Sanctuary homes: Letters to the editor, March 27, 2020

Here’s an idea: sanctuary homes

On reading Bishop Brennan’s recent op-ed, I remembered the Wall Street Journal reporting the Mexican State Police were killing cartel members. Why? A human rights group was told the authorities in Mexico City just turn them loose.

Do you think Mexican criminals will come to a sanctuary state like California? And when they get to Fresno — they won’t compete with gangs in LA — where will they live? Next to Bishop Brennan? No. They will move into neighborhoods in parishes like St. Alphonsus or Mt. Carmel, or into the neighborhoods along North Ave, Jensen Ave, or California Ave.

Will they appreciate a second chance and flip burgers at McDonalds? No. They will do what they know, and with connections in Mexico recruit their gangs and go to work. And the poor in those neighborhoods, trying to turn their lives around burdened with crime and poverty, with dysfunctional schools, having a reading proficiency of about 40%, will have their young men recruited.

So I got an idea: Why don’t we have “sanctuary homes?” Bishop Brennan and his big-hearted buddies can open their homes and protect us. Enlightened by their refined presence the criminals will learn and our poor will be protected.

Bad decision by Fresno Unified

Recently the Fresno Unified school board voted to approve using a PLA (project labor agreement) for Juan Felipe Herrera Elementary School, putting union special interests ahead of contractors, workers and taxpayers.

PLAs are the most controversial issue in the construction industry. Banned in 24 states and in 11 entities in California, the PLA approved forces all contractors and workers to be union. Problem is more than 80% of local workforce is union-free.

By union only, the district discriminates against workers, and it has been proven to substantially increase cost and reduce competition. Citizens of Fresno need to remind the Fresno Unified school trustees that they represent all contractors, workers and taxpayers not just those belonging to a union.

Bee hit new low with cartoon

The Fresno Bee has taken the lowest low I’ve seen in my entire lifetime! The president of United States is working with the best experts in the nation on the deadly disease coronavirus, and yet the Bee put an editorial “cartoon” showing President Truman with “the buck stops here” and President Trump “I don’t take responsibility at all!”

You are really a yellow journalism paper; in fact, it makes me think you’re unAmerican and you don’t care about our citizens, nothing but the swamp you show The Bee is part of!

I am disgusted with The Bee. It is just absolutely a shame. I demand to see a retraction, based upon all the hard work everyone’s doing in behalf of this nation, under the direction of this president, in order to save as many Americans as possible!

Bee a key way to stay in touch

My mother and I have been best friends all of my life. We made gardens, shopped, went to the beach, and did art projects together for as long as I can remember. She was there for me always, but now she is confined to a rest home.

Until now now, I went to see her every morning before work so that I was the first thing she saw when she woke up. I saw her every night after work. “You are the reason I still live,” she said at 93 years. But coronavirus has caused the rest home to shut the doors, and mom can barely hear me over the phone. She is alone and I cannot reach her.

The only contact, The Fresno Bee paper. I get the paper every morning and write her a love note on the front. It allows her to have something to remind her my heart is with her. It also helps her track what day it is, and the stories allow her to know what to pray for. Her prayers help her feel that she still has something of value to contribute to others. Thank you, Fresno Bee.

This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Sanctuary homes: Letters to the editor, March 27, 2020."