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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 27, 2005 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Entitlement neglects the community good A recurrent theme in the public input to the Tidings is “entitlement.” What seems intended by this is a “gimmee” response in excess of some external notion of merit. For example, one might feel “entitled” to pursue one’s chosen occupation, and obtain food and shelter in a place of one’s choosing. Especially if one is already there. Others have commented here on a fact that should be obvious: when you drive the work force from their area of residence, the quality of life inevitably declines; sometimes catastrophically. The dynamics are clearly detailed in the mission statements of most housing commissions of cities across the U.S., including Ashland. It has already been noted that housing costs here are prohibitive for most teachers, nurses, librarians, social workers and city employees themselves. Roughly half of our firemen, police, and SOU faculty and staff live elsewhere. An aspect that seems overlooked is that which precisely makes Ashland unique: our artist community. This includes writers, directors, actors, technicians, filmmakers, potters, glassblowers, sculptors, woodworkers, painters, photographers and a large variety of gifted musicians, from jazz, through R&B, to members of the SOU and Rogue Valley orchestras and choirs. It might surprise some that this also includes a couple hundred visiting professors of band music from all over the U.S., who yearly enroll in SOU’s non pareil postdoctoral American Band College. This art community has burgeoned over the last 10 years; so that Ashland is currently internationally rated as the second most desirable artist community in the world in which to live. (No. 1 is some place in France.) Ashland also ranks No. 2 in the state for the proportion of properties owned by professional investors. Not all of these are absentee landlords. Some actually live here. When they aren’t in Vail, or Tahiti. Of course, not all of the affluent are conscienceless greedheads. Some not only philanthropically support the arts, but even recognize that what is most essential in life cannot be bought. And act accordingly, politically and otherwise. But the majority of course feel a sense of “entitlement” to continue denying that their actions will destroy this community. Aaron Corbet Ashland AFN’s value is lost in council’s short-sighted logic If one were to talk about being penny wise and pound foolish, there couldn’t be a more perfect example than this shortsighted city council and their proposal on the AFN Network. If someone is willing to pay millions of dollars for something, it’s because they expect to make a profit. If they can make a profit so can the city! Promotion of this business and adapting to useful business practices in order to entice strong businesses to the area are two small changes that come readily to mind. There would be no rapid Internet connection in this Valley but for AFN. Charter kept saying someday, sometime, and when AFN came into existence Charter decided they needed to get a system in place now. Charter has been trying to undermine AFN from the start. They have made the rest of the Rogue Valley pay increased prices on services while undercutting AFN in Ashland. Believe us, they did not operate at a loss. Charter TV (same company as the cable) was thrown out of Riverside, Calif., because they were not responsive to customer problems and provided very poor customer service. In the council’s limited wisdom, they now want the residents to pay the remaining debt and for the service that will now be provide by someone else and those funds are not likely to stay in our local community. Russ Silbiger has been an opponent of AFN since the idea was first proposed, and he hasn’t changed his mind — just bided his time. Those who do not have the option of using the services of AFN but are being asked to pay a tax on it surely must know this occurs all the time in our modern society. Our children are grown and no longer go to school yet we pay school taxes gladly. Why? Because it is a benefit to the community as a whole. Sometimes things are done for the greater good. Those not using the Internet will grumble, but we remind them of the grumbling done by those who didn’t want horseless carriages. Today a horse is a luxury and a car a necessity. The Internet may seem like a luxury to those unfamiliar with its uses, but most American homes have computers. Do not sell out the future of Ashland by dismantling this valuable tool for all of our sakes; instead, give it the guidance and help it needs to allow our city access to the rest of the global community. Mary Margaret Modesitt and William K. Modesitt Ashland Support state’s arts groups As the year is coming to a close, I would like to remind those of us who are so fortunate to be living in the cultural center of the state of Oregon that now is the time to consider making a gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust. The trust’s mission is to build a permanent endowment fund to help support Oregon’s arts, heritage, and humanities organizations as well as providing statewide grant awards to encourage cultural participation and reward excellence in the field. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been awarded two such awards. Cultural tourism is at the heart of our economy here in Southern Oregon, and investing in the cultural trust is not only a sound investment in our future, but it ultimately cost you nothing! Here’s how it works: First make a donation to any cultural nonprofit in the state, including such local groups as our own Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland Independent Film Festival, Southern Oregon Historical Society and memberships to Jefferson Public Radio. Add up all your contributions over the past year and make a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust. Your matching gift to the trust is a 100 percent, dollar-for-dollar tax credit off your Oregon state taxes. But you have to make the donation by Dec. 31 to qualify for a 2005 tax credit. To learn more or to donate visit the trust Web site at www.culturaltrust.org or call (503) 986-0088. Chuck Butler Board Member Oregon Cultural Trust The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned letters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. Contributions to the Opinion page should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected]. Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. See www.dailytidings.com for our expanded letters and opinion section. 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