ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601120069
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
REGARDING your Jan. 1 article, ``School support mixed'':
I am a mother of school-aged children, a homeowner, taxpayer and Parent-Teacher Association board member in Southwest Roanoke County.
Joel Turner's article featured a number of opinions from PTA presidents throughout Roanoke County concerning the proposed bond referendum for school capital improvements.
I'm alarmed at the disunity that was evident by those interviewed. This polarization of county areas seems to be fueled by our elected supervisors and School Board members. This bond referendum is about education, not politics.
The need for a new high school in Southwest County didn't happen overnight. Placing trailers on the property of Cave Spring Junior High School should have been evidence enough of overcrowded conditions. We've been subjected to endless discussions, meetings and surveys that resulted in total indecisiveness on the part of supervisors and School Board members. Finally, an outside consulting firm concluded this fall that a larger high school is needed.
We as parents and taxpayers residing in Southwest county share those feelings of neglect and frustration that were voiced in Turner's article. We've also lived with a level of procrastination that I hope never to see again.
Southwest County's need for a new high school isn't more important than the needs of other county schools, but it's more costly.
All county residents need to stand united as a community and, more importantly, as parents. Our priority is obviously the same - to offer the best educational opportunities to all county children. CHERYL A. MYERS ROANOKE
Budget impasse is Congress' doing
ARTHUR M. Squires' Dec. 28 letter to the editor, ``Congress should do its duty,'' is completely in accord with the facts as applicable to the lack of a federal budget for fiscal 1996.
Ignoring the facts by the media, including your newspaper, is despicable. Your front-page article on Dec. 28 (``An urgent situation'') portrayed the budget problem as a two-sided urgent situation.
The fact is that Congress members had the responsibility to pass a budget by Sept. 30. And if they didn't, they should have passed a continuing-funding resolution on Oct. 1. Instead, they failed to perform their task and are trying to blackmail the president, which indirectly includes you and me, into signing a budget bill that he has stated over and over - giving specifics - is wrong for too many persons.
A budget in seven years is a meaningless slogan, and has as much merit as placing a cuckoo clock on top of the Capitol building. Budgets are acted on yearly and become law yearly. A balanced budget is a worthwhile goal, but any mandate is only as good as the law of which it is a part. That would be one year, not seven, regarding the 1996 budget law.
Congress is a bunch of slackers and blackmailers. They should have had their pay docked after Oct. 1.
Clinton should be commended for doing his duty as set forth in our Constitution. The media, especially your newspaper, need to report facts, not fiction, as the budget situation isn't something between sides, but is caused by Congress. If Congress can't override a veto, then pass a bill Clinton can and will sign. Stop the blackmailing by closing down the government, and pass a continuing-funding resolution. FRANKLIN M. RIDENOUR ROANOKE
Area's living costs frustrate newcomers
I AGREE with Tara White (Dec. 19 letter to the editor, ``Living costs don't justify low pay'') regarding the pay scale and cost of living here.
My family and I relocated six months ago from New York City. Our decision was based on finding a better place to raise our children, ages 4 and 2. I believe we found it.
Unfortunately, my husband, who has been a mechanic for more than 17 years, is making less than half of what he was making in New York, with no benefits. Although some things are a little cheaper - utilities, automobile and home insurance, for example - others are compatible or even more costly. That includes groceries, dentists and prescriptions, to name a few. It just doesn't balance out.
When I became a mother, I left a $50,000-plus a year position as a videotape editor to stay at home and raise my children. What a shame it will be after moving 500 miles for a better life to have to place my children in day care so that I can find a job, and also be paid below standard. ELENA DeROSA SALEM
Sheriff Wells served with integrity
I COMMEND your staff writer Richard Foster for his in-depth coverage of retiring Sheriff Carl H. Wells (Dec. 31 article, ``Wells leaves mixed legacy''). I am confident that most of the 55,000 people here in Bedford County heartily agree with my feelings.
I feel that Wells did an outstanding job of serving the people of our county during the past 35 years. Both on and off the job, he exemplified integrity, dedication and perseverance. For this, I salute him.
He tells us that he has plans for golfing and farming during his retirement years. I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of being able to relax and enjoy a fulfilling retirement. ZIM D. JACKSON JR. BEDFORD
LENGTH: Medium: 98 linesby CNB