Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 6, 2004 Hartzell's extra effort wins vote Some excellent local candidates seek to represent us in this year's election, Peter Buckley and Jack Hardesty among them. We're also voting for Cate Hartzell in the Council race. When the Department of Agriculture decided to spray our neighborhood for gypsy moths, it was Cate who responded to neighbors' calls. For citizens disenfranchised by the decision, she created a context for concerns to be heard by officials, so we felt we had some voice in the decision. Cate is accessible, and a good listener. She gets things done with a calm determination to do what is best for Ashland. Her votes represent prevalent local perspectives in many matters. It's a challenge to serve in modern public life, and be thoughtful in a thoughtless age. So often, people in politics manipulate voters by hiding their agendas behind sound bytes and divisive issues that play on emotions. Cate's approach is different. She has the wisdom to think things through and consider the side effects before committing to irreversible actions. We hope the good people of Ashland still recognize leadership when they see it. Rick and Lindea Kirschner Ashland Disappointed with YMCA I am disappointed as well as a bit outraged that the YMCA would ban all residents of the local Hazel Center based on one resident being "recognized" by a neighbor of the center. This sounds to me not like caution, but discrimination. The men and women who reside in Hazel Center were carefully screened before being released to the community, and although they have committed crimes, their being in the PSRB program, by definition, means their crimes were due to their mental illness. They are now fully involved in treatment, as well as being supervised while at the Y. It's far more likely that unidentified, unsupervised felons frequent the YMCA and are much more likely to be a cause for concern. As a local mental health worker, I am disturbed by our society's growing incarceration of those with mental illnesses. It is sadly reminiscent of the years when individuals who were developmentally delayed or who suffered from mental illness were locked away for life in large institutions. My belief is that this was, and is again, not so much about society's safety, as about the discomfort many of us feel when faced directly with people with grave disabilities. It reminds us that it could happen to us or someone we love. And you know what, it can. So how about a more humane, respectful approach? Kathy Huntley Ashland Don't support Measure 37 A recent local poll showing local support of Measure 37 tells me people are not reading the fine print. Whatever you may think about land use rules, Measure 37 would be certain to make them worse. Imagine your life if your neighbors were all pitted against each other. If you think a midnight garage band gets on your nerves, picture your peaceful hearth when the son of a long-time neighbor insists on developing a motocross track, 24-hour convenience store, metalworking co-op, whatever they please. Measure 37 is written in such a way that this is entirely possible. There is no additional money provided in Measure 37, so to avoid paying claims the city may waive the rules and let the project go forward. What happens to your property value? You aren't necessarily eligible to make a claim. If you sue, you and taxpayers would be stuck with costs of litigation. Throughout the state, cities and counties would be forced to make arbitrary decisions and face endless lawsuits - deciding which actions lower property values, how much, and at whose expense. More bureaucracy would be added to determine when family members bought property, what the laws were at the time, hire appraisers, handle claims and litigation. Whew! Forget fast-track building permits! As chaos and expense mounts, predict cuts in key services, public safety and education. It's a badly written measure - even the title is deceptive. Spare your wallet and protect your property values. Vote no on Measure 37. Nancy Ames Cole Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams