Letters and Shout-outs

Jim Hart is in command of the facts, and in charge of order
To the editor:
Karl Rove In Felton! I have been watching campaigns for one office or another for a good part of my life. On Wednesday evening, I attended a forum for the three candidates for Santa Cruz County Sheriff. What an eye opener!
While Chief Deputy Jim Hart was exacting with all the information he provided in answering questions given him by those in attendance, retired investigator Roger Wildey came up with statistics that were totally unsubstantiated. It boggles my mind to hear someone who is running for the most important position in Santa Cruz County to be so out of touch with reality. He retired from the Sheriff’s Department over nine years ago and it showed. According to Wildey, the county provided funding in the amount of $60,000 to Barrios Unidos a program dedicated to the prevention of youth violence. Wildey went on to say, “I don’t know what good that has done.”
There was yet another comment that stood out – something about the homeless who have problems with alcohol. Wildey suggested that they should be driven into the trees and then sprayed with hoses. I mean, really? This comes from the same person who would eliminate the requirement to register guns. Does he make the laws? Are we living in California or does Wildey believe we’re in Texas? Let’s get real.
Chief Deputy Hart is fully in touch with reality and has spent the last 25 years in service to our county.
He has managed every bureau in the department and is currently managing the over 350 person staff on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, he has been responsible for the successful reformation of Rountree Jail and has recently been given the nod by the Board of Supervisors to add seven deputies to the force. The list of his accomplishments on behalf of us all is extensive. Don’t fall for Wildey’s uninformed rhetoric. Vote for Jim Hart for Sheriff on June 3.
Leslie Steiner
Felton
No on Measure A, and Yes, I care about education and safety
To the editor:
Tax Freedom Day 2014 is April 21 – three days later than last year, so I now work 111 days out of 365 before my tax responsibility is complete. I would argue that the government already gets sufficient resources to make decisions and do what is right for education and safety. My question is, why after 70 years of the middle school existence has there been no reinvestment by our school or city leadership?
If I do not save for my roof repair, I do not ask my parents for money to fix it; I plan ahead and save for it. Likewise, the Scotts Valley school district has budget authority to partition resources into salaries, maintenance and future upgrades and repairs. The city of Scotts Valley also has authority to issue a bond to replace or repair the school and they can pay the payments with the general fund. Making such decisions requires leadership. Not making such investments during the last 70 years of middle school existence shows lack of leadership.
Multiple bond votes have been rejected by Scotts Valley residents in the past and you would think this would send a simple message to our leadership. Scotts Valley City Council and school district, you have my permission to fix the school without asking me.
Marco A Middione
Scotts Valley
Let’s recognize students for their academic achievements as well
To the editor:
Every week, the local high schools and businesses honor top athletes with four-color banner ads. I don’t want to diminish the hard work our teens put into their sports, but I do wonder why only athletes are worthy of this distinction. What about top math, science, writing, or art students? Why aren’t their efforts acknowledged on a regular basis? Our community claims to value education, but those who excel academically are only mentioned at the end of the school year or as part of a larger article about a particular event, such as a school play. They are not singled out for praise in the same way athletes are.
I encourage our local high schools, with the support of our local business community, to promote on a monthly basis students whose hard work results in top academic or artistic endeavors. Encourage all our students to succeed, on and off the playing field.
Sarah J. Wilson
Ben Lomond
Jim Hart is a fine man who’d make a great sheriff
To the editor:
I have known Jim Hart for over 35 years. He is a fine man on so many levels: husband, father, friend, public servant, coach and mentor. I’ve had the honor of watching Jim in many roles, including his role as the Scotts Valley High School girls basketball coach.
In his coaching he always emphasized work ethic, integrity and responsibility — that there are greater causes than self. These characteristics made Jim Hart not just a great coach and mentor but a great person. I know he will be a great county sheriff and will continue to make our Sheriff’s Department a much respected and vital partner for public safety in our community.
Pete Newell
Las Vegas, NV