Published: December 04, 2007 05:25 pm            

Letters to the editor - Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007

Siren decision right thing to do

Recently, the Kokomo Common Council received criticism for waiting to decide on funding new tornado sirens. I believe waiting was the right thing to do.

In 2006, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 283 in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This law, enacted July 1, 2006, gives counties the choice to establish a reverse 911 system based on existing emergency computer databases.

Many states and local communities are already using this system to notify residents of many dangerous situations such as natural disasters, criminal escapes and college campus dangers.

The money for this system, in Indiana, can be funded using already collected 911 tax revenues. I believe this system will save lives, save money, and I believe the Kokomo Common Council did the right thing by waiting to discuss local warning system budgets.

I hope the new council members will continue to act on what I think was the most productive and fiscally responsible four years in Kokomo history. So, fellow citizens of Kokomo, don’t believe the hype.

The council is and will act in the best interest of the citizenship of our great city. They now, if not then, are aware of whom they work for and where the buck stops. It’s with you and I.

Thank you for your time, and I urge you to visit the Indiana government Web site for more information on this life-saving measure.

Jason C. Miller

Kokomo

We allow Congress to micromanage

There are times when I want to throw my hands up in despair and proclaim, “I give up!” One such moment came last Thursday as I read the editorial by AP sports columnist Tim Dahlberg about the dispute between the NFL and cable companies over this NFL Network contract.

Personally, I’m OK with two business entities being at odds and carrying out negotiations; that’s part of the business world in a market economy. I’m OK with consumer comments about and input into the issue. I’m even a big fan of Mr. Dahlberg’s suggested solution: a la carte cable pricing.

What drives me to my frenzy in the column is Mr. Dahlberg’s report that “the issue is complex, so complex that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is asking Congress to get involved.” Good grief! What concern should Congress have in this dispute between businesses? My answer is none.

No wonder our lawmakers believe they are justified to micromanage our lives! The voting public asks – nay, demands – that they micromanage us! So what if football fans (I am one) miss a few televised games while these businesses negotiate? It’s not going to harm anyone.

Demanding congressional involvement is ludicrous. But we have become so accustomed to seeking governmental interference and baby-sitting that even the big boys go running to Congress. When it comes to governmental interference, control and micromanagement, there is no doubt we will keep getting what we ask for – and then some. I give up!

Charles A. Layne

Bunker Hill

IHSAA should move from its position

I, too, disagree with the IHSAA’s stance toward professional photographers, as published in a Kokomo Tribune editorial Oct. 8. I have photographed countless athletic events standing next to the Kokomo Tribune photographers, and I know that there are many fine photos taken by Erik, Shawn and Tim that I find it a shame that parents could be denied the ability to obtain these photos for a small fee, if such photos are taken at an IHSAA-sponsored event such as playoffs, state finals and state championship games.

The same ruling applies not only to press photographers but to all professional photographers who make their photos available for a fee except, of course, the one photography company granted the exclusive contract by the IHSAA.

I see no reason why the IHSAA cannot allow each athletic director to choose one or two professional photographers to photograph the games played by their school. I do believe photo credentials should be limited so the floor or sideline isn’t crowded with photographers, but the policy means absolutely no photographs are available for purchase of playoff games because the IHSAA-chosen photographers do not attend most playoff games.

In fact, photos of nearly all games except the last few will not have available photographs due to the inconsideration of the IHSAA. The IHSAA should amend the policy and allow athletic directors to provide credentials to at least two professional photographers for games played by their school and allow all press photos to be made available at a nominal fee to the public.

Roger Davis

Kokomo

        

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