Boxing class helps on many levels
I want to thank Drew Penner for his wonderful article (“Parkinson’s Boxing Class a Lifeline for Seniors With Disease,” June 9).
As a “Parkie,” I have been attending these classes since I was diagnosed in 2019. Let’s just say this: I never thought about “boxing” as something I ever would do. But my doc recommended it… so WTH, guess I’ll try it because… nothing to lose.
It has changed my life, my health and, perhaps most of all, my desire to live: happier and better! The exercises (not just boxing, but I admit… punching the bag when I feel down and angry about my disease… REALLY feels good!) help on so many levels: strength, balance, memory, happiness and more.
And a very big part of my experience is having a sense of shared community. We Parkies are all in this together, we understand each other and are supportive no matter what.
And all this said, this is not a program just for “seniors” (although many of us weren’t diagnosed until we were older). There are younger Parkies among us. And we all care about and support each other. It’s a program/class/time together for all of us Parkies! We ROCK! Rock steady!
Suzy Hunt
Scotts Valley
Aggressive vs. effective policing
Scotts Valley Police Chief Steve Walpole’s May 17 remarks to the Scotts Valley City Council suggest that he thinks that aggressive policing and effective policing are the same thing (“Chief Says Gung-Ho Recruits Reason for Increased Arrests,” June 9).
They aren’t. Aggressive policing is a tool which, like a hammer or an ax, can be very useful in certain environments. It isn’t—or shouldn’t be—an end in itself. Effective policing requires thoughtfully selecting from the full range of available policing policies and practices, then following up to see which ones make a difference.
It isn’t hard to induce field officers to make more arrests or issue more citations, producing inflated statistics which can be used to impress elected officials who are hungry for evidence that they’re fulfilling their responsibility to do everything possible to insure the public’s safety.
Figuring out ways of actually reducing the amount of crime in a community is a much tougher nut to crack.
Seth Knoepler
Felton
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