Opinion - The Westside Express

Reader hopes Nov. 5 election will bring needed change for Los Banos

by The Westside Express | Oct 27, 2024 | Letters to the Editor | 0

After 23 years of living in Los Banos, I’ve learned the electorate can make very savvy decisions about our schools and city. I’m confident the Three Amigos, Mayor Paul Llanez and councilmembers Brett Jones, and...

Our city is mired in too many ugly secrets

by The Westside Express | Oct 25, 2024 | Letters to the Editor, Opinion | 0

BY KATHY BALLARDLos Banos Resident Back in 2021, Brett Jones wanted his buddy Josh Pinheiro to be hired as Los Banos city manager. It didn’t matter that he had no experience in government. Or that he had little experience...

Alpha and Omega: Goodbye to the editor of my first and last story

by The Westside Express | Oct 16, 2024 | Letters to the Editor | 0

I’m writing to say goodbye to a man most readers of The Westside Express never knew. Cal Tatum, who edited some of the stories published in this newspaper, died last week in Arizona. We were never close friends, but he was more...

Goodbye, Westside Express readers; hello, University of California Berkeley

by Rhianna Irao | Sep 19, 2024 | Opinion | 0

Growing up in Los Banos, it was difficult for me to get past the small-town mindset thinking that there is so much better elsewhere. I didn’t see much opportunity for me to connect with other people or even see that there was...

Starting a new school year

by Jocelyn Morales | Aug 29, 2024 | Education, Opinion | 0

As summer comes to an end, it’s time to get back into routine for school. On Aug. 13 I went back to school only this time, I’m a senior. If I could go back and tell myself high school would go by quicker than...

Westside Express subscriber likes articles on California

by The Westside Express | Aug 4, 2024 | Letters to the Editor | 0

As a native Californian, I must say that Dennis Wyatt’s richly researched articles on California duly edified me. Those about the San Joaquin River and California highways extended my knowledge of both on top of what I already...

Firebaugh school district investigation ‘much ado about nothing’

by David Borboa | Aug 3, 2024 | Opinion | 0

“Boobies?” Really? “Chonies?” Seriously? Can you say, “Much ado about nothing?” The hub-bub involving the Firebaugh/Las Deltas Unified School District and more specifically, superintendent Roy Mendiola, has been going on for...

City gives special treatment of some businesses

by The Westside Express | Aug 2, 2024 | Letters to the Editor | 0

Editor, The Express, I am concerned about the preferential treatment given to a new business located in a historical theater building, while other new businesses in town do not receive the same level of promotion. As taxpayers,...

The importance of ethics and the challenges of local governments

by The Westside Express | Aug 1, 2024 | Opinion | 0

By GREG WELLMAN Given levels of animosity between political parties at the federal level, one wonders whether a sense of right or wrong still exists in the minds and hearts of those calling the shots. In other words, do...