High school students submit letters to the editor
Editor’s note: Recently, a number of local students from Paso Robles High School submitted letters to the editor in response to a variety of different stories. Due to the high number of letters received, we have combined them into a single post.
Thank you for shedding light on the stigma surrounding mental illness
To the editor,
I’m writing in reference to the article, “Local Woman Helping to Erase a Common Stigma” (March 28). Mental illness often goes unnoticed due to lack of understanding and the patient’s sense that he/she is unable to come forward because they will be judged. As a high school student, I have witnessed firsthand both students’ suffering of mental illness and the labeling of it.
Students are constantly pushed to do as much as possible in hopes of getting into top ranked colleges, causing depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses to replace the excitement and curiosity that should be experienced in a healthy learning environment. Instead of doing one’s best, students are instead intent on being the best, which breeds stress that, if not satisfied by a sense of achievement, continues to grow.
The work that Lisa Slover is doing will help remedy the negativity surrounding having a mental illness. Because of this, students will be able to come forward to ask for help without fear of being called different. We live in a society where being normal consists of hiding pain and insecurities; it’s time to change that.
–Cassidy Moses, 17, Paso Robles High School
Concerned for the future of the economy after passing of $15 minimum wage bill
To the editor,
Along with many other fellow americans nationwide, I am concerned for the future of our economy. This concern is in regard to your article, “Governor signs minimum wage bill” published April 4, which addresses new law and the idea of a $15 and hour minimum wage. I myself am a minimum wage worker and I believe this is a bad idea. The reason for a minimum wage increase is to help the families with sole income providers, that are working at minimum wage jobs, to have a “liveable wage.” However, people don’t seem to consider how this would unfairly affect those with jobs above the minimum wage. For example, the jobs of those that get paid $20 an hour will now be worth less due to the fact that their wage is now closer to minimum. The inflation created by the increase of minimum wage will also make everyone’s money have less value. Why should middle class workers get dragged down lower if they put in extra work, time and effort to work at a tougher, skill-requiring job with better pay? Minimum wage jobs aren’t meant to be family sustaining jobs. If someone really wants to sustain their families and live more comfortably, they should put in the extra work and acquire a job that requires skill so they can earn their comfortable living.
–Ruben D. Celio, 17, Paso Robles High School
$15 minimum wage will ultimately benefit workers
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on the California minimum wage increase (“Jerry Brown signs $15 minimum wage in California”, April 4th). This increase in the income of over 1.3 million people will ultimately benefit workers in the long run. The earnings of s minimum wage worker will have risen $10,000 by 2022. By then the new generation of minimum wage earners will be better off and less people will be afflicted with poverty. As a soon to be worker who lives in a low income household I can attest to this. The short term effects may be damaging, but it is worth the sacrifice of this generation in order to better the future to come.
–Josh Steinbeck, 18, Paso Robles High School
City should not be able to carry through with water rate increases
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on the facility charges of updating the water and sewer systems in Paso Robles (Paso Robles residents protest water rate hikes, March 2nd). As a resident of Paso Robles, I can relate to the other citizens and I understand how they feel about the soon-to-be increasing water rates. When the city council stated that the fund for updating the water and sewer systems would go broke without the water rate increase, I was outraged. This makes me agree with Debbie Mullins; since the money collected from the last water rate increase didn’t help take care of the infrastructure problems, the city council should not be able to carry through with the next rate increase. It isn’t fair to the people of Paso Robles because we don’t need to pay for the mistakes the council made.
– Matt Frankiewich, 18, Paso Robles High School
Focus on politics and policies, not signs
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on the supervisor scandal “Sign placement causes stir in supervisor race.” I have had the opportunity to speak to the father of John Peschong’s assistant,
and the issue may be a bit more complicated than you believe. Hamon placed his sign on the property of a woman who does not support him. When Peschong’s assistant called the owner of the property, asking permission to place a sign on the premises, the owner responded with: “Put your biggest signs on either side of his.” It was the decision of the landowner, not Peschong’s campaign, to place the signs like that. So please, don’t point fingers and make such a big deal about advertising. Focus on the politics and policies.
–John Trescony,18, Paso Robles High School
High school political candidates more mature than supervisorial?
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on sign placement (“Sign placement causes stir in supervisor race”, April 1). As a Paso Robles resident, I find such tomfoolery unacceptable. If Pechong thought he needed to block his opponent’s sign in order to receive votes, that’s very sad. I have seen high schoolers running for student council behave more mature than this. I care more about the future of SLO County and how the candidates will solve the water problem than I do about whose sign is where. Instead of blocking signs, Peschong should be trying to convince us that he is the man for the job. A fact that bothered me the most is that both Hamon and Peschong said that they had the landowner’s permission to put their signs on his property and that the other was in the wrong. Since the publication of the article addressing it, the signs have been moved slightly. The point I am making is that it should not have happened in the first place. All I know is that if Peschong keeps up these antics, he will not have many supporters left on election day.
