Red Line for Aug. 21
All calls are edited for length and content. Due to content some calls may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.
A man called in response to last week’s caller who said Madera High South was not getting enough coverage. “The Madera South Stallions,” this week’s caller said, “will always be second-fiddle to the (Madera High) Coyotes. You have no right to complain about what’s printed in the paper. Nobody cares about the teams you are playing.”
A “retired” lady who was “recently in Wal-Mart,” said, “all of a sudden these two boys (mid-teens) came careening around the corner almost hitting my daughter and the wheelchairs for the handicapped. I was so upset. They were laughing and playing. I reported them, but I don’t know if anything was done.” She wondered, “what’s happening with the youth of today? They have no respect for anything or anybody.”
“When are the cops going to catch these idiots,” began a man’s call. “Every weekend, they graffiti the amphitheater (at Town & Country Park) especially the weekend of the concerts. Everyone knows who or what they are. I hate to think what the city spends removing that crap from everywhere across town.”
A woman called asking “why certain officers of a lodge (name given) are not being held accountable. For the sake of all the members,” she continued, “at least the trustees or a qualified person should do something about it, before the lodge gets in real trouble.”
A lady, who “lives on Third Street, works nights” and has to get her “sleep during the day,” had a message for “the people that walk at 5:30-6 in the morning. Every morning there are five women, I am sound asleep, and I can hear their conversation. The whole neighborhood can hear their conversation.” She hoped the women “get the paper and read (this) so they can keep it down. Just have a little respect for others,” she asked kindly.
Several calls were received about the blue (recycling) cans mandated by the city. One lady responded, “I’m all by myself, here at home. You’re charging $5.85 a month for the service and by the time I fill up this can it might be a year. That means I’m paying $70.25 a year to have them empty the can (once). I think it is absolutely ridiculous.”
Another caller said, “It looks like we are going to have to take our recyclables and recycle them to be able to pay the $5.85 monthly rate increase. It looks like I’ll be turning in my cans and bottles so I can pay for my new blue can.”
A woman said, “For anybody that feels the city of Madera should take their (expletive) blue cans and stick them where the sun don’t shine I implore everyone, when they deliver the blue can, let it set there and don’t pay the additional $5.85 on your bill. If you pay for it you’re going to lose. Let the blue can set and don’t pay the additional on your bill.”
“I must say,” began a gentleman, “since moving here over two years ago, your paper has definitely improved. Love all the color lately. And,” he continued, “I always enjoyed Leon Emo and Bill Coates articles, now you have that Tami Jo Nix on Saturday. Keep up the good effort. It’s good for the community.”
A man called about a regular item in the paper. “Every Monday I look forward to the Ramblin’ Rec article so I can see what is going on,” he said. “This is the second Monday that it is missing. I think it is an important informational column about what seems to be the only city department that is actually doing something for our citizens at a very low cost.”
A woman called about the “squabble between teachers and administration. If bigwigs in admin would stop giving themselves raises of $30,000 or more, maybe the teachers, bus drivers, maintenance and all the other employees would get their deserved pay.”
Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478.
in response this week caller who said Madera High South “will always be second-fiddle to the (Madera High) Coyotes.” Of course Madera high will be in the paper they win more games, but the reason is that the rich and popular kids can get daddy to get them into north easier than the ghetto and country kids because can’t afford it. My son can’t transfer to north even thought he a 4.5 GPA student.
So the “old” school is more desirable? Doesn’t make much sense when the teachers are from the same pool. I know I would want my child to go to a school without leaky faucets, with 2 new gyms, etc. Oh, and getting into a school isn’t about money, it’s about location.
There will be a time when you and I will be judged by Jesus Christ, will you be ready for the verdict, be ready, read your bible its great for the soul…
God Bless,
Tommy
In the article “Cost hike looms for water districts”, the current Special
Districts Manager, Brett Richards blames a failure to increase water rates as a result of inexperienced administration. The article correctly assumes that each district is self sustaining and that rates do need to be increased to maintain adequate service. However, Richards claim of inexperienced past administration is incorrect.
As the former Special Districts Manager, I can verify that there were several districts that went before the County Board of Supervisors and had rates increased to cover costs. The former Resources Management Agency Director, skilled and credentialed in business and engineering, myself, and the former Utility Manager with 37 years of experience in Special Districts developed and implemented a template used to set increased rates for all utility districts. This template was adopted by the County Board of Supervisors December 2005. The same method of setting rates is used by the Rural Community Assistance Corporation.
As I understand, since leaving, the County has hired an engineering/finance firm (without success) to set increased rates. There is no reason for this, as the mechanism is already in place to increase rates. The problem, as Mr. Richards may or may not find out, is that increasing rates draws large protest from the customers of the utility districts, in part because they are not getting improved infrastructure with the rate increased.
In the past, the Board of Supervisors has been hesitant to increase rates because angry customers usually do not lead to votes needed for re-election. Over time, the current rates do not keep page with the Consumer Price Index, so the County must dip into reserves (i.e. MD-95) to cover operating costs. Currently, increasing rates will only provide a minimal and sustainable level of service for utility district customers.
The next task needed will be to implement costly capital improvement projects to repair replace the County’s many ailing water and wastewater treatment systems, many of which have lived past their useful lives. Unfortunately, rampant development pressures, County staff and Board of Directors turnover, and resistance of customers to pay increased rates will likely lead to further degradation of the County’s utility systems.
I think the best solution may be to turn many of the utility systems over to the residents who use them and let them form their own independent districts and set their rates as they see fit. The County’s Special District’s operate on a bare budget, and from my experience, the County operates these districts cheaper than a private entity could.
Though this crime was gruesome and tragic for all, I feel that the character witnesses should have been a bigger factor in the jury’s final decision. The Rangel family is by far one of the best families I have ever had the pleasure of living next to. Pete Rangel Jr. was a regular man, went to work every day to support his extended family. Pete Jr. was and still is a loving dad, husband and uncle. When faced with guild of knowing his nieces and nephews were goin to be adopted out he did the most commendable thing. He adopted them. For the next several years, Pete. Jr. and adoring wife not only worked themselves to the bone, often putting in overtime to make ends meet, they also spent "family time" every day. The most important thing a parent can do is spend quality time with the whole family. Most families are doing good to just eat and respect. Pete Jr. and Pete III were not just your everyday run-of-the-mill father and son. They were the only people in the neighborhood a person could truly count on.
Stallion Football
Just want to let you know that you don’t have the facts straight for the stallion JV game. The 45 yard touchdown, the first of the season for the school, was scored by Jonny Gaither on a tight-end screen. He made an amazing catch, and sprinted for the end zone untouched. I also feel that the Tribune does not treat the Stallions fairly. Madera has no choice but to have two high schools. Both teams need to be talked about fairly, for the kids sake.
If it (is) about location then why the majority (of) kids on Country Club are going to (the) north (high school), when I live on Rd. 28 1/2 and Ave. 18 1/2 and my son is going to south. And it not like south isn’t a bad school but their mark as like lepers because they’re not on north.