About the Columbia Heart Beat
Mike: I can't live long without a Heartbeat. Columbia is so boring in the summer.
-- Jim Fairchild, Columbia
Mike, I don't know how I got on your email list for the "heart beat" but I appreciate receiving it. Fundamental decisions about the future of Columbia and Boone County are repeatedly being made by a group of "insider" elites while "yahoos" like me remain on the outside looking in.
-- Roland Meinert, Columbia
Dear Mike, All I can say is, WOW! It's a shame more information as included in your whole "offering" isn't generally known. Thank goodness you do it. You are doing a BIG public service.
-- Elizabeth Phillips, Boone County
About Assessor Schauwecker Kudos
Mike, You are an enigma to me. You'll write something brilliant and then (to me, anyway) you'll turn around and go off the deep end and use a howitzer when a flyswatter would do. But the biggest thing that scores brownie points in my eyes is when someone, regardless of their political persuasion, will admit that the other side occasionally does something right. That shows me that someone is truly being objective. So big kudos on your kudos to Tom Schauwecker. Very few people