OUR VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL


Seeing is believing. An Arizona lawmaker is taking that age-old idiom to heart. Rep. Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, has proposed House Bill 2793, which targets advertising photos that have been enhanced using post-production tools like those in software programs such as Adobe Photoshop.


Airbrush bill: More like airhead bill


Hobbs, who has admitted she doesn’t expect her bill to go anywhere (which should make her constituents wonder why she has so much spare time on her hands that she can be making up “fake” bills) said she is concerned that manipulated ad photos give young girls unrealistic expectations about what they should look like. When the teenage girls can’t achieve the level of physical “perfection” they see in the models in ads, they are likely to end up with self-esteem issues.


Her bill would require any ad with a manipulated photo to contain the following disclaimer: “Post-production techniques were made to alter the appearance in this advertisement. When using this product, similar results may not be achieved.” Many people in Arizona have already weighed in on the downright silliness of many of the bills introduced in the Legislature, even during a time when the state has far more serious problems that should be addressed — primarily jobs and the economy. However, despite the widespread criticism, our state lawmakers continue to devote their taxpayer-funded time to writing vacuous bills that even they don’t believe have a snowball’s chance in hell of being passed. So, why are they wasting their time and our money? Yes, the fact that many young people may be easily


L OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


etters to the editor are published without any editing. Any errors in


spelling, punctuation or grammar are those of the author. Two online reader polls have indicated that a majority of View readers prefer that the letters not be edited.


I will vote for


infl uenced by advertisements is a problem. Perhaps Arizona’s public schools should be teaching children to be critical thinkers. Oh, but wait — the Legislature’s cuts to school funding won’t allow for that.


By the time they reach adulthood, most Americans have come to regard advertising claims with a grain of salt. Caveat emptor (which is Latin for “buyer beware”) should be the motto on our currency, not “In God we trust.”


If Hobbs has so much spare time on her hands, perhaps she should devote some of it to contemplating the ultimate impact such a law would have on society. First off, you’d have to clearly defi ne “post-production techniques.” Does that include cropping, lightening, darkening, color enhancement or use of fi lters? Is any post-production manipulation allowed? If so, how much would require a disclaimer? How do you quantify it? Second, you’d have to clearly defi ne “advertisement.” Would a political ad or poster that has a photo of a politician that has been “enhanced” via Photoshop be required to carry such a disclaimer? Would magazines such as Arizona Highways, which the state uses as a tool to promote tourism, be required to put the disclaimer on its cover, saying the greens in the cactuses and the blues in the sky in many of the photos have been enhanced using “post-production techniques”? Hobbs’ bill certainly has many people thinking, but they might not be pondering the issues she’d hoped. One of the things many are probably thinking is: “How the hell did she ever get elected?”


Obama again Editor:


In response to Mr. O’Dea’s recent letter regarding President Obama’s leadership as well as his alleged behavior in the oval offi ce, I would like to offer the following counter points. Mr. O’Dea letter also claims that the President shows no respect for the oval offi ce by not wearing a coat and tie and sits in the oval offi ce with his feet on the furni- ture. While it is true that there are President has pictures of Obama in the oval offi ce not wearing a coat and tie, it is equally true that there also pictures of Presidents Reagan, and Bush in the oval offi ce NOT wearing a coat and/ or tie in the same offi ce. It makes me wonder if Mr. O’Dea is as troubled by those pictures as he was of those of Mr. Obama? Mr. O’Dea’s made comments about President Obama gov- erning against the “will of the people.” I am one “the people.” I am a native Arizonan, a proud American; a patriot, and one of 52% majority that voted for Obama in 2008 and will do so again in 2012. While I do not


agree with every decision the President has made, I do agree with most. This is what I do for sure; we were near a second great depression and now we are not. I wanted us out of the debacle of Iraq and now we are out. And best of all, Bin Laden and many of his followers are no longer able to harm our country as a result of the decisions made by this President. Mr. Obama has governed as I expected him to when I cast my vote for him.


