This letter is written in response to Michael Hackett’s letter to the editor (“Latest Angwin plan is no improvement,” Sept. 29).

What always seems to happen when a large controversial issue hits the news, massive confusion results and everyone relies on their ideological perspective to start criticizing those who have done wrong, or so they feel. People immediately jump in and blame the other side, then rich people, Congress, and whoever else they can get their hands on. It is better not to get too involved at that state because a lot of it turns out to be wrong or in some way off the mark.

The excellent three-day series on gangs in Napa that reporters Carlos Villatoro, Marsha Dorgan, Jillian Jones and others produced last week was so well received that the biggest concern of the online staff never materialized.

It’s official! The bank bailout has not worked.

Dear editor, My response to the awful murder of 16-year-old Jesus Tornero is that I'm shocked, disturbed and very angry that this could happen anywhere, let alone in our community. I hope that the people that did this awful deed receive the maximum punishment for the crime.

Dear editor, In recent days, several articles have highlighted the problems of gangs and violence among our youth. As the Student Assistance Program coordinator with St. Helena Unified School District and a licensed clinical social worker, I encourage your support of violence prevention programs in all the schools of the Napa Valley.

Dear editor, We here in Napa are blessed. We live in a beautiful valley, we have glorious weather and we are a destination point for many, many tourists each year. Yet there is a growing number among us who are in great need and they often turn to the food bank. And the food bank is trying desperately to meet the need.

Dear editor, Our Napa visitor center has been served by a group of 30 volunteers, for the most part retired members of our community. This group of residents has served this community as active members of Napa’s work force. After years and years of building what it is today, they continue servicing our community on a voluntary basis.

Dear editor, Two months ago, the Napa Register published an amazing story about the new-to-vintage clothing section in my store: the Jessel Gallery. (“The valley’s Mustard Magic artist turns her talents to ‘dressing the goddess,’” Aug. 13).

The economy is on fire and Congress, the Media, and the voters are all fiddling while it burns. We need this bail out, and we need it fast, and it is bailing out not just the big money interests, it is bailing out you and me, it is bailing out everyone. Not enough people seem to get that urgency, and we need to, fast.

Barack Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate ... what do you think of the choice?

(Editor's note: The comments on this crashed about 9:30 a.m Friday, right after McCain's announcement. We were able to rebuild most but not all of the comments)