Published: May 18, 2008 06:25 pm            

Letters to the editor - Monday, May 19, 2008

Post didn’t constitute annexation opposition

The editorial on May 14 speaks about the county’s leadership being against annexation, because someone (you?) going to the county government site and seeing a download button for the petition against the annexation. How does the petition being there constitute the county leadership being for or against the annexation?

On the Trib Talk forum, I posted a copy of a petition that was e-mailed to me last week. One of the regular posters informed me that it was not the correct petition, and I would have to get the correct petition from the city or the county, as it is a government issue form.

I contacted Ms. Mona Myers and asked for the petition. It is a legal document, and she was kind enough to post it for me on the county site so I and others could access it. If you downloaded it, you will see all of the legalities that are involved in processing the petition. Again, the legal form had to come from the city or county.

The editorial writer has made the assumption that because Ms. Myers responded to the request of a citizen that she and other leaders are opposed to the annexation. This is an unfair statement to make, unless the writer has spoken to Ms. Myers or other leaders and they have been informed that this is in fact the case.

I am aware that an editorial is an opinion, however, to base that opinion on things that are not factual is unfair.

Ruth N. Williams, Kokomo

Let’s use volunteers to police parking situation

I read with interest about the move to increase parking fines. I wonder who will enforce these violations?

Kokomo used to have a volunteer parking patrol, but I don’t believe it is in existence anymore. I was originally on this patrol and feel as though I made a difference.

The police department supplied us with our uniforms and tickets, but we had to supply our own transportation and pay for our own gas.

Even at these outrageous prices for gas, I am still willing to do this for my city and for other handicapped people.

Somebody needs to stop these people who are not handicapped from parking in our places. There are many people who think just because there is a handicap placard in their car, even though it’s not theirs, that they can still park in the handicapped places.

I have talked to Mayor Goodnight, and he assured me that he would talk to the police chief and have him get back with me. And if for some reason they don’t want me on the patrol, at least tell me why.

When I was on the patrol before, I put about $6,000 in the general fund for the City of Kokomo. This seems like a win-win situation for the city to me. Our police officers are way too important to be patrolling for parking violations when there are so many more important things they need to be doing.

I would like for the city to give me another chance to make a difference for our city and other handicapped people who really need these places.

Donald E. Henry, Kokomo

Travel by rail could nip airline problems

For the past few years, we have been subjected to a litany of problems relating to the air travel industry.

Security screenings, increasingly longer pre-boarding waiting times, canceled flights, on and on, ad nauseum.

Then there are the more recent examples. Airlines facing bankruptcy and airlines that pull the plug completely, a victim of sky high (no pun intended) jet fuel costs. Remember ATA? There is, however, a simple answer to the problem, one word. Can you say, “Amtrak”?

While news reports are replete with accounts of problems facing airline passengers, virtually no such problems appear to plague rail passengers. Food for thought, no?

And while I am on the topic of rail travel, another point begs to be addressed. The vast majority of America’s locomotive fleet are diesel-electric locomotives, locomotives that burn diesel fuel, expensive, polluting diesel fuel. See a problem here?

So, is there a solution? Yes. A portion of the Amtrak right-of-way in the so-called “Northeast corridor” is already electrified. All new light-rail rapid transit is also electrified. Food for thought? Yes.

Kenneth Crockett, Kokomo

        

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