tax. We will have similar results with our parks and, as with the zoo, increase pride in our city.

Parks help children grow, be better

In response to the article, “Parks tax offers Fresno a choice: a better, more livable city or politics as usual,” the tax on parks seems to be the best solution. Yes on P stands for safer parks, playgrounds, and better public spaces according to fresnoforparks.com. People want children to be more active, to spend less time inside their homes being sucked in by the internet for hours on end. How can children do more when there are less safe places to be a child? How can children go out and play when parents say no to parks because they are unsafe or maybe a little too dirty?

While volunteer work can help at times, there are still other factors to be accounted for, like security cameras, reducing homelessness, repairing restrooms, playground equipment, access for the disabled, and the list goes on. Tax money spent on these issues is money well spent. Children are less likely to engage in delinquencies when they have other options for safe environments to learn, play, and grow outside of their homes, including school. Improving the community for the youth means improvement in children who are at risk of delinquencies.

A vote for Cox helps Valley

A recent Bee editorial speculated how businessman TJ Cox could make a mistake by claiming a deduction for property in Maryland, where his family was living so his wife — a pediatrician — could study public health at Johns Hopkins.

Isn’t it reasonable to imagine Mr. Cox could consider the home of his family as his primary residence? Nevertheless, Mr. Cox acknowledged the error and resolved it.

CA-21 Democrats helped elect David Valadao and must indeed decide whom they will support in this election.

Congressman Valadao voted nearly 100 percent of the time to support a president who bragged that evading taxes made him “smart,” conspired to defraud the IRS, and demeaned Gold Star families.

Congressman Valadao stands with a president whose immigration policies separate families and whose tax cuts favor the wealthy, including corporate donors.

Congressman Valadao voted to repeal ACA, jeopardizing health care for over 70,000 of his constituents. TJ Cox has expanded access to health care and created jobs by building health clinics throughout the Valley — just as his wife is committed to addressing public health issues affecting Valley children.

For nearly 20 years, TJ has worked to improve the lives of Valley residents. He deserves our vote for Congress.

This story was originally published October 30, 2018 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Nunes and Clovis vigils | Letters to the editor, Oct. 27, 2018."