In my view, Chad Bianco, as sheriff of Riverside County, confronts the same major issues facing the state of California every day, as do all law enforcement executives.
They manage a fleet of insured vehicles that use prodigious amounts of fuel and supervise jails that are underfunded, and as a result are understaffed and crowded. As sheriff, he has responsibility for developing and implementing policies for his deputies dealing with homelessness, substance abusers and the undocumented on a daily basis.
Sheriffs must manage the health care costs of deputies and their families and the difficulty of recruiting qualified, well-educated employees. The process of building a new dispatch center requires him to deal with the many inspections and permits any new construction project encounters.
Bianco, by virtue of his position leading a large organization, successfully deals with many of the conundrums facing the next governor. What other candidate for governor can come close to the breadth of experience and expertise that Chad Bianco has? Vote Bianco!
M. David MacFarlane, Palm Desert
Stop the new short-term rental tax
I strongly oppose the proposed Palm Springs Tourism Infrastructure District (PSTID) and the new 1% tax it would impose on lodging revenue.
As a short-term rental host in Palm Springs, I am already operating under heavy restrictions that hotels and large resorts do not face: We are strictly limited to only 36 rentals per year. We are prohibited from playing any amplified sound whatsoever outdoors — even from a cell phone — at any time of day or night.
Meanwhile, hotels, resorts, and the upcoming Disney project are freely allowed to host events, pool parties and amplified music during the day and evening.
We are also already paying a similar 1% Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment. This new tax would amount to double taxation on the same revenue.
Most frustrating is that the money from this district will primarily fund expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center — an amenity that mainly benefits large hotels and big developers, not small short-term rental operators like me. We are being forced to subsidize our own competitors.
The city council appears to have already made up its mind with little regard for the struggles of small business owners and residents. This is unfair and discriminatory.
I urge the city council to reject the PSTID.
Thomas L. McKenzie, Los Alamitos
Coverage of fatal crash was insensitive
The Desert Sun’s coverage of a tragic car accident in Rancho Mirage was extremely unprofessional and highly insensitive to the victim’s grieving family.
Your April 28 article covered the crash, which occurred early that morning, with the headline “Coroner IDs man killed in crash at Rancho Mirage’s famed Elephant Car Wash sign,” along with a companion video entitled “Fatal crash damages Elephant Car Wash sign in Rancho Mirage.”
While briefly reporting on the victim’s identity and nature of the crash, the focus of the article and video, as indicated by their titles, was the damage to what it celebrated and reported as a landmark sign. I was stunned to see the accident covered in this way. A young man’s life was lost — a tremendous tragedy, warranting sensitive coverage, and perhaps constructive quotations from the Riverside County sheriff’s deputies involved. Instead, the coverage focused on the extent of damage to a light pole, and to the pink elephant sign, which was reported as “a small dent on the word “Super.”
The author further felt it was important to note that the owner of the car wash had not yet responded to an inquiry from The Desert Sun. I would expect better from a reputable news organization and suggest a refresher to the author and editor on professional reporting standards is warranted.
John Ruddell, Rancho Mirage
Wake up and fight back on warehouse expansion
When will the destruction of our beautiful desert landscapes stop? Wake up, everyone.
Warehouses are being planned along I-10 throughout the Coachella Valley. This means more truck pollution, more traffic in our communities and greater environmental degradation.
Don’t fall for the “we will bring more jobs” argument. Studies have shown this is not true. We need more parks, open space, and housing, not ugly blocks of concrete.
Become concerned and voice your opinion. Attend your city council and planning commission meetings when these projects are on the agenda.
Lin Conrad, Indio
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Chad Bianco has the experience to be California’s next governor
Reporting by Readers, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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