Reduce Utility Users Tax(Re: “Don’t expect Seal Beach to reduce utility tax,” blog.sunnews.org, Thursday, June 5.)After paying this tax for 21 years, I completely disagree.On the contrary I believe it’s time to give the taxpayers of Seal Beach a raise.Operating a City with a budget that relies on an ancient “utility” tax is not an intelligent long-term strategy for balancing a budget.IIRC this “utility” tax is originally based on a tax born of the Orange County Bankruptcy of 1994. Once government imposes a specialty tax, it is rarely rescinded as it provides a wonderful source of extra revenue once the original conditions of tax depression are restored to a balanced condition.What would be interesting is to have the city create a budget without ANY utility tax.It would force pension reform, and reduce raises and compensation to be more in keeping with the private sector.My understanding from those close to the city budget is the UUT could realistically and easily be reduced to 8 percent. Eleven percent is excessive. Period.Mark DennisonSeal BeachJFTB building dedicated to fallen heroThe 79th Sustainment Support Command, located on Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, will dedicate their headquarters building in memory of Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura on Saturday, June 21 at 10 a.m.This ceremony formally establishes a major two star headquarters at a strategic base in Southern California in commemoration of the first Army Reserve casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Nakamura, an Army Reserve Soldier who was assigned to the 437th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), March Air Reserve Base, Riverside California, was killed in action on June 19, 2003 in Al-Iskandariyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A Southern California native, Nakamura was a model Warrior-Citizen, recognized as a leader in his community. While attending to an injured soldier in the back of a tactical ground ambulance, his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing him and injuring the driver and patient. Sgt. Nakamura was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Sgt. Nakamura was the first Army Reserve Soldier killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Approximately 300 guests are expected to attend the ceremony including the Nakamura family, regional military leaders, friends, community leaders and local dignitaries. The building will exhibit the history of the young soldier and permanently commemorate his service and sacrifice.The Joint Forces Training Base is located at 11200 Lexington Drive, Los Alamitos, 90270.Public Affairs OfficeU.S. Army Reserve79th Sustainment Support Command4201 Saratoga Ave.Los AlamitosThe opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun. The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 300 words maximum. Letters should be e-mailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication). The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
High school’s R.O.P program needs, deserves support
I wanted you to know how much it really means to me and others if the Build Team photo makes it in our local paper.
I have been championing for the schools R.O.P. program for the last few weeks when it came to my attention that the school board was cutting the funding for the program.
Their reason is justified—lack of student interest.
Now, upon speaking with numerous students already attending Los Alamitos and then also speaking to some incoming freshmen, what I have learned is the lack of knowledge and promotion of the R.O.P. program and the classes that are offered.
It isn’t acknowledged enough both on campus and at the incoming ninth-grader’s events. If the administration would view these classes is important enough to show off to the parents and students, then parents and students would believe it as important. It seems that ignoring it takes away from the value of the hands on experience, real life learning, and job training kids could be getting.
The school board and school administration have pointed out to me that the school is focusing on all students need to graduate with an “A-G” college ready degree, my concern is that not all kids are college bound and we seem to be forgetting about the “Blue Collar Workers.” It was noted in the Orange County Register, in the March 22, 2014 Business section, that construction leads the county job growth.
It was also noted in the March 16 O.C. Register that of the top schools, only six offered any type of repair or construction classes.
Los Alamitos Unified School District has always been proud of their great, gifted, high achieving, career oriented kids, but they need to think outside the “college” box to include all kids to ensure that everyone has the skills and confidence to succeed in life even if that means NOT going on to college. So, as you can see, it would be a great advertisement for at least one of the R.O.P. classes offered at Los Alamitos High School if the Build Team was seen in the Sun Newspaper.
Maybe we would peak more students’ interest!
Kim Roznos
Los Alamitos
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun. The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 300 words maximum. Letters should be e-mailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication). The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
