Supervisors Cower at Ambulance Issue

Our county has five elected supervisors who each have different opinions on how they will support residents’ health and safety.

We have two supervisors, John Flynn and Susan Lacey, who stand up for what is right and are not afraid of a lawsuit by a major corporation.

I am very disappointed in our other three elected supervisors who are more afraid of a lawsuit than the voters. High-price lawyers representing Fortune 500 companies can bully our supervisors and all they will do is give them what they want.

The county supervisors voted against the city of Ventura’s paramedics. I understand that prior to the Ventura paramedics coming on board, there were delays in ambulance service and high fees to the citizens. At accident sites, law enforcement officers were forced to sit helplessly waiting for a private ambulance.

What if it was you and a private ambulance came too late to save you. What is your life worth?

Ventura city paramedics and firefighters work as a team. The city’s citizens wanted their own paramedics and got superior service. Why does government have to interfere and force the citizens to use a contracted private ambulance?

ANDEE GOLDMAN

Thousand Oaks

As an observer at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting July 22, I witnessed an excellent example of the reason most voters have become cynical regarding government and our elected representatives.

For about two hours there was consistent testimony to prove that the present Ventura fire paramedic program has been better, faster and cheaper. However, the only options offered by the board did not include retaining this program.

Part of the opposing argument was the fear that the board might be sued by the previous ambulance operator. It seems to me that all controversial decisions contain some such apprehension. As supervisors they should have the courage of their convictions or at least those of their constituents and the taxpayers.

Better, faster and cheaper should be all the argument we need to retain our Ventura firefighters for paramedic and ambulance service.

As taxpayers, when will we ever be able to exert our collective wishes to achieve better government and more responsive representatives?

MARY G. MEYER

Ventura