To the Editor:
The Trump administration is trying, on many levels, to subvert the presidential transition. One example is Russell Vought, the now-director of the Office of Management and Budget. In a presidential transition, OMB is tasked with coordinating with the incoming administration to communicate current policy and budgetary matters, including plans for pandemic medical and economic relief, so that the presidential transition will be as seamless as possible for the incoming administration and for the benefit of the country.
Vought has refused to do that, declining to provide Biden’s team with vital information under the argument that they will just use the information to “dismantle this administration’s work.” He has apparently not been made aware, as the Trump administration has observed so often, that “elections have consequences.” He apparently also does not understand that the OMB’s work product does not belong to Trump or to OMB but belongs to “we, the people.” This is a common misconception in the present administration, as is the idea that they have a right to make the transition as difficult as possible for the Biden administration. Because Trump.
We all know by now that Vought’s response comes directly from the current president, the man who has said repeatedly that “I, alone, can fix it.” That the only way he will accept the election result is, “if I win.” Who has determined that everyone who disagrees with him, the Supreme Court, federal courts, state courts, state elections offices and their governors (Democratic and Republican), DrudgeReport, the New York Post (!), the Electoral College and even Mitch McConnell, are all wrong. He didn’t lose the election, he can’t lose the election, he will not accept losing the election. Please, Mr. Trump, you’ll have some time now; get some therapy.
Whatever you may think politically of Joe Biden, he does not believe that he owns the office of President of the United States. He does not think that every federal employee owes allegiance to him, personally, or that he knows everything, or that it’s his way or the highway. He does not think the government exists to serve his financial interests. He knows his job is to serve the interests of the American people, as best he can. Appallingly, Russell Vought of OMB, and other critical agencies, does not understand that. We are the losers.
By Kelly Scoles

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To the Editor,
In recent weeks Fillmore has been significantly affected by the surge in COVID-19. As of Monday, the community of Fillmore has seen 265 positive cases within the last two weeks which is 1300% higher than the county goal of less than 100 cases per 100,000 population to be placed in the red tier by the state’s standard. This exponential growth is deeply concerning given the governor’s recent incentive to increase per pupil spending in districts that begin reopening K-6 classrooms in mid-February. COVID-19 in Fillmore is rampant and the risks to both students and staff with a hasty return to in-person learning while the virus is out of control is cause for alarm.
Safety of students, staff, and the community at large must be paramount to any consideration of reopening despite the appeal of additional funding. Any reopening plan must be established in coordination and collaboration between school district administration and local educator associations with health and safety as the top priority for both sides. Negotiations take time. On behalf of FUTA and the students we serve, I urge Fillmore Unified to demonstrate restraint in their decision to return to in person instruction. It is imperative we do not rush into reopening without a proper plan in place to take advantage of the governor’s incentive. It is the responsibility of FUSD leadership to provide the due diligence necessary to collaborate with all stakeholders and establish a reopening plan that respects the safety and health of the community of Fillmore.
Tammy Ferguson
FUTA President

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To the Editor:
Just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for the many columns you have written dispensing accurate and meaningful information. I am 77 and in all my years I have never seen so much fake news and outright lies told by the press. I understand that politics can become a blood sport but the intensity and vestural hatred displayed by the press these past few years is truly disturbing and poses the question how can" we the people" come together as one nation when we are being torn asunder by the nightly news. I know there are citizens of Fillmore who would disagree with my conservative views but there are many who hold the same values you express each week. For those who disagree please let's not speak ill of one another. Vigorous discussion of the issues is the American way of solving our collective issues. I hope 2021 will be a year when we can find more common ground and less anger. Keep up the good work Martin and hopefully we will see more Fillmore citizens participating in the dialogue. Let's just remember to keep the dialogue factual and civil.
Dave Johnson, Fillmore Ca

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To the Editor:
One thing that you have to give to the Democrats is that they don't fool around - they get things done. The Democrats in the House have gotten something meaningful done already, and we're just a few days into the new year. They just passed a rule change banning the use of words like "parent, grandparent, father, mother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle," etc. from use on the floor of the House of Representatives. They've EXcluded all of these words, of course, in the name of inclusivity. One wonders if this kind of stupidity comes naturally to these people, or if they have to work at it. Hopefully, some of the sane people there will start using these banned words every time they speak. When they're called out of order for daring to use words like "father" or "mother" on the floor of the House, maybe the public will see what kind of people we have running our country and do something about it. One wonders where Julia Brownley stands on this rule change. You should ask her.
Pastor Leslie Lanier
Wayfarer's Chapel Lutheran Church
Fillmore