Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

With the election in a few short weeks I hope the voters of Manteca will take a moment to reflect on a few issues that may have a direct impact on their lives. There are incumbents up for re-election and if you feel they have done a stellar job for you during their tenure your choice is obvious. However, if you feel, as I do that my quality of life has diminished there is a different choice. If the responsiveness of city leaders on all fronts has been less than acceptable then I ask you to review voting for some new faces with different goals for our city.

Mr. Silverman’s letter to the editor of the Manteca Bulletin disappointed me for its tone and flippant statements. Our city is in great financial shape? So I’m left to assume that the city has purposely remained understaffed for another reason? Perhaps that is why a 70-year-old oxygen dependent man walking his dog in the predawn hours in Manteca can’t get 9-1-1 dispatch to send him help when he was confronted by a man under the influence threatening to kill him? Dispatch heard the threats and told him they can’t send someone until a crime is committed. Sadly we are now a city that is reactive and not proactive apparently due to understaffing.

Many residents have expressed dismay with downtown, homelessness, traffic and road conditions. If the city is in such terrific financial shape, why is the city now a complaint driven city? We have codes and laws. Why are the codes not enforced? Why must a citizen call to complain? Is code enforcement another understaffed department?

I found the personal observations made by Mr. Silverman towards candidates rather petty and they spoke more like an overly defensive response. Using Silverman’s criteria, who currently serving on the council is “qualified”?

The problems Manteca is experiencing will only continue to grow. We have an opportunity to replace council people and the mayor with residents who might bring new perspectives, new solutions, and not kick the proverbial can down the road.

After much soul searching and research I fully support Ben Cantu for mayor of Manteca. He sees the problems. He has a different set of priorities to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Manteca.

Mary L. Smith

Manteca