LETTERS: April 13, 2008

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April 13, 2008 12:08 am

— Hill responds to letter

I understand and relate to the frustrations Mr. Allen Smith expressed in his letter to the editor published April 10 in The Tribune. Property taxes increased, healthcare costs have risen, gasoline more expensive and the housing market lagging.
However, I don't believe Mr. Smith's broad claims of blame are helpful or accurate. Yes, Congress did raise efficiency standards for light bulbs so as to save consumers money in the long run and help protect the environment. And, yes, individual Members of Congress have introduced various bills regarding gas prices, but those reflect their opinions and not necessarily mine. My colleagues and I in Congress have taken several steps to lower gas prices and, in the long-term, end our nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil. We have repealed tax breaks to Big Oil companies and are using those proceeds to develop alternative energy sources. I have sent a letter to the President urging him to suspend deliveries of fuel oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and place the fuel into the open marketplace to increase supply to consumers. And, I was the lead author of legislation that increases fuel efficiency standards for our vehicles. Congress must certainly do more, but we're off to a good start.
— Rep. Baron Hill, U.S Congressman

>Reader liked town meeting

Rev. Evans and the Jones AME Church did a real community service on Saturday, April 5. They provided a nice meeting place for citizens to voice their opinions to Mayor England. They even cooked a delicious lunch. Nicole Yates was there to represent the NAACP and Rep. Baron Hill, was also available to answer questions.
Mayor England responded to a wide range of subjects. Following is a list of citizens' concerns:
1. Streets which are torn up by the utility companies and left with a rough surface for cars to travel.
2. Police patrol cars sitting around in parking lots - should be driving through the neighborhood streets to monitor drug dealers in New Albany.
3. Repeated flooding in neighborhoods without the city trying to correct this problem.
4. Trash scattered along Highway 64 in plain view of traffic on West St.
5. Repairs to Spring St. Hill.
6. Additional code enforcement needed in New Albany due to unsafe, shabby houses, junk cars in yards and on the street, and trash in yards.
7. Housing Authority problems with Bono Road housing.
8. Sewers and sewer billing.
9. Lawsuits over no-bid contracts.
10. Garbage pickup and trash pickup problems.
11. How are children from lower income families going to afford the money for membership in the new YMCA?
On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoyed this meeting and hope this is only one of many. Several people expressed a desire to meet monthly or quarterly. I hope we can form a Neighborhood Association with this group as Rev. Evans suggested. Mayor England promised to return regularly. Maybe we can meet monthly as a group and meet with the mayor quarterly.
— Shirley Baird, New Albany