It appears some accountability is forming in La Quinta
After reading Robert Sylk’s excellent Jan. 22 column, I am amazed at what a desperate state of affairs still exists in La Quinta. I visit this city several times each year and have done so for decades.
By assessing the atmosphere in this beautiful locale, I find the people warm, friendly and committed to the environment in which they exist. Yet one can quickly observe where progress has begun but never completed: SilverRock Resort.
It appears that groups are beginning to form, and meetings are being scheduled, to discuss topics and issues — first to be considered should be accountability.
The decay in La Quinta did not happen by itself. The people responsible need to be identified and taken to task, foremost the city manager and the mayor. Civil or legal proceedings need to be taken. The new group, A Committee for a New La Quinta, led by founder Robert Sylk, will ensure that a review of all the topics aforementioned will be addressed.
In order to make change happen, residents have to come together and discuss the unresolved issues. Even more important is the timing, which starts now!
Riberta McCarthy, La Quinta
Yes, Calvert is as guilty as the Proud Boys in his silence
I am writing in response to Richard Siltanen’s Jan. 22 letter to the editor regarding Ken Calvert’s silence on the Jan. 6 insurrection. Calvert’s silence makes him as guilty as the 1,000 mobsters who have been charged with insurrection and conspiracy. Calvert raised election concerns, despite the fact that over 600 courts have deemed there was no election fraud.
Perhaps Mr. Siltanen believes that the insurrection was no more than “a normal tourist visit,” as was indicated by your fellow Republican, Andrew Clyde, of Georgia. No one could have anticipated such a riot, which called for “military police,” as advocated in Siltanen’s letter. Of course, President Joe Biden was justified in awarding medals to the officers for their heroism in the face of adversity that prevailed that horrific day.
Referring to the “lady” who was shot by a frightened police officer as she was climbing through a shattered window, I assume that if one caught an invader climbing through a window in his house, and the Capitol is the “people’s house,” wouldn’t he shoot the trespasser for his obvious criminal act?
Yes, Ken Calvert is as guilty as the Proud Boys and White Supremacists in his complicit silence.
Ken Crouser, Rancho Mirage
'Ethics' in the Baptist Church is a contradiction in terms
I am compelled to respond to F. Brent Leatherwood's guest column in the Desert Sun Jan. 27. Leatherwood writes as an ethics executive with the Southern Baptist Convention that Congressman George Santos (R-NY) should be expelled from Congress for his lies and scandals. True. I agree.
However, Leatherwood represents an "ethics" component of the Baptist Church with ultimate hypocrisy that stings personally with me. The Southern Baptist Convention in 2021 actually expelled − yes, expelled − the St. Matthews (Kentucky) Baptist Church and one other church in Georgia for being "too inclusive of the LGBTQ community."
As a kid growing up in St. Matthews, my mom sent me to vacation Bible school at St. Matthews Baptist Church, and I remember enjoying it and playing on the steps of the church. As a proud gay man, I have always taken issue with the extremely homophobic Baptist Convention and its seminary in Louisville and any church which promotes hatred is not inclusive and discriminates! Ethics does not exist in the Baptist Church and most parishes and churches.
Robert Westwood, Rancho Mirage
My short answer to Will Haskell's Mon. Jan.30 column
Will, your naive question, "Gen Z showed up for Democrats in the midterms. Will Democrats show up for us now?" Of course they will, Will. They're clueless! They don't know any better.
Tony Ward, Palm Desert
Families will experience why inflation is dangerous in 2023
As of today, the federal funds rate is 4.75%. The national average for a 30-year mortgage is 6.1% and the Federal Reserve has stated they do not plan to lower rates until 2024.
These high rates have caused home prices to decline 11% since a high in June 2022. Houses that were not able to be built during the pandemic are now available and contributing to driving prices down. The sudden drop in home sales is the issue that will affect many this year.
A huge decline in home sales means real estate agents, banks, contractors, and services that rely on the recycling of properties will be less frequent. Fewer people making money while the cost of living continues to rise.
Inflation rose to 6.5% in 2022. The target is 2%. The high cost of living has not allowed people to afford car payments (1.89% default) or save. The national savings rate is 2.2%. When people don’t have cash saved, they max out credit cards, which coincidentally has a rising interest.
Historically high unemployment and car and home repossessions will be the result of printing too much money.
Kyle Bryan, Indio
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Accountability in La Quinta is long overdue
