Common Sense vs Governments

By reenee, Santa Maria

In an interesting twist of priorities, the Santa Maria City Council has nixed a homeowner's request to remove a tree from in front of his house. Root damage? No problem, they'll fix it they say. Let's take a look at how they've fixed it in the past, shall we? This particular sidewalk was patched in 1985 and 1988 as a result of root damage, then it was removed and replaced in 1990. It was patched again in 1997, and again, earlier this year. Now, it's on the list for replacement on the 2006 schedule. I for one would love to know how much this repetition has cost the city, both materials and labor, since it's common knowlege that it takes a crew of no less than six to seven people to do the work.

He needs to widen his driveway? No problem they say, expand towards the neighbor's property. Branches fall off of the tree? No problem, we'll clean them up, they say. You don't like the tree? No problem, when you get old like us, you'll appreciate it. How condescending and pompous is that? This is a young couple wanting only to make improvements to their property, they aren't stupid, and they aren't unappreciative. Instead of cooperation, they got arguments and reminiscences of tree climbing.

I'm willing to bet that this couple would have been happy to replace this tree with another, perhaps even two trees that would not be so damaging to their property or the city sidewalks. I wonder how many of these city council members objected to the removal of all of the trees that were ripped out by their roots right behind city hall over on McClelland Street. Oh wait! Perhaps they weren't "heritage trees." Besides, the library needed expansion, and I'm sure that those trees are sitting on ice somewhere ready to be replanted. Yeah, that must be it.

Considering that the Recreation and Parks Department earmarks more than $300,000 for trees, you'd think that all the trees all over the city would look better. However, a drive around town will tell you that some trees are not as well maintained as others, and neither are the sidewalks. I wonder why.

I happen to know from personal experience that if a tree or bush is on a corner, and a police officer driving by says that it obscures the view of oncoming traffic to drivers trying to cross the street, that tree or bush will be removed, no matter how long it's been there. Yes, it happened to me. However, as I digress, when large vans or industrial sized pickup trucks are parked more than 18 inches from the curb, obliterating the view of traffic for the hapless souls backing out of a driveway, or on a corner, obliterating the view of traffic for the hapless souls trying to drive across a street, nothing is done. Why is that? I was seriously thinking about painting the curb red, just west of my driveway, you think anyone would notice?

"It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense."

Next big problem for me when I'm not busy minding my own business is the way in which Arellanes Junior High School dealt with Hector Maldonado. I can understand calling the law if someone has a weapon, but a "scuffle"? There were originally four boys, ages 12 to 14, involved in two fights, but only two were taken to Juvenile Hall. Arellanos Principal, Carl Sousa says, "Santa Maria-Bonita School District rules mandate that law enforcement be notified whenever there is a conflict between two students." Apparently some administrators do not know the meaning of discretion. Cops being used as the last resort, or as a teaching tool is why a five year old Florida girl was handcuffed last April.

Officials of the local school district, county sheriff and federal immigration services say they are only following procedure that applies to every juvenile who is arrested and then determined to be in the country illegally. How about if the school tries to contact the parents about the student's behavior before calling the cops? How about if the cops try to find out if the parents are here legally before calling immigration? How about if immigration contacts the parents to try to further determine as to their resident status? The Public Information Officer at SMBSD, Maggie White says, “The school district and the school didn't do anything to create this situation, if anyone did this, it was the students involved.” But, Ms White, if common sense had kicked in at any one of several levels, would this 13 year old child have been driven all over the state in chains? This reminds me of the story of the men who were chasing a chicken they wanted to eat. When the chicken ran into a barn to hide, they blew up the barn to kill it.

Perhaps the people that are in positions that allow them to gloss over the real problems, or like to pass the buck, ought to imagine being the parents of a 13 year old that has been taken away. Then, they need to imagine what we'd all be paying for our fruits and veggies and wines if the undocumented workers, or illegal aliens, as the whiners like to call them, weren't here.