Published: March 19, 2008 05:57 pm            

LETTERS: March 20, 2008

Jeff resident wants recycling choice



I would like to know why it is that people who live in Jeffersonville have to pay a mandatory recycling fee?

The residents of the county have a choice to recycle or not.

I am disabled and on a fixed income. the $34 that I have to pay cuts into the money that I use to buy food and medication.

Why don’t I get a choice to recycle or not recycle?

If someone could answer that question, I would be very much interested in hearing the answer.

— Lavonne K. Cowherd, Jeffersonville



Annexee wants her sidewalks first



This letter is directed to any member of the city council who is willing to call me or to write me and explain how it is decided to install sidewalks.

To save a bit of gas, I recently walked up Utica Pike from Admiral’s Anchor to Perrin Point. I believe I was putting my life at risk.

However, there is a relatively new sidewalk on Perrin Drive where traffic is far less than on Utica Pike or Allison Lane. There also is a sidewalk on River Drive off Utica Pike, but none on the other streets I passed.

Since the council has chosen to annex my area — not my choice — I am requesting sidewalks up front before all this takes place. In fact, I demand that all major thoroughfares as Utica Pike and Allison Lane be provided with safe walking areas. With gas, food and everything else on the rise, including property taxes, the city should accomodate all citizens with this safety feature. It also could be used to promote the city.

The Christmas carol that says, “city sidewalks, busy sidewalks” left out Jeffersonville in many areas and wasted taxpayers money in others.

— Sharon Salinas, Jeffersonville



Reader: Grad rates are let down



A recent edition of The Tribune reported that the graduation rate for New Albany High School last year was 61.4 percent, compared with the state rate of 76.5 percent. According to this statistic, while 335 students graduated from NAHS in 2007, another 210 students, who started high school with this graduating class, dropped out.

The dropouts have entered the workplace without a high school diploma or skills, which would not qualify them for jobs paying more than minimum wage, let alone going to college. This is sad.

The situation is not getting better since the 2007 graduation rate is even lower than that in 2006, which was 63.4 percent.

As I remember, about 10 years ago, the people of Floyd County were asked to support projects to enlarge and improve the physical facilities of NAHS at a cost of about $159 million. We were told by the NAHS administration that the new facilities would (1) encourage students to attend class and (2) enhance the learning of the students.

Based on what we were told and what has happened, it looks like we paid for something we did not get. Sad.

— Stanley Brandt, Floyds Knobs



Fire safety regulations, hoops don’t mix



Something has to be wrong with the fire and building safety rules in Indiana when nursing homes cannot have decorations in the halls on special days, i.e. Christmas, Easter, and many other days during the year.

This is special for the people that live in these homes. The Indiana Department of Health Services says this is a fire hazard. Then they let the Indiana High School Athletic Association sell more than a thousand extra tickets to the Southport semi-state basketball tournament games. Fans had nowhere to stand and had to stand. If a fire would have started, the party was over for thousands of people.

Also, I wish the Indiana Senate and House would pass a bill to let the fans vote for or against class basketball. Most fans do not like class basketball.

P.S. I have tried to do something about the nursing homes, but city officials pass it to the state. The state passes it to the federal government, etc., etc. Most of the big shots do not know you until election time.

— Robert “Doc” E. Lee, New Albany



West New Albany must unite



This is regarding the March 4, 2007, story in The Tribune about Carl Malysz going to the Building Commission and emphasizing the need to address the unsafe properties in New Albany.

I totally agree that this is a problem that needs attention. Mr. Malysz and Mr. LaDuke are to be commended for taking this step.

There is one part of this plan that makes me uncomfortable. Mr. Malysz attended a meeting of the S. Ellen Jones Neighborhood Association and listened to the members' concerns. The decision was made to focus on this neighborhood first. I have nothing against the residents of the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood, I have several friends in that area. But I can't help being a little jealous.

As a west end resident I think we are frequently forgotten. Obviously, we need a strong neighborhood association if we want to be noticed. We west end residents need to unite and form our own neighborhood association.

Please email me at sbaird2066@sbcglobal.net if you have any ideas how to get this accomplished.

— Shirley Baird, New Albany



Reader: Needs help with harassment



I am a resident of Floyd County and I live out in the county. I have had an issue with a person with an unknown address that has continuously harassed my household to include calling our dog out of the yard to try to take it.

After several calls to the sheriff's department and talking to the prosecutor's office, I am being told that as long as she is on the public road nothing can be done.

I don't understand where my rights as a homeowner/tax payer etc. are. I have no rights. Any advice I can get or direction to take will be greatly appreciated.

— Tammy Woodrome, Elizabeth

        

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