Motorcade was not political


In response to the Nov. 19 letter “Police should remain neutral,” I believe the pandemic, the shuttering and losses of businesses, the lockdown on our lives and livelihood, and the divided political gangs have affected the way our community and, most probably, our nation perceive things.

Sat., Nov. 7, 2020, marked the two-year anniversary of the Borderline shooting. Our community lost friends, sons, brothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, war veterans, college kids, a police sergeant.

We still mourn the loss of the 12 people whose lives were ruthlessly taken too soon from their families, from all of us.

Sat., Nov. 7, 2020, the community participated in a commemorative drive through Thousand Oaks that started at Janss Road and ended in Westlake Village. It consisted of probably over 100 cars and trucks with American flags waving and our local police, including a SWAT truck.

One of the 12 was one of theirs, and I’m glad to know that they are not neutral on this. (Not to worry, your tax dollars had nothing to do with it).

Ms. Wheeler, you have created more division by presuming that the motorcade was political; it was not. It was emotional.

Your assumptions, and that of your husband who relayed this visual to you, just cause more division and confusion in a world (community) that is already confused and divided.

You offend the families and friends that participated in this memorial drive by downplaying it to political rivalry. Please take note.

Joy Franco
Newbury Park