Make a law contest

Dear Editor:So glad you asked! I read in the Downey Patriot that Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia is asking for letters and there will be a prize for the one she thinks is the best idea for a new law. Since I'm reasonably sure mine would not be accepted, I'm writing to the paper what I think might be good ideas. How about enforcing the laws already on the books, one being Article 3, Section 6 of the California Constitution: "English is the common language of the people of the United States of America and the State of California. This section is intended to preserve, protect and strengthen the English language, and not to supersede any of the rights guaranteed to the people by this Constitution." Please state in detail what this section of the California Constitution means. I was told by some politician this couldn't be enforced, so I called the Legal Department of the Library of Congress and they said it was law and could be enforced. I'm getting tired of almost every language other than English being spoken ("Push 1 for English"). We have areas where business signs are in Chinese, Spanish, etc. with no English on the building. I'd like Downey, as well as other California cities, to be required to have English signs above any other language. California has become the Tower of Babel. Another suggestion I have is for the California legislature to reverse SB 1266, which gives transgender students K-12 choice of whether they will share bathrooms, showers and how they will sleep on overnight field trips. The Sacramento Democrats have done some pretty dumb things, but this is the worst. If special facilities are needed, give them separate restrooms, etc. and stop pushing this on us. Since the U.S. is 17th in world education and California is 47th out of 50 states, maybe they should look more to educating rather than social engineering. Or perhaps go online and read "Will California Become America's First Failure." Or perhaps the legislature might try to devise some plan to get California out of debt before we go bankrupt. Assemblywoman Garcia, why not ask for suggestions on how to cut foolish spending instead of raising taxes and passing more bonds? I'd be happy to see a bill passed that would prohibit a referendum from being overturned, since it is a way people have to express what they want and it is California law. However, far too often it is overturned by some "we know best" politicians or political groups, or they think they can get votes as was the same sex marriage law, but ignored so the Democrats could get votes from homosexuals. Lastly, may I suggest, Assemblywoman Garcia, since California is so deeply in debt, a bill to give back the $5,000 a year raise legislators voted for themselves? These would be my short list of things she could work on. Maybe removing some of the disgusting laws on the books now could be a starting place, and please stop taking away Prop 13. People who don't have homes vote for more taxes on homeowners, not realizing their rent will go up. To those who disagree with me, note I made no personal attacks on anyone. Elsa Van Leuven Downey

********** Published: Jan. 16, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 40