Letters to the Editor: Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014

Veterans Voices

I really enjoy reading the Veterans Voices stories written by Bill Thomas.

Every veteran has a unique story to tell and Bill does a service to the general population when he writes his stories.

For me, it brings back memories of our family who had members who fought in the Battle of Midway and the Normandy Invasion.

David Vandervoet

Los Alamitos

Why no hot meals?

Why didn’t the North Seal Beach Center serve hot meals Thursday and Friday (Macaroni and Cheese and Meat Loaf, respectively)?

Can’t find any notice on your website.

Your menu shows meals for those days. A sign on the door gives no reason.

I recall hearing the City of Seal Beach donated $12,500 to “insure” seniors would have hot meals the rest of 2013.

Coupling Christmas Eve and Christmas (which you showed as holidays, i.e., closed) that would equate to four days (Dec. 24 through Dec. 27) without senior meals.

Noting the sign on the NSBC door states it will be open Monday but closed again Tuesday and Wednesday (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s), the seniors got one hot meal in seven service days.

A. Darien Fawkes

Seal Beach

Compromise was right thing

Last Thursday was a critical moment for Congress. Since it was the last day before adjourning until after the New Year, we were faced with a decision to either risk another government shutdown by January 15, 2014, or agree upon a budget.

Both sides—Democrat and Republican—were not happy with certain parts of the budget bill, but the overwhelming majority of Congress did the right thing.

While I was not entirely happy with the budget, I voted “yes,” as it was a compromise on both sides.

Another fiscal battle will emerge on Jan. 15, when we have to vote on an appropriations bill that authorizes the government to spend the money in our budget.

Hopefully, our actions last Thursday will end the cycle of crisis budgeting and that Speaker Boehner will now allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform, raising the minimum wage, and he will begin to seriously deal with the devastating effects of climate change.

We all know that there is much work to be done.

No matter what battles and obstacles lie ahead, I intend to continue working to protect our environment; further economic and social equality; fix our broken immigration system; and represent the interests of our district.

Congressman Alan Lowenthal

47th District

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