Comments on: More turmoil over alleged lack of equal treatment at Tulare Cemetery

By: Valley Voice honored with eight CNPA awards - Valley Voice

Valley Voice honored with eight CNPA awards - Valley Voice — Wed, 19 May 2021 00:07:30 +0000

[…] double standards around those policies, the Martin family’s claim that they were told “if one more person called concerning [their deceased relative’s] funeral, [the cemetery office man…,” the district board locking down remote participation in, or viewing of, a board meeting during […]

By: Barbara Kane

Barbara Kane — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 14:06:52 +0000

In reply to Margaret A Couto.

If a person needs guidance from the government on how to be empathetic and sympathetic when working and dealing with mourners who have lost a loved one then that person is obviously working in the wrong business. As for lack of training…..attitudes reflect leadership. Constant infighting and negative attitudes between Board members are being co-opted by cemetery staff. Differences on how to perform oversight duties have turned into personal vendettas. Time to clean house. Time to hire new Cemetery Board members…..no one serving on this current Board need apply. As far as Ms. Castaneda goes….. she really should just go work elsewhere … unless she has truly learned that empathy and sympathy is required as part of her job description/duties. Treat all mourners equally….no special treatment should be tolerated. My condolences to the Martin family. Cherished your memories and keep them close to your heart. She will never be far away as long as you hold on to them. My hope for you is that you will come to have more smiles than tears through those memories.

By: Corinna lara

Corinna lara — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 01:58:24 +0000

We’re are the board members att Xavier Avila,,Steve Presant,& Jim Pennington State your excuse for her actions since at the board meeting They shove everything under the rug .I Talked to one which was Steve or Jim These two Scratch Leonor and she scratches them if you know wat I mean they back EACHOTHER up .Come out I want everyone to here your excuse for your employees behavior

By: Corinna Lara

Corinna Lara — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 23:55:04 +0000

I am the person that called Leonor Castaneda on behalf of the Martin family .I asked Mrs Castaneda. If she would allow Jessica Martins Parents 1 dghter and her husband to get off the car while she was being buried.She said No I asked her if they could have at least there own pallbearers she said no if anyone from the Martin family calls again I will close the cementary and make them watch from the other side of the fence .Than they almost dropped Mr Martins Dghters casket while she was being carried because there were only 4 available workers to carry her ,Leonor had to help as Mary Mendonca of Millers funeral home. I was horrified by her obnoxious behavior .Her unproffesionalism , Her disrespectful , inconsiderate behavior to say the least .while days later another acquaintance of ours died and was being buried ft from Mr Martins dghter Jessica and they were allowed to have there own family as pallbearers.we personally have videos of both incidents .I do believe the cementary does show special treatment My sons lights were thrown away while they claim to clean out cementary I called Leonor why she claims it’s our policy.I asked her if they can give me my sons lights back she said no they couldn’t but I noticed about 5 graves there stuff was untouched I called Leonor and she said that it hadn’t been cleaned out yet I TOLD her I have video this side has been cleaned out the other side is the one that hasn’t been cleaned .Mind you my husband cuts the lawn with our lawn mower puts ferterlizer and waters daily my sons gravesite and the north east side of the cementary were the water pump is at .I told her of these graves that there stuff were left untouched Leonor said I’ll be there today after lunch she never went out .You know why? That parent whose son is buried ft from mine said Leonor said hers was fine ,As long as no one else started to do it ..When I brought it up at the board meeting I told them to there face & they act and excused her behavior.Than days later while visiting my son ,That mother confronted me.That they had removed her sons things because of my fault Leonor told her that ,That I had went to complain and they were forced to remove her sons belongings .Which the right thing leonor should have said it’s our policy and it has to be fair for everyone.obviosly this parent was upset.I have talked to a board member but they seem to excuse Leonors ratchet behavior They excuse her attitude They are non chalant to people’s feelings at the board meeting they told Mr Martin that’s it’s been rough couple of months like I told them yes it has been try burying your child and get treated like Leonor treated them .To some they might say Get over it!! But when it’s your child and your denied the right to carry them to there final resting place ,as a parent that has lost a child that would be devastating,and a slap in the face for days later they let another family bury there loved one.I do believe Mr Martin should make them accountable for there actions .You might have not been the one saying it,But you known of Leonors behavior. And have remained in silence and that speaks volumes.There is a virus going around and it’s called Leonor Castaneda

By: Vicki Gilson

Vicki Gilson — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 21:33:44 +0000

What happened to the Jesse Martin family is deplorable and unconsciousable. There are no excuses for the way Jesse and his family were treated. Jesse’s letter was included in the Cemetery’s Board Trustees’ packets, as well as Posted on the cemetery’s website “tulare cemetery.net” Jesse wanted accountability and a written apology. I was so sad and appalled when I read his letter and learned of the way he was mis-treated.
I was not able to attend the meeting on 5/28/20 in person, but participated thru tele-conferencing due to the Covid-19 situation. All 5 Trustees of the Board had an obligation to listen to Jesse and address his concerns. Just as Jesse started to speak, the teleconferencing functionality was “lost,” and not restored for another half hour, so not only was I unable to participate, but neither was Trustee Alberto Aguilar. The meeting should have been stopped until the problem was “fixed.”I learned later by viewing the video recorded on Facebook Caring Cause, that the 3 Board members in attendance did not do anything ( those three being Steve Presant, Xavier Avila, and Jim Pennington).
I was able to contact Jesse Martin the following week to express my distress and to personally offer my apologies. Jesse told me the only follow-up he had had was by Chair Presant’s phone call the day following the meeting to offer his condolences.
So, Jesse and his family were wronged again – first, by Office Manager Leonor Castaneda acting upon her own and making poor decisions, In addition to threatening to lock the gates and having family members view the services thru the bars, and second by the Board for not taking responsibility. This is not ethical and it is immoral.
A Special Meeting was called on June 9th to discuss a water leak. During Trustee Comments, I discussed the deplorable treatment that Jesse Martin and His family had received. Again, no comments or redress – the Board majority (Presant, Avila, and Pennington) did not want to discuss. This is not acceptable.

By: Margaret A Couto

Margaret A Couto — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 20:49:34 +0000

Unfortunately Covid 19 came upon us unexpectedly, and fast. I’m not condoning what has happened. But with the lack of training and being forced closure to all businesses without any guidance from our Government, and the fear of spreading the virus has affected everyone differently. My deepest condolences to the Martin family, I’m sorry any of this has happened to you.

By: brian flemate

brian flemate — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 18:14:35 +0000

that is plain wrong and bad that so called person really angers me and that leonor should lose his job what a looser ….

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:44:11 +0000

This is a sad story. I would not be looking for an apology but a attorney. That women way over steps her bounds. No family should be p through this.

By: Alberto Aguilar

Alberto Aguilar — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:42:47 +0000

Mr. Jesse Martin, please accept my sincere apology for the unethical and discriminatory manner that you and your family were subjected to by the office manager and staff of Tulare Public Cemetery District. I am a Trustee on the Board and I can assure you that there was no such policy adpoted by the board of Trustees as what you and your family were told by the office manager and/or anyone else. I want to make it clear that the office manager does not have the authority to make any policies on behalf of the cemetery. The job of the office manager is to comply and adhere to the polices of the Board of Trustees. The policies established by the board of trustees prohibits falsification of official records, unethical acts of discrimination, and making false claims/statements. The cemetery is funded by the taxpayers of the district and other means. Every customer or member of the public is to be treated with respect and dignity by cemetery staff and the board of trustees. Respectfully, Alberto Aguilar/Trustee