Making headlines for the wrong reason

Once again, Simi Valley is receiving national notoriety for intolerance.

I was raised here in Simi Valley, and my family has been in this country for four generations. I've traveled through most of this great nation in my adult life.

I can tell you that it took at least a decade before I no longer heard these words: "Simi Valley . . . isn't that where the Rodney King trial was held?"

If the debate over illegal aliens were not a racial issue, then why do so many of the protesters and editorials continue to refer to "the Mexicans"? What about all of the illegal aliens who are here from the Middle East and India?

If our City Council wishes to send the message that Simi Valley is not a sanctuary city, then why doesn't the city cite all of the businesses that hire the illegal aliens? The violators may include carwashes, landscapers, restaurants and many of the body shops down on Easy Street.

Since the city of Simi Valley is so concerned about upholding the law, then why did the City Council deny safe and legal access to medical marijuana under Prop. 215? Is Paul Miller really concerned about upholding the law? Or does our mayor pick and choose which laws to enforce under some right-wing, neo-con agenda?

I urge us to remember that it was the churches that hid slaves during the Civil War, which at the time was against the law.

Let us not forget that it was the true Christians who harbored Jews during World War II in the face of severe legal repercussions. Rob Estrada Sr. Simi Valley