Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

In the Bulletin on Aug. 12, it was gratifying to see so many letters to the editor from concerned residents. 

In my last letter of July 31 I failed to point out that by stopping building more new developments and concentrating on being a destination by having interesting dining (not chains) and shopping our property values would probably go up. Make downtown someplace where people would like to go. I don’t know about you but tattoo shops, cigarettes stores, etc. just don’t do it for me. 

We need to continue to voice our concerns and the City Council needs to pay attention to us. Perhaps many of the long-time members have become complacent or self-serving and just don’t care what we want. I think many of them may be under the misconception that we approve of their performance because they continue to be re-elected. The re-election of these officials rests squarely on the shoulders of us, the voters. Low voter turn-out, not doing a little research on them, or those who just vote for the incumbent because it is easy tend to be determining factors in many elections.

Something I had never thought about until recently is what are the qualifications for the position of Mayor or for City Council? As far as I have been able to determine there are “no special skill sets or education needed” other than being a resident and receiving enough votes in the election. So please don’t, mistakenly, think they know what is best for us based on the supposition that they do.

I would love to see the Bulletin devote more space for letters to the editor but you have send them so they see the need is there.

Sandra Ahrens

Manteca