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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland-set revival of 'Jesus Christ' comes to life at Camelot ... Guest Opinion: Water use at Southern Oregon University ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Sharing our stories ... Ashland-set revival of 'Jesus Christ' comes to life at Camelot ... Guest Opinion: Water use at Southern Oregon University ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Sharing our stories ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Jan. 14 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Editorial was snarky There is an old wisdom that is roughly expressed in the saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie." The Tidings, seemingly oblivious, chose to include me in their opinion on the upcoming police chief selection editorial Jan. 7. The reference, neither accurate nor overtly negative, stuck me as snarky. Why in the world I was mentioned is beyond me, but it provides an invitation to join the discussion. I presume the retiring chief is a good fellow and competent administrator. I don't have any information to support this assertion, but in our Ashland culture (as he is wont to say) we generally invest our officials with blind faith until we are told differently. The Tidings cites the strides made in "community policing." Makes we wonder if any of the editors have any reality-based idea what that means. Not being as insider anymore, here is what I observe. I see a rarely open, uninviting police substation downtown that was touted as the cure for all that ails us. Even Iron Mike is missing in action from the Plaza after $10,000 in damages. And no one has a clue. Looks like that homeless problem is all taken care of, too (sarcastic aside). I'd say it's worse than when I ran the zoo, but that is quite subjective. At least let's agree nothing has changed. From what I know about the police operations without going out of my way to find out, APD has a bike theft program with a decoy bike. Good. I like this. The department also has an innovative protocol for reporting/investigating campus sexual assaults. Sounds good, too, although it is at odds with federal law in some way or another. Hope they got that worked out. The most horrific murder in our history, one committed on a public way, remains unsolved three years later. I would not like to leave my post with that undone, and would like nothing better than a breakthrough by April. So that's it. I obey traffic laws, don't get drunk in town, get along with my neighbors and otherwise mind my own business. I remain a supporter of just, compassionate policing and a fierce critic of the bully-boy type. Chief, thanks for your service, go enjoy retirement. Tidings, when you want to talk about me, talk to me. Michael Bianca,  retired 27-year police veteran, Ashland Dancing for dollars I recently received an email newsletter from Rep. Greg Walden wherein he proudly states that he voted to defund the EPA. Now either he is incredibly stupid or incredibly corrupt, because the only reason to defund the EPA is to give a free pass to the powerful pollution industries. Greg surely must know that our atmosphere and oceans are heating up due to a steady profusion of greenhouse gases and that we need the EPA more than ever to help stem that tide of death. NASA, NOAA and the Defense Department know, the World Bank knows and most vintners, pear growers and foresters know. But Walden and a chorus line of similar political pimps continue dancing for polluted dollars. Our nation is not responding in an effective manner to global warming and climate change, primarily because of the powerful fossil fuel interests that influence too many politicians like Walden, but also due to propaganda outlets that mislead voters into thinking that media pundits and pimping politicians know more than scientists. We are teetering on a moral cusp of life and death due to greenhouse gases and Walden once more voted for death. Lee Lull ,  Talent DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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