Not supporting base a negative message

Letters to the Editor

I was making my way along Prince Street recently when I noticed a sign outside a restaurant that read: “Jet noise is good for the economy.”

I am astounded that we have to rely on a restaurant marquee to remind us of what is important to our community and to our freedom.

Recent stories in the Clovis News Journal have reported about upcoming base closures. The paper has also reported that Cannon Air Force Base is trying to expand its airspace so that our pilots can train properly. I don’t understand the hesitation in making this happen.

Our military personnel put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Why are we not doing everything we can at home to ensure that they are trained effectively?

Sonic booms will be something new to contend with, but in time we will learn to tune them out the same as we tune out the jet noise.

With members of our community and the outlying areas saying they don’t want to expand the airspace and they don’t want to deal with the noise of sonic booms, we are sending a message that the base is not important to us.

The base and the military personnel who serve on the base are a vital part of this community and its economy. They are also instrumental in the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Give the base the airspace it needs so our pilots can become better at their jobs.

—Gwyn Del Toro

Clovis

Agenda policy wrong for Clovis schools

I attended the Clovis board of education meeting on Tuesday. Mayor David Lansford spoke articulately and persuasively about the inappropriateness of the school board’s existing policy for placing items on its agenda. That policy allows President Lora Harlan control over what may be placed on the board’s agenda.

It was stunning to see the board members sit in silence after Mark Lansford made the motion to amend this policy, thereby allowing the motion to die without a second.

The gasps of disbelief from the audience said it all, while members of the school board sat stone faced.

It was a telling moment.

This policy is wrong.

—Diana Huey

Clovis