Thanks to business who volunteered time for tour

Many thanks to some special people and businesses. On May 21, Nora Ortiz and co-workers at the Hyatt Valencia hosted a group of special education students from Valencia High School on a tour and shared career information.

McKeon out of touch

Buck McKeon may have some admirable qualities, but he was off base in blaming Democrats for gas prices.

At last, justice for Mary Jo

Ted Kennedy has finally received his sentence for his part in the Chappaquiddick death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

Rent control harms people in the long run

One of the reasons Democrats are against Proposition 98 is because of the rent control elimination clause. They believe such laws prevent landlords from price gouging. What is the real impact of rent control? All it takes is simple applied economic principles from Econ 101.

Is this Phoenix or Santa Clarita?

This is my favorite time of the year. Every tree bursts forth with new foliage that ranges from blossoms to colorful new growth. All around our homes, paseos, city-landscaped roads, there are bushes, groundcovers, flowers, vines, all eagerly competing with each other in sheer beauty.

Thanks, Tom Purcell

I recently read the (syndicated) column written by Tom Purcell, "Don't take your mother for granted," and I loved it. I am blessed to have one of the most amazing moms on the planet. I was raised to be confident and believe in myself. I was taught that I can do anything, I just have to try. My mom made sure that my brother and I always came before her.

500,000 people in SCV

In reading that the population in Santa Clarita might go up to 500,000, I noticed a few important things were left out: such as the schools to be built, the extra police and paramedics, not to mention hospitals. We sure like to build here, but we sure don't plan for what will be needed after the building.

Same-sex ruling

In response to the article "Same-Sex Ruling Stirs SCV" (May 16, 2008), by Parimal M. Rohit and Katherine Geyer, I begin with one simple question to the readers of this newspaper: When so many Christian leaders assert that "marriage has been a union between a man and a woman since time immemorial," what Bible are they reading that has no mention of the many Hebrews who had multiple wives and concubines on the side?

Coyotes killed my beloved dachshund

In the quiet moments of the pre-dawn hour on a recent Saturday morning (April 26), coyotes entered my yard and took the life of my beloved dachshund.

TCU kept seniors close to their homes

I was not able to attend the meeting regarding the closing of the Transitional Care Unit at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. However, I did watch the "show" on television. I would love to have been there to voice my opinion.

Please don’t leave pets in hot cars

On May 14, it was 93 degrees outside at noon. I got out of my car in the Mervyn's shopping center and I could hear a dog barking. I thought to myself that no one could be stupid enough to leave a dog in a parked car in this heat. I was able to trace the barking to a silver Toyota Sienna minivan, license number 5DXL812. The van was parked partially ...

On the passing of Dick Martin

Goodnight, Dick.

Vote ‘no’ on Prop 98, ‘yes’ on Prop 99

To The Editor: RE: Proposition 98: Again the special interest people have put together a ballot issue under the guise of limiting the use of government eminent domain. That seems reasonable on the surface. However, when you read the proposition, it also does away with rent control. One must ask what these two issues have to do with each other? Nothing! When ballot propositions have little "oh, by the ways" added, the true purpose of ...

Plan for lowering gas prices

Boycotting gas does not work. Everyone needs gasoline to live, so let's not boycott gasoline. Get as much gasoline as you need.

Marriage ruling’s unintended consequence

Now that California's liberal judges have once again erased the will and intent of the voters in ruling to make gay marriage legal, let's see if they have the same fortitude and tenacity for what they would call an "unintended consequence."

Jesus as a Democrat

I would like to respond to Kevin Buck's column "Jesus Would Be a Liberal Democrat" (March 20, 2013).

Too much help through traffic

Can anyone explain to me why it takes a minimum of five sheriff's deputies to greet Lindsay Lohan at curbside and escort her to the courtroom?

Insurance and personal responsbility

Charlie Vignola takes a page from Stephanie Cutter's playbook in blaming Republicans for the bad health and eventual deaths of his parents.

SCV Voices: Tips for avoiding theft

Editor's note: On March 19, The Signal published a story about a woman whose wallet was stolen by someone hiding beneath the racks of a clothing store while another person distracted the victim. Following is an edited version of readers' postings on the online version of the story.

What do you think Jesus would do?

In response to the column "Jesus would be a liberal Democrat" (March 19), it's always easy to use, or misuse, Jesus to make a political point, although good taste dictates against it.

Wake up and see the altering demographic

In Mr. Patton's piece "Red states should be careful what they wish for" (March 22), his conservative critique of liberalism is as fact-free and unsupported as nearly all conservative points seem to be today.

Turn off your light for gun control

After a great many conversations and debates about gun control, there are still a great many members of Congress bowing to the NRA lobby because they want to protect their political futures more than they want to protect us against gun violence.

Driving in Santa Clarita: Some rules of the road

While driving in Santa Clarita I have noticed some techniques that appear to be unique to the culture here.

Some more equal than others

I used to live in Santa Clarita. I moved to the Bay Area about nine years ago but still check in on The Signal occasionally.

Taxes and the Left

Compulsion against peaceful citizens is immoral. Likewise, extracting taxes for activities that benefit some citizens, but not others, is also immoral.

Time to halt smoking on restaurant patios

White House tours

The tours of the White House have been canceled by the President. How dare he do such a thing?

Miles per gallon

There's talk I've heard that Ford, VW & other carmakers make engines for cars in Europe and other countries that make upwards of 60 mpg. They are however not allowed in the U.S. Imagine the benefit to students and low-income families if they were allowed here.

Differing views

The Signal's Opinion Page of the March 14, 2013 issue shows forethought and good planning in printing two columns on the same subject but with the authors having completely different views on the matter. That subject is the recent 13-hour filibuster by Senator Rand Paul and the authors are SCV columnist Steve Lunetta and syndicated columnist Joe Gandelman; conservative and liberal respectively.

Letter: Danger of hearing without thinking

We use words and rhetoric to express ourselves, our opinion. But in today's politics, there's such a spin that you can no longer take words at face value.