–Rachael Yost , 17, Paso Robles High School
Thank you for bringing attention to child abuse prevention
To the editor,
I’m writing in regards to the article about the support and awareness for Child Abuse Prevention ( “April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month“, April 6). I’m very glad that our community is bringing attention to this important issue. It is vital that families are supported and that they know this issue is preventable with the help of a loving community like ours. While researching this issue, I found that one in one hundred children under the age of seventeen are abused or neglected in our county. With this in mind, SLO county recently promoted Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month by wearing blue (which is the color that symbolizes Child Abuse Prevention) on April 8 for “Blue 4 Kids.” This was an effort to show support and awareness to all families going through this terrible issue. I’m proud to be a part of such a supportive and loving community.
–Ashley Davis, 18, Paso Robles High School
Schools should promote before, after school safety
To the editor,
Thank you for the great article on a mugging of a Lewis Middle School student. As a former Lewis Middle School student I wouldn’t feel safe anymore, because of how much this community has changed over the past years. For example, with all these burglaries and shootings there have been, before Paso Robles used to be a quiet place to live, and there was barely any crime. I encourage Paso Robles to get more police officers, and promote school safety before and after school so students will feel safe to go to school and go home after school. Let’s make this town safe again and also secure before another child harmed.
–Ruben Delgado,18, Paso Robles High School
Concerned about sexual predators
To the editor,
I am writing to you regarding your article on North County child abuse (“San Miguel man faces life sentence for child abuse” April 8th.) As someone who has younger siblings, I am concerned about the danger my siblings may face from sexual predators. Sexual abuse of children may cause devastating short term effects, like unwillingness to participate in social activities. The long term effects are anxiety, and self-destructive behaviors. Kids who are sexually abused will live with negative emotional feelings that can and will affect their future relationships for the rest of their lives. In SLO County there is 1 in 100 kids who are abused/neglected. It is our responsibility as a community to keep kids safe and provide them an environment where they can develop into healthy adults, both physically and emotionally. A way that can help would be to create a course for parents to take, in order to know how to deal with these types of situations.
–Martha Zavala,18 Paso Robles High School
Child molestation shouldn’t be taken lightly
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on the North County child abuse case (“San Miguel man faces life sentence for child abuse.” April 8). As a resident of San Miguel, I applaud the sentence to 750 years-to-life in state prison given to Jose Antonio Rojabarrija, as opposed to letting him roam the streets without facing the consequences of his actions. Not only has Jose been caught, but also on November 25, 2015 Paublo Vargas Ramirez Sr. was arrested after supposedly molesting two girls in San Miguel, at the park. Child molestation isn’t something that should be taken lightly and should be persistently investigated. According to the evidence presented at Rojasbarrijas’ trial, which lasted two weeks, he continuously committed acts of sexual abuse for five years. Anyone with that type of knowledge wouldn’t feel safe in his or her home, which no one should have to experience. All communities need to be aware of what is happening around us, and to our loved ones. Let’s all work together as a community and put a stop to these predators by keeping everyone aware of their surroundings at all time.
–Jeweliana Martinez, 17, Paso Robles High School
Paso Robles needs more gang prevention solutions
To the editor,
Thank you for your article on the recent Paso Robles murder case (“Paso Robles man sentenced to 100 years for prison” March 11). As someone who has lost a loved one from gang violence, I applaud any effort to keep gang violence out of my hometown instead of letting gang members roam around Paso Robles so viscously. We should work on getting all gang violence out of the county so one day I can raise a family without any fear of gang violence. Gangs are of the leading factors for growth of violent crimes both on and off school property. Gangs are like cancer, we need to cut them out. Paso Robles gang prevention needs to work with the community to identify the problems. More council meetings discussing the problems and solutions is needed. Let’s stop gang violence in our community before another loved one is lost.
–Brandon Tabarez, Age 18, Paso Robles High School
Concerned about job losses
To the editor,
I’m writing to you about your article on recent job issues in Paso Robles ( “130 Jobs Terminated As Paris precision Closes” April 7) I find the fact that so many people will lose their jobs, disturbing. Finding a job is easy but finding one you like is a different story. I know someone who works at Paris Precision. Finding a job similar with good pay is hard to find. With 5 percent of the American population being unemployed, it’s going to be difficult for most to find a job. A majority of employees liked their job and used the money to take care of their families. It might take weeks or months to find a decent job. Even then it might require a move from Paso Robles. Some jobs might be available but they might have to retrain for it.I hope our local government will try their hardest to help these soon to be unemployed workers.
–Vanessa Sandoval, 18, Paso Robles High School
More low income housing is great news for Paso Robles
To the editor,
Seeing Paso Robles create a better and safe community for Oak Park residence has me content. (“Paso Robles Housing Authority celebrates 70 new housing units. April 8). However, ensuring housing for the individual families who are currently living in the original Oak Park is my primary concern. Personally I know a family struggling in this situation, not knowing for how much longer they will live in the original Oak Park. Not knowing if they will have a roof over their head in the next few months is a daunting proposition. This family has been waiting for about six months to hear from the housing authority office but has not yet been told if they qualify or not. I am hoping they first consider the individuals currently living in the original Oak Park that have applied for housing and get them situated in an apartment before offering to families outside the neighborhood. I’m addressing this because I understand the original Oak Park will soon be demolished in order to finish the complete project of Oak Park 2, and it’s best to ensure families where they will live before the project is complete.
–Giselle Rea, Age 17, Paso Robles High School
