Opinion

LIVE debate at 11 a.m.: Military jet noise over the valley

• 8:18 AM

DHS is smart to seek new solutions to gangs

Nobody expected Operation Falling Sun to eradicate gangs from Desert Hot Springs.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Valley Voice: Edward Redstone

There are some things you miss.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Letter: A strategy to keep prices down

Are you frustrated at $4 a gallon gasoline? Try this. As you drive around the next week, determine which brand raises their prices first. When you have figured that out, do not buy gas from them.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Letter: Council backs down on its word

Does it come as a big surprise to anyone that the City Council is backing down on its word about the oversight committee for spending allocations from Measure J? I am not in the least bit shocked at their actions.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Letter: Will the rewrite sit on the shelf?

Saturday's Desert Sun said, “The California Department of Transportation said it will install digital traffic signs across the desert and rewrite its emergency response plans to avoid a repeat.”

• Feb. 21, 2012

Valley Voice: The Terry Schiavo lesson: Make your end-of-life plans now

In 2005, as a result of a court order, Terry Schiavo died after her feeding tube was pulled. For those with faded memories, this is the young woman who, after adopting an ice tea diet, remained in a vegetative state as a result of a severe potassium deficiency. Terry's omission of a written advanced directive was a lesson on how to die peacefully without a 15-year legal battle.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Letters: Bonds will eat up much of the tax revenue

What is all this fuss about the Palm Springs City Council appointing a Measure J Citizen's Oversight Commission? Assuming Measure J produces an expected $8 million a year, how much would be needed to service the proposed $47 million of bonds, at an estimated interest rate of 4 percent, amortizing over 23 years? How much would then be available to go into the general fund for an oversight commission to “sight-over?”

• Feb. 21, 2012

Letters: California locks up too many people

The Desert Sun's dedication of its Opinion page on Sunday to prison realignment and reform came on the same day that the Desert Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union held a forum on the same subject. It offered a timely overview of the issue and sensible reforms to reduce both the human and fiscal costs of incarcerating so many Californians.

• Feb. 21, 2012

Valley Voice: Pipe down and enjoy our slice of paradise

My writer friend Alan just moved to Palm Springs in December. The other morning he got up early and looked out at the mountains. He said they were bathed in a beautiful red hue and he was overwhelmed by their beauty.

• Feb. 19, 2012

E. J. Dionne Jr: Hypocrisy runs rampant on GOP campaign trail

When we talk about hypocrisy in politics, we usually highlight personal behavior.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Letters: Santorum spouts GOP venom

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, the current “flavor of the month” with Republican primary voters, made our front page news: “Santorum airs views during his valley visit.”

• Feb. 19, 2012

Letters: Hot the administration spins

In the land of Utopian make believe, there are two men. Both are working, thus there is no unemployment.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Letters: Put breaks in the medians

Traffic backups have been happening a long time on Interstate 10 without anyone doing anything. As a retired police officer from back east, I suggest two possible remedies.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Fully fund public safety realignment

Five months after California imposed its public safety realignment on its 58 counties, the big question is whether the state will live up to its commitment to fund the transfer of responsibilities.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Newsmaker: Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff Jr. concerned about realignment funding

Stanley Sniff Jr., who has served as the 13th sheriff of Riverside County since Oct. 2, 2007, is concerned about whether the state of California will adequately fund realignment.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Rick Santorum shows no hesitation speaking his mind in desert

Last weekend, I was surprised to meet surging presidential candidate Rick Santorum when my only goal, as a lifelong Dodgers fan, was to meet Vin Scully.

• Feb. 19, 2012

Military jet noise subject of Point Counterpoint debate Wednesday

Join an online debate on military jets flying in and out of Palm Springs International Airport at 11 a.m. Wednesday at mydesert.com

• Feb. 19, 2012

Letter of the week: Desert Riders salute the late Mike Schuler

Last week, we awoke to a cloudy desert day not knowing that a dear friend of all trail users had passed away. Mike Schuler is the unsung hero of horsemen and hikers. Mike was a master trail builder and has built and maintained many of the trails in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Investors get taxed several times

Re: “The rich do not pay their fair share,” Sandra J. Skaggs, Feb. 12.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Liberals just don't get their facts right

On Feb. 17, Bruce Legawiec, CPA, attacked Bush's tax policies on “interest/dividends” being less than “regular income.” I would have thought that a CPA would know that the money to buy those items generating the interest/dividends has already been taxed plus FICA/Medicare deducted. Speaking of unfair, why does the federal government treat unemployment benefits as “regular income” and tax them?

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Check the facts before you start a revolution

Re: “Dominant institutions crowd out alternatives,” Bob Hackett, Feb. 16.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Many just a paycheck away from homelessness

Re: “Don't let the dream die,” Desert Sun editorial, Feb. 12.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: KESQ, KPSP sharing logos is unprofessional

Re: “KESQ buys KPSP from Jim Houston,” Mike Perrault, Feb. 1.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Competition helps business in television market

As a former broadcaster and owner, I always believed competition was good for the marketplace. It made for better news reporting or selling advertising to businesses.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Most neighbors support Rosewood hotel

Re: The Rosewood hotel.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lacks courage

Re: “N.J. legislators approve gay marriage; Christie vows veto,” The Associated Press, Feb. 17.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Driving distractions are nothing new

Re: “Curb gadgets on dashboards,” the Associated Press, Feb. 17.

• Feb. 17, 2012

Letter: Military jet noise complainants aren't unpatriotic

What's troubling about all the letters about the military jet noise is not the noise issue but the banter about whether its right or wrong to complain about it.

• Feb. 17, 2012