By Brad Dacus

Dear Friends of Children’s Privacy,

With your help, we at Pacific Justice Institute have been able to defend vulnerable children, and their need for privacy at school. We are currently in the middle of a fight against the Co-ed Bathroom/Locker Room Bill in California. We also recently defended young teenage girls in Colorado who had a biological male student using their school’s girls’ bathroom. (If you haven’t watched the video about it, I’d encourage you to do so by clicking here.)

I’m excited to announce that due to our involvement in this issue of children’s privacy, I was asked to sit down with the national CBS Sunday Morning show for an interview on Sunday, June 8. My interview will air on their show. You can check your local listings to see what time the show will air in your city. I hope you are able to watch it!

During the interview, I made it clear a number of times that there needs to be love and compassion for those who deal with gender identity issues. But I also pointed out the importance of having privacy for all students. In our ever-changing world, it’s important that we each stand for truth and moral principles, but that we do it with love. Our children, and everyone’s children, deserve nothing less.

Running the race,

Brad Dacus is president of Pacific Justice Institute

By Brad Dacus

President, Pacific Justice Institute

Let me ask you a very important question … have you voted today? It’s primary day in California and many other jurisdictions, and it’s crucial that every one of us participate.

When we stop and think about it, so many of the battles PJI is fighting for constitutional freedoms begin at the ballot box. Without God-fearing leaders and lawmakers, our efforts in the courtroom are often frustrated.

If you’re like me, it is easy to become discouraged by the direction of our country and the decisions of our politicians. But nothing will change if we’re not engaged and doing our God-given duty to cast a vote for freedom. Primary day is especially important – many are predicting a historically low turnout, which means every vote is crucial. And keep in mind that, even when your candidate doesn’t win, our votes together can cause politicians who don’t share our values to sit up and take notice, especially in closely contested races.

Can I ask you one more question? Have you ever considered volunteering with PJI? We are indebted to our faithful volunteers who are such a big part of our ministry. We have opportunities and needs right now in multiple areas, from legal research to media relations to administrative assistance, and at locations across California.

By voting and volunteering, you can take a positive step today toward turning our country around.

Running the Race,

Brad Dacus
 

By Sylvia Granados Southerland

Last year, speakers at a Whittier City Council meeting challenged the city’s long existing at-large voting system as a claimed violation of the California Voting Rights Act. They requested that the city change to a district-based election system. No changes can be made to the City’s Council election without a change being made to the City Charter. This requires a vote of the “People of the City.”

On Tuesday, June 3, 2014, citizens of Whittier will decide whether or not to create City Council Member Districts. If this measure passes, the city will be divided into four districts of equal population and Council Members from each of these districts will be elected only by voters who are residents of that district.

A Mayor would be elected every two years by all of the people to fill an at-large position. Under the current City Charter, the Mayor is selected on a rotating basis by Council members who are elected by all of the people.

Last year, speakers at Council meetings stated that districts would benefit under-represented minorities who can’t seem to get representatives elected in the current at-large voting system. As an American of Hispanic descent, I strongly disagree with this premise. Having lived and worked professionally in the City of Whittier for more than 20 years, I have never experienced bias in Whittier, neither personally or professionally as alluded to by the Latino Coalition.

Whittier is a vibrant and historic community, rich in diversity with many ethnicities represented throughout our beautiful city. More than 50 percent of those elected to local Whittier School Boards are Hispanic. We the people voted for these trustees based on issues that are important to us, not on their gender or ethnicity.

When you give up your right to vote for 60 percent of the City Council, you are abdicating your right to vote for a council member who is spending your tax dollars. We must preserve our freedom to hold all council members accountable and Whittier’s tradition of voting for council members who serve all the people.

Keep Whittier United. Vote “no” on Measure W.

Sylvia Granados Southerland is former president of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce and is an L.A. County Consumer Affairs Commissioner

To the editor:

Friends, go to 411whittier.com to read this letter since it won’t be printed or published in the Whittier Daily News.
When Jim Corbett defeated the popular John L. Sullivan for the world heavyweight boxing championship, the crowd booed the younger boxer and there was almost a riot. Big John L. walked over to Corbett and shook his hand. Then he put his arms around the younger boxer and told the boisterous crowd, “He won fair and square.”
Makes one think of our recent Whittier City Council election. The ghost of the Terminator says “I’ll be back” instead of being gracious in defeat.
It’s good to stay in a competitive mood and to know that change and growth are possible. You might not be No. 1 yet but take pride in where you are, what you have accomplished, and know that growth is possible. You have more to offer than you realize.
Not everyone looks at a situation as you do. Just because someone thinks differently does not mean you are being opposed, it’s OK to have different values and different viewpoints, but, at the same time, we should care about the success of others.
Mark Twain said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. But really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Color your thinking. Think great instead of “that will do.” Think a 24-7 homeless shelter. Think Whittier in another Rose Parade.
Congratulations to Bob Henderson and Fernando Dutra for their election victories. Congratulations to our new mayor and our new mayor pro tem.
God bless America, pray for and thank our veterans and our active troops, let’s have a higher-than-1-percent voter participation on June 3 to amend our city charter, and … Happy Easter Whittier.
Arthur Rock
Whittier