A ntonio Benavidez Litchfi eld Park


Pick Quezada


for District 13 Editor:


Representative Richard Miranda has resigned, and we’re unsure about the real reason he stepped down. However, it’s totally clear that Martin Quezada is the best person to represent the West Valley in the Arizona Legislature. Here in Avondale, Tolleson, and West Phoenix, we need someone who will work hard to promote our best interests at the State Capitol. Martin Quezada not only has an impressive resume, but he has worked tirelessly on the Pendergast Elementary School Board to serve our kids. Quezada is articulate, intelligent, and not afraid of “fi ghting the good fi ght” on behalf of all Arizonans — regardless of ethnicity, age, or


income level. He is a product of the West Valley, and will stand up for fairness and justice for all of us. Please join me in letting the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors know that we want Martin Quezada to be appointed to fi ll Richard Miranda’s seat. Quezada represents a future that is much brighter than our recent past!


David Cedor Avondale


Buckeye is out


of business Editor:


fl yers from Buckeyes current Mayor, he has lots of claims for success and says Buckeye is open for business. I see it totally different. Buckeye is not a Busi- ness Friendly Town at all. They have one of the highest Property Tax rates in the County, and according to him “Partners with School Districts to save money”. Who’s Money? It surly isn’t the property tax payers. The Buck- eye schools are operating on 10 & 15% overrides along with having high tax rates. Buckeye has the highest sales tax also. 10.3%. They are taking 10.3% of what we have left after our wallets and paychecks have been raided by the Feds and State. Sorry but Buckeye is Out of Business. All these taxes are


(See Letters on Page 7) If your have been reading the


McKEE’S OPINION — Augusta Chronicle


1050 E. Riley Dr., Avondale, AZ 85323 (623) 535-8439 [535-VIEW] • FAX (623) 935-2103 “The noblest motive is the public good.’’ — Richard Steele Publisher: Elliott Freireich, publisher@westvalleyview.com


Editorial: Managing editor: Jim Painter editor@westvalleyview.com News editor: Cary S. Hines chines@westvalleyview.com Assistant editor: Rich Ott rott@westvalleyview.com Sports editor: Mike Russo mrusso@westvalleyview.com Assistant sports editor: Casey Pritchard Staff writers: Sara Clawson, Emily McCann, Rachel Trott, Brent Whiting news1@westvalleyview.com Staff photographers: Michael Clawson, Ray Thomas


DISCLAIMER: This photo of Rep. Katie Hobbs, D-District 15, which she uses in her political advertisements, was shot using studio lighting techniques designed to make her look better than she really does. The photographer also may have used post- production techniques to eliminate any blemishes, thus giving her constituents a misleading impression of what she actually looks like.


Advertising: Director: Stephanie Hillebrand Stephanie.H@westvalleyview.com Account executives: Rachael Freireich rachael.f@westvalleyview.com Kathy Harned kathy.h@westvalleyview.com Debbie Kelly debbie.k@westvalleyview.com Julius Tiritilli julius.t@westvalleyview.com Advertising assistant: Julie Sargent-Helm advertising@westvalleyview.com


Bookkeeping: Manager: Rene Hartmann Alejandrina Trujillo bookkeeping@westvalleyview.com


Composing: Manager: Arthur Schneider aschneider@westvalleyview.com Assistant manager: Veronica Verdugo-Lomeli vvlomeli@westvalleyview.com Staff: Jonathan Barnes, Shannon Mead production@westvalleyview.com


Classified advertising: Anna Brandt classifieds@westvalleyview.com


Circulation/Distribution: Manager: Chris Yee cyee@westvalleyview.com Circulation Assistant: Linda Ryan lryan@westvalleyview.com


Press: Brent Fitzgerald bfitzgerald@westvalleyview.com Chris Garrison, Jorge Veloz, Marq Mang


West Valley View is published each Tuesday and Friday by West Valley View Inc.


Subscriptions: Home delivery of West Valley View is free upon request within western Maricopa County west of State Route 101 and south of Northern Ave. as well as all of the city of Tolleson. Requested mail subscriptions within Maricopa County: $150 per year, $80 for 6 months. Out of county & state: $175 per year, $90 for 6 months.


Copyright: The entire contents Copyright 2012 by West Valley View, Inc. West Valley View is printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks.


West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona, Tuesday, February 28, 2012


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