Letters to Voices : In Defense of Upland

My wife and I just celebrated our 20th year as “Uplanders,” and I can tell you never have I seen such an incorrect assessment of a community and its government as in Robert Campbell’s Community Essay (“Upland Can Blame It All On City Hall--Literally,” June 6).

Upland has one of the highest ratios of citizens, both public and private, chipping in to make our city an exciting place to live. We have numerous service clubs and service organizations. We have programs to help those in schools in need of extra assistance. We have volunteers for any worthwhile project that appear as soon as the need arises. And the volunteers include those city in city government, police and fire services, school district employees and many others that appreciate being residents of the “City of Gracious Living.”

Are there problems? Of course. Is government bloated? Possibly. But we even have a “civilian” watchdog committee to make sure government growth doesn’t get bloated. So I admit we are not perfect. But I’ll be darned if there is any other city finer than ours.

Herbert Rosenzweig, Upland