LETTERS: March 23, 2008

March 22, 2008 10:52 pm

— Reader: Hill’s making poor decisions

Baron Hill supported a sham bill on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that was forced through the House by liberal leaders to provide political cover to vulnerable Democrats who are home for a two-week spring break. Hill is under fire from voters who are tired of his bobbing and weaving on the issue of national security. The Democrat-led Congress has assured the American people they want to protect America, all the while voting against legislation critical to ensuring our national security.
Hill skipped town after passing flawed FISA legislation which he knew was considered DOA according to Senate leaders. As a result of Hill’s vote, and absent the terrorist surveillance program, intelligence officials will be hamstrung to thwart potential terrorist threats. When will Hill quit playing political games with our national security and acknowledge that his actions have real life consequences for the security of the American people?
Good ol’ Baron, he’s pro-life and pro-Planned Parenthood; he is for “Paygo” — where you are supposed to offset spending with other revenue — but that up and went with the $150 billion economic stimulus package. Je introduced a bill to “help” with property taxes, but no spending cuts or offsetting tax increases to “pay” for it. And he isn’t for tax increases but won’t vote to keep tax cuts, thereby increasing taxes for 9th District taxpayers. The “Ethics” act he sponsored is yet more of an “incumbent protection act” in that it allows any two members on the committee to anonymously accuse anyone they don’t like with “ethics” violations. What a guy!
— Rick Reuss, Madison

Reader: Sewer bill fee in Jeff is unfair

Like every other Jeffersonville resident my husband and I are very busy. As such our weekend plans include paying bills through nine days into the future. On a recent weekend, I picked up my sewer bill and immediately noticed that it showed a large previous balance. Upon closer examination of the bill, I noticed a penalty of $2.70. I looked through my checkbook and realized that the payment showing on the statement was from January and that was the last payment to clear the bank. We keep all bills to be paid in one spot and after a thorough search, I determined that I had not just overlooked paying the February bill. I was convinced we didn’t receive a bill.
My husband stopped at the Sewer Department on Monday on his way home from work. The clerk said it didn’t look like we had been billed.
Systems should be set up to ensure this doesn’t happen.
The clerk told my husband that, even though we didn’t receive a bill, we were still obligated to pay the penalty. She acknowledged that we don’t pay our bills late but said that she was not authorized to waive the penalty. She indicated that even if her boss had been in, she also was not authorized to waive the penalty. My husband was feeling dumbfounded that this situation was occurring and asked who did have the authority to waive the penalty. The answer was the Sewer Board, and that they meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 3 p.m. Please note fellow Jeffersonville residents that the meeting to appeal the penalty is while most of us are working.
How can it be justified to charge a penalty when the department has already indicated that we weren’t billed. On the Sewer Department Web site it says that failure to receive a bill does not excuse payment. This is ridiculous! My husband checked the Web site of other utility companies and found no such policy noted.
In today’s busy world, I don’t think that is an acceptable policy. We did nothing wrong, but yet we are punished. The amount of $2.70 may not be a lot of money, but it is the principle that riles me. This is an easy way for the city to get money. Assuming 20,000 bills are not sent over the course of a year, with each charged a penalty of $2.70, the City has just increased their revenue by $54,000!
— Debbie Frazier, Jeffersonville

Reader: All streets should be treated equal

This is in response to a quote from a resident on Lafayette Drive who is concerned that his street will become a cut-through street if the property on Charlestown Rd. is developed.
Well, welcome to the real world. Every street in this town is being used by someone as a cut-through. Lafayette Drive should not be singled out as being exempt from this inconvenience. I have lived on Beacon Drive for 42 years. When we moved here, we had no cut-through traffic. Now, our street has constant traffic going to Wal-Mart and also, people who want to avoid the tracks on Grantline Road, who cut through on a daily basis.
I really resent that some of the people going by are coming from the Lafayette Drive-Lexington area. I have had people I know, who live there, tell me they know my house because they cut through Beacon and Laclede.
It is wrong to single out certain streets as being more important than others. I would like to have Beacon Drive and Laclede Ave. made non-cut-through streets. It's not likely to happen, but I think all streets should bear the same burden of traffic. Or, let the people of Lafayette and Lexington find a way to get around town without cutting through other people's neighborhoods.
— Robert and Juanita Jamison, New Albany

Thanks to NAHS boys

I want to publicly thank the New Albany High School boys’ basketball team for a spectacular season that ended with a disappointing loss last Saturday. It was a sad day in Southport and Mike Hutsell’s column in Sunday’s paper said many of the things I had planned to say in this letter to the editor, and to the team.
This team was the best that our school has seen in many years and not just because of their talent on the court. I have bragged all season about this group of kids, how they are unselfish, how they show class, how they never question a call — no matter how questionable the fans find it, how they play as a team and never look for individual accolades, how they are an absolute pleasure to watch every weekend. They never whined about calls, never resorted to tactics used by less skilled opponents, were never unnecessarily physical, they always relied on their skills to get the win.
I’ll never forget Coach Shannon’s foot stomping antics to get a player’s attention and I’ll never forget that he always had something positive to say about the game and the opponent; he was never critical of either team.
I’ll never forget the cold chills when he hugged the seniors on Senior Night and as they came off the floor last Saturday, like Mike Hutsell mentioned. Coach loved those players as his own and it was obvious all season.
I’ll never forget Donnie’s dunks and rise to become a star on the team and the “All Hale Donnie” cheers.
I’ll never forget Braydon’s leadership and how he handled success, always reminding his teammates to play smart.
I’ll never forget Spencer’s constant shining, especially in his role as the coach’s son — those fans who made snide comments when he was a freshmen are surely eating their words today.
I’ll never forget Willie’s tenacity in every game, living in Braydon’s shadows at times, but clearly emerging as a necessity on the floor.
I’ll never forget shy TeNale from his Hazelwood days, a player seemingly coming out of nowhere to be a star and who no doubt will lead us next year.
I’ll never forget Matt and his spectacular 3-point shots. I joked that he couldn’t hit free throws because he was too close to the basket.
And I’ll never forget how Will and Tate stepped in and filled huge shoes just like clockwork.
Brett, Eric, Jordie — these guys didn’t play much but were a vital part of the team, always playing their best and never questioning their role on the team. This was a fabulous team that will go down in NAHS history as a class act.
And the fans played their role well too. Most games, the student section was just as entertaining as the players. They sometimes stole the show with their spirit.
I certainly hope Glenn Kennedy earns a varsity letter for his role as head cheerleader this season. No one led the students and the adults with as much spirit and enthusiasm and fun as he did.
Another show of class was NAHS rooting for Borden and Borden rooting for NAHS in Southport. How sweet it would have been if both teams from southern Indiana would have won. We all know that on March 15, 2008, two of the best teams in southern Indiana lost the tournament, but they will remain champions in our hearts.
I wish all the seniors the best in their college career, whether they play basketball or not, and I thank them for a most enjoyable season. I am honored to have been a part of it and am deeply saddened that they were denied a championship that they so rightfully deserved. They are truly worthy of a state championship title and team picture right next to the Class of 1973.
— Debbie Webb, New Albany