Criticizing the critic — a message for deaf ears?

Vinton Lampton's assertion that only New Orleans residents and Democrats deplored Katrina ("God bless the tough Midwesterners," Letters, July 6) reveals that he is deaf to all but Republican indoctrination.

Mormons' opposition to gay marriage is hypocritical

On Sunday, June 29, a letter was read at all Mormon worship services worldwide calling on members to contribute their time and money to help pass the California initiative this November that would limit marriage to different-gender couples. The letter, from the Office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "The Church's teaching and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman ...

Creditors must keep an eye on Newhall Land

Since the debtor is still in possession, the debtor, Newhall Land will still be paying the salaries of its executive officers, while those to whom they owe substantial debts must bite the bullet.

Development threatens our quality of life

It's apparent that our City Council has heard enough from the public whom it represents. Since the founding of Santa Clarita in 1987, we have had a great opportunity to address and petition our city government during the public participation portion at our City Council meetings. Over the last two years, several issues - like the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital expansion, the proposed materials-recovery facility, traffic on Benz Road and the Smiser Mule Ranch ...

Kudos for Sheriff’s anti-crime program

Kudos to our Sheriff's Department, Parkway Cadillac and Michael Roth, who at a recent seminar sponsored by the city of Santa Clarita presented an ongoing program alerting us to the trends in criminal behavior and how to spot them.

An urban center by any other name still stinks

The Signal's apologetic approach (Signal editorial, June 27) to our city manager's goals, whether we call it urbanization or something else, seems to ignore the downsides of massive build-outs.

Mullen’s bitterness comes through

In response to Jim Mullen's article ("Why my father was no Tim Russert," June 25, 2008), first let me start off by offering my condolences for the loss of his father. He must be so very proud of him.

We don’t need whiners in the SCV

Just a few thoughts about professional whiners in our city: n Benz Road: Yes, you guys got screwed when the city made your street a through road. The city has tried to deter the "shortcut" but cannot seem to get it right. The solution is very easy. Build a big block wall at Copper Hill, resealing the street once again. n Canvas/Linda Vista: These people have written the book on whining. ...

Car wash article exaggerates

Regarding the proposed home car wash ban article ("Ban on home carwashing?" June 25):

Remember our troops when it gets hot out

I swore that if I made it home, I would never complain about hot summer days again. As you make the short trip from your air-conditioned car to whatever air-conditioned building you are going to, consider this: On a June day in Baghdad it was 115 degrees with blowing dust. As they move into this month, the average daily high temperatures there will steadily rise to above 130 degrees. The temperature will only start to ...

Debate over acceptable growth heats up

As summer begins with triple-digit weather, so heats up SCV's debate regarding acceptable growth in our fine city.

God bless the tough Midwesterners

It's amazing how the people in the Midwest are enduring all the problems associated with floods. I don't know how they cope with such devastation.

Thanks and congrats to graduates

Thanks to "The Signal's salutes this years grads" (June 20). Just think, we have 12 high schools in our valley doing such a great job for our kids and adults, making certain that they cover all the bases for learning and improvement.

Media must tell whole story of Iraq surge

While statistics are fed to media outlets like this paper to prop up the administration's and Rep. Buck McKeon's decision to support the surge, the facts ignored are that the weekly rate of American wounded has not gone down. The historical wounded report is found at icasualties.org, and it shows that in 2008 the number of wounded soldiers averages approximately 15 per week, which is the same average as the year before.

The flourishing green movement at COC

Having been a College of the Canyons student for the past five years has provided me with enough insight to say that the youthful exuberance of COC's recent green movement is a more positive experience than having no politics at all.

Abortion should be illegal

I believe that abortion should be deemed illegal in all 50 states. Aborting an unborn child should be considered as murder. Murder is defined as; the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought. What makes killing an unborn baby different from killing an adult? When does a fetus' life begin?

Cemex Bill Would Cost Us Millions

At last week's regular meeting, the Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Soledad Canyon Settlement Act introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer. This legislation defines a process by which the sale of excess federal land near Victorville would be sold to compensate Cemex for sand and gravel mining rights in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Obama scandals

Obama and his minions are mired up to their eyeballs in scandals, what with Benghazigate, the IRS targeting of conservative groups for harassment, and the Justice Departments secret grab of Associated Press phone records, not to mention the lingering Operation Fast & Furious debacle.

Boy Scouts of America

Dear Editor,

Toll roads are discriminatory

I urge all drivers to contact the California Transportation Commission www.catc.ca.gov (and any local representative) to voice their disapproval of Assembly Bill AB 680, which gives private entities the right to charge drivers to use the highways they are already paying to build and maintain.

Let’s keep our low-chloride water

Once we have removed the excess chloride from our wastewater, are we just going to give the water away to the farmers in Ventura?

Safety and our youthful drivers

Concerning Jim Holt's article on teens dying in the SCV ("Sand Canyon residents remember youth killed at oak tree 32 years ago," May 8), I can understand his concern.

State Supreme Court ruling on pot shops was victory for families

Good job, Gary

I just finished reading Gary Horton's column on victimhood. If I didn't know better I'd swear he suddenly became a Republican. His comments were spot on. In this age of blame the other guy for your own lack of responsibility, it's good to see that someone else gets it. Good job, Gary.

Special moment

Thanks for hosting the Summer Meltdown. This is so important to the Yes I Can program. I witnessed a special moment that I will never forget. One of the Yes I Can students was withdrawn and another student was holding her arm around her. One female teachers from the Yes I Can program went up to her and held her in her arms for a good couple of minutes (just the kindest hug) as to say it's OK. Then the girl and friend went on their way,

Lessons to be learned

The Boston bombing brought to light a very clever way of carrying out covert operations in another country. Our own CIA can learn from the Tsarnaev brothers on how to conduct an operation and have that country finance it for them.

Here is one for the books

Remember when that man, Rick Perry, came to California to promote and emphasize "that HIS state of Texas doesn't bother with pesky regulations on industry.

Gay Rights in the SCV

Not two weeks after "our" 13-year-old gay teen, Nigel Hardy,committed suicide in Palmdale from being bullied as his school's male cheerleader, the president of the board of "our" Hart School District, Joe Messina, brought a known (adult) bully of gays, Brad Dacus, of the ironically named www.pacificjustice.org, as the keynote speaker at "our" city's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Even after the AV teen's death, Dacus called for parents not to attend ...

McKeon and gun control

I always enjoy a good chuckle on a Sunday morning, and the letter by Richard Myers today allowed me a good one.

Gun control and voters in McKeon’s district

I recently read Brian Baker's April 24 letter "On logic, liberated thinking and gun control."