Have you been to any public forums on the five tax hiking propositions? Well, I have and the numbers just do not add up. When it comes to the sports complex, the taxes will not pay for it. Other funds, such as gate fees, vendor fees, tournament fees and even other tax funds will be needed to pay off the debt. The proponents said that these capital improvements should not have to pay for themselves. They also said that these investments were to bring revenue to the city.
I have a request. Since you have a close relationship with the expo center’s board of directors, would you please suggest that they take a few dollars from the hundreds of thousands they are currently spending and replace the entry gates, or at least paint them.
The city of Shawnee is asking citizens to approve $47.5 million in new taxes on Feb. 14. This money is for various projects that will be voted on in five separate propositions on the ballot.
As a newcomer, moving to Shawnee with two children in May 1952 (from Coffeeville, Kan.), my husband and I were often asked what brought us to Shawnee?
The wreck Saturday involving the St. Gregory’s basketball players on U.S. 177, this is a scary place to drive if heading north on the highway.
There is an 800 pound gorilla walking the streets of Shawnee. It’s name is Unfunded Liabilities--and nobody wants to talk about it. Including the City Commission.
The argument about fat cat corporations being the “bad guys” and the every expanding government reach gets lost in the rhetoric. The government has their fingers in every level and aspect of our lives. The welfare system continues to expand in an attempt to recruit more applicants. I have never been against helping those that truly “need help”. Show me the welfare system that has a plan to get recipients off whatever program they are on. In fact the programs are designed to bring more people in, not get them off welfare. Yes, there are a few exceptions but very few.
Does anyone remember when the third penny sales tax was made permanent in 1999? Seven-eights of that penny was “... to be dedicated to (i) capital improvements (ii) economic development, or (iii) the payment of debt services…” for same. That tax has been used to fund several capital improvements in years past, including the expo center grandstand, horse pavilion and conference center, the Shawnee Community Center, new Public Works Facility, Animal Shelter, Bryan Street Fire Station, new water treatment process, Bell Street Streetscape, and $1 million for a regional park (to name a few).
In regards to the letter from Jo Davis on Jan. 20, I think Mrs. Davis forgets where the money for welfare comes from. If it wasn’t for the big corporations in this country there wouldn’t be any welfare for there would be no money for the program.
Looks like Chick-Fil-A is back in the news. I think very few people would have a problem with a Chick-Fil-A restaurant opening in Shawnee. The issue is why should taxpayers foot the bill for infrastructure improvements so the developer can profit from the sale of his land. The developer previously suggested that the city give a $340,000 sales tax rebate to Chick-Fil-A as an incentive to purchase his land on Kickapoo that some people have referred to as a “ditch.” If Chick-Fil-A wants to open a restaurant here, surely there are other, more suitable locations that won’t cost the taxpayer.
My mother often said “time changes everything.” But, decades passed before I realized what she meant. For one change, now the political scene depicts only the negative in one’s life, making constituents wonder if there is really anyone honest and trust-worthy enough of being elected. It’s time to stand up for higher morals and great integrity of legislators!
I believe people who write letters to the editor do so with the hope of persuading readers to consider their viewpoint. Hopefully, those readers will include local elected representatives as the issues often written about concern very important civic matters. However, on one issue in particular, the proposed Regional Ball Park, there have been several well written letters that seem to be falling on the deaf ears of our city commissioners.
Mr. Robinson seems to think my recent letter was a little off base, and I imagine it was to him. It seems his bottom line is that he would rather see the money going into something that produces jobs than going into a welfare system that promotes lazy, do nothing, stupid people.
Yes, there are definitely lazy, stupid people on welfare, just like there are lazy stupid people everywhere else, including corporate boards rooms. Board rooms are often peopled by legacy members who are selected because they are part of the good ole boy system and can be counted on to go along with whatever management proposes.
Listening to the Republican presidential candidates Monday night gave me hopes of what I have been advocating for several years of my life and that is to cut the size of federal government. I know my friends on the left see things differently than I do and they outnumber me, that is why we have a federal government that has grown into the monstrosity it is today. They send people to Washington who have promised to give them more. Oklahoma is not to blame, our representatives haven’t been guilty of advocating more government, more restrictions, more taxes, more bureaucracies and more control over our lives. They haven’t done that but neither have they offered to downsize the government either.
The goal of the Republican Party according to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is to defeat the reelection bid of President Barack Obama. I can appreciate their objective, but must ask, at what price to the Middle Class, the working poor and the poor.
Okay how about the rest of the story. Jo Davis’ letter 1-13 was a little off base. Obtaining the fact from on Oklahoma Insurance commissioner’s own web site. Oklahoma asked for a gradual phase in of the 80 percent requirement for the insured, 20 percent for the insurance company.
In a recent letter to the editor, I mentioned that the city water line across my front yard had just been patched for the fifth time, and that the line was still leaking. The next day, Dec. 20, city crews came back and patched the line for the sixth time. Unfortunately, the line continued to leak, so on Jan. 3, they came back for the seventh repair job. They patched the line again, and for now, it isn’t leaking in my yard. That makes three leaks in less than three months in the city water line across my yard alone. They repaired a water leak in my neighbor’s yard on Jan. 12, and another about one block away in this addition on Jan. 9.
Jan. 15 is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was and remains one of the pre-eminent persons of all time with regards to advocating for justice and the dignity of all humans everywhere. The body of Dr. King’s work argued for justice, equality, reconciliation, opportunity (economic and social) for all regardless of age, gender, ethnic association, race, religion or national origins. Those who would argue that his efforts were only for one group are encouraged to research his speeches and writings with an open mind. You will readily come to learn this truth. For he believed the enslavement of one group is enslavement of us all.
When you feel like you have no hope, there is a proof for hope. Even at the worst time of your life, if you’re still breathing, that means you’re still here. If you’re still here, that means you haven’t yet accomplished what you were put here to accomplish. If you haven’t accomplished what you were put here to accomplish, that means your purpose in life hasn’t been fulfilled.
Welcome 2012! I have always liked the changing of the year because I like writing a new number. I get bored with the same old numbers and 2011 was certainly not a very exciting one. It was very straight forward and plain. The year was great, but the numbers not so much. But…..2012 adds some excitement, variety and panache. The number 2 can be written in so many different ways. Go ahead, try it, I guarantee you will at least smile!
