Letters to the Editor

Colleagues and friends,

The passing of SB371 is a great occasion for all of us. The uneasiness that had been building inside me since our contract was rescinded in 1991 has finally been expelled as a sigh of relief. It feels as if we are no longer flying without a net. As we continue to acquire a broader perspective on our profession we will see and appreciate how crucial and inevitable this law is. I can't say that I am surprised. It is as though fate had willed it.

While we move into employee status, it is imperative for us to remember that unity equals strength. As our petty squabbles fall by the wayside without ego or resentment we will find ourselves a formidable force in the bargaining process. If a pessimist sees the glass half empty and an optimist half full, I visualize it brimming and overflowing.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your persistence, fortitude and unwavering dedication to the evolution of our profession.

Antonio Ortiz

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my appreciation to CFI for their extraordinary help in getting me reinstated to the San Fernando Courthouse and, more importantly, to being able to interpret in criminal proceedings.

As many people already know, I was suddenly ousted from the courthouse in which I had worked for approximately 15 years under the pretext that a juror had complained about my interpretation for a witness in a trial. Although the complaint was rather general and neither my colleagues nor I were consulted in this matter, I was summarily called downtown and informed that I would not be able to interpret in criminal proceedings any longer unless I took and passed the state certification exam or submitted to an evaluation.

I was stunned and didn’t know what I could do and was ready to agree to submit to an evaluation, when...the phone rang! Without me ever contacting him, Ariel Torrone (like Superman to the rescue) phoned and said that he had heard about my situation and that he and Silvia Barden, on behalf of CFI, were going to look into my case.
From that day on they diligently dealt with the administration achieving a total reversal of their position. I was also very impressed with the support I received from my colleagues throughout the county, which restored my spirits and my self-esteem which, frankly, were rather down.

I'd like to thank CFI again for all they did for me and our profession.

Vicky Windler