Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 3-22-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, March 22, 2018 Editorial & Opinions
Serving “The World’s Fruit Basket” since 1891
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION
Jon Earnest — Editor
Chris Aguirre — Sports Editor Felicia Cousart Matlosz — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“The way to write American music is simple. All you havetodoisbean American and then write any kind of music you wish.”
— Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)
One of our papers, The Dinuba Sentinel, car- ried an opinion piece on March 8 of this year in which some local folks apparently have a dis- parate view of a subject on which I wrote. This seemed to be an appropriate time to encourage all of our readers to become engaged and — as we do on a weekly basis — remind you that opin- ions are those of a single individual. Responses or rebuttals are always welcome. One never should fear attacks or retribution for a differing opinion of an event or political position.
RHS students generally made the right choice in walkout situation
Fred Hall
Last Friday marked an event with our federal government which is deserving of special notice. Who, among you, were even aware that a federal government employee could even be fired? No less than the number two man in the Federal Bureau of Investigation was terminated from his duties for his lack of candor in his testimony. For those of us among rank-and-file citizens, that means he lied dur- ing questioning in an official capacity. If one were looking for the real winner in this debacle it would be the average American and a return to the rule of law in this country. It has seemed that, for years, the politicos, the connected and the powerful were privy to special privileges which none of the rest of us enjoyed.
Initial media reports indicated that he had been removed from his lofty position by Jeff Sessions at the request of the president. Obvi- ously that was false reporting. The recommendation to fire Andrew McCabe came from the Office of Public Responsibility, which is a non-political peer group, making their report to the inspector general of the Justice Department. Aside from the actions of McCabe and a few cronies at the very top of the FBI, there was nothing political about his firing, except he was engaged in political activities.
Then came the report that poor McCabe would lose the pension he had worked so hard for — hard work and government bureaucrats is seldom synonymous — over his cushy tenure of twenty years in government “service.” That also was a false report. The $1 million- plus that he would forfeit was a special bonus.
Everyone got it so wrong that various groups offered to hire Mc- Cabe so he could finish out his government tenure to allow him to collect retirement which was never in jeopardy. Some even offered to take up a collection! The simple truth of the matter is that this is a civil servant who is worth $11 million personally, who got caught play- ing at partisan politics in a department that must be strictly apolitical.
Here is a man who should write a book on wealth management because he was able to accrue this fortune on a salary of $180,000 per year. Somehow, somewhere, sometime this great nation is going to have to get beyond the level of silly partisan politics which we currently see playing out. We must attempt to eliminate an entire cast of politicians and bureaucrats becoming rich and powerful by playing the citizenry against each other. Make no mistake about it — we currently have and have had for years a ruling class in Washington D.C. and in our state capitols who have become wealthy and powerful at our expense.
Remember the opening paragraph of this column. This editorial page is dedicated to you, the reader. It appears in this position to pro- mote thought and discussion. We may offer opinions to which you are not exposed because we offer a counterpoint from the conservative side opposed to the liberal view you read and see every day. Let us know what you think.
But, as usual, that’s only one man’s opinion.
Letters from readers
Reedley High School has about 1,800 students enrolled for the 2017- 18 school year. Around 16 percent of them — about 110 students – left the campus mid-morning on March 14 as their demonstration in support of Na- tional Walkout Day.
An unknown number of students from schools across the country walked out around 10 a.m. in their lo- cal time zones to call for national leg- islation regarding gun control laws. The walkouts were done on the one- month anniversary of the Feb. 14 high school shootings in Parkland, Fla. that killed 17 students and staff members.
Senior Lorena Orozco was consid- ering walking off campus, where she would have joined about 40 students who walked to the Reedley Police De- partment and City Hall to participate in a brief remembrance of the Florida shooting victims. But she changed her mind, and a week before the sched- uled walkout date asked her teachers if she could have a hand in hosting a remembrance ceremony on campus.
A short memorial was scheduled for the break period at the high school main gymnasium. There, Lorena and 16 other student volunteers ran the event that was attended by about 200 fellow students. She and the other volunteers read a brief biographical capsule on each Florida shooting vic- tim from a New York Times article, and led in brief moment of silence for each victim.
“I figured it probably would be better to have more organization in what we did,” Lorena said on March 19. “Even though throughout the na-
tion people were walking out, the thing that made this memorial a success — and the walkout of the students a di- saster, basically — is that they had no organization. They really didn’t know what they were doing.”
Orozco said she didn’t feel many protesters were taking the protest enough to heart. “I felt that by doing the memorial we gave the victims the seriousness and organization that they deserved,” she said. “If the walkout had been organized and they did it as it was supposed to be, then it would really have been more effective. But I felt it wasn’t effective at all.”
While there is a measure of re- spect for students who left their cam- pus to walk, there also were conse- quences. Reedley High Principal John Ahlin said the students who left cam- pus were treated like it was any other day if they went truant. Punishment would vary depending on the student and their record of past offenses. Ah- lin said it could range from a deten- tion period to a session at Saturday School.
Right or wrong, many high school students around the country exercised their own level of social discourse and political stance.
•••
Another issue that has raised emo-
tions with many in the community has been the controversy surrounding Faith House, a proposed emergency shelter in southwest Reedley that the Reedley City Council delayed a poten- tial vote to approve or deny on March 13. The two-story house, once the site of the Marjaree Mason shelter for
domestic violence victims and fami- lies, is aggressively being opposed by residents of the neighboring River- view Estates homes and Reedley Mobile Home Park.
Rest assured that should any of our readers
wish to offer a differing look at anything, they
are always welcome. We ask only that your position be cogent and thoughtful. The editorial page of a newspaper is written to encourage thought and discussion. Writers will never be attacked — you have my word on it! We fear that people have become so acclimated to Facebook and other internet media that they may have forgotten their opinions are still respected in their hometown newspaper.
Jon Earnest
The latest de-
velopment is that there won’t be a vote on the facility — which neighboring residents claim can be used as a tran- sitional home for released prison and jail inmates in line with state law — at the upcoming Tuesday, March 27, council meeting. The council barely had a quorum on the issue on March 13 with three voting members. Mayor Pro Tem Frank Pinon recused himself from voting because of a potential connection to Hope Now Ministries, which would be running the facility. That same situation would be in play March 27 as Mayor Anita Betancourt will miss the meeting on an excused absence.
The delays have given both sides of the issue added time to dig their heels in on their respective stance. Opponents for a group calling itself “Reedley Beach Families” likely will read a prepared letter leveling a num- ber of accusations against the council.
For now, it appears that the vote will finally happen at the Tuesday, April 10, meeting. But as the March 13 meeting showed, things can change in a hurry.
New Medicare cards protect from identity fraud
Consider serving on the county grand jury
A couple of years back, it was my privilege to serve on the Fresno County civil grand jury — one year as foreperson. And I hope other people — espe- cially residents of communities outside Fresno and Clovis — will consider grand jury service be- cause it is uniquely rewarding.
The civil grand jury re- sponds to citizen complaints about the county itself, its cit- ies, special districts and school districts. It’s intended to shine a light that guides citizen action, not send miscreants to jail.
Reports issued during my years (2014-15 and 2015-16) involved Sanger, Parlier, Coal- inga, Selma, Fresno and Fresno County. Topics ranged from school leadership and inspec- tions of dilapidated housing to sexually transmitted diseases, prison conditions and municipal government.
We also inspected the Pleas-
ant Valley State Prison, learned what happens when you need emergency medical assistance, how traffic lights are synchro- nized and more.
My greatest gratification was working collegially with 19 other county citizens with di- vergent life/work experiences, age, gender, ethnicity, residence and points of view. Our reports speak not as 19 individuals, but as one grand jury, so you learn to get along.
It was a great experience in citizenship, civility and commit- ment and worth the investment of3to20hoursaweek.
You’re qualified to be a grand juror if you’ve lived in Fresno County at least one year and are a citizen at least 18 years old. The application form is at www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/ jury/grand_jury.
I’ve applied and hope read- ers will do the same by the March 31 deadline.
Lanny Larson Clovis
By Greg Dill
Guest columnist
Starting in April, Medi- care will mail new Medi- care cards to all people with Medicare, to help protect you from identity fraud.
Fraudsters are always looking for ways to get your Social Security number, so we’re removing those num- bers from Medicare cards to make them safer.
Your new card will have a new Medicare number that’s unique to you. The new card will help protect your identity and keep your personal information more secure.
You can start using your new card as soon as you get it. Your Medicare coverage and benefits won’t change at all.
Medicare will automati- cally mail your new card — at no cost — to the address you have on file with So- cial Security. So make sure your mailing address is up to date.
If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myac-
count or (800) 772-1213. TTY users can call (800) 325-0778.
If Social Security has your current mailing ad- dress, there’s nothing else you need to do to receive your new card.
Mailing everyone a new card will take time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
Once you get your new Medicare card, take these three steps to make it hard- er for someone to steal your information and identity:
• Destroy your old Medicare card right away.
• Doctors, other health care providers, and health plans approved by Medi- care know Medicare is re- placing the old cards. They are ready to accept your new card when you need care.
• Beware of anyone who contacts you and asks for your new Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. There are no charges what- soever for the new cards.
Guard your card. Treat your new Medicare num-
ber like you treat your So- cial Security or credit card numbers. Only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, in- surers, or other people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.
Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare card.
Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medi- care number) by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, or for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal infor- mation, hang up and call at 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633- 4227).
Your new Medicare card will be paper. Paper cards are easier for many providers to use and copy, and they save taxpayers a lot of money. Plus, you can print your own replacement card if you need one.
Carry your new card and show it to your health care providers. Doctors,
other providers, and health care facilities will ask for your new Medicare card when you need care.
If you forget your new card, you, your doctor, or other health care provider may be able to look up your new Medicare number on- line.
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), your Medi- care Advantage plan ID card is your main card for Medicare – you should still keep and use it whenever you need care.
However, you also may be asked to show your new Medicare card, so you should carry this card with you, too.
If you don’t get your new Medicare card by April 2019, call (800) MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users can call (877) 486-2048.
Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Ne- vada, Hawaii, and the Pa- cific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling (800) MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
Letters Policy
THE REEDLEY EXPONENT invites letters from the public on any topic of local relevance. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity or brevity, and we reserve the right to NOT publish them if they could be deemed libelous or profane. Letters should
be 300 words or less, and bear the author's name, address, and phone number. Letters can be mailed, emailed (jon@midvalleypublishing.com), submitted via our website, or personally delivered to: Editor, Reedley Exponent, 1130 G St, Reedley CA 93654.
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Weigh in. Let your voice be heard.
Send us your letter to the editor for publication on this page and on our website.
jon@midvalleypublishing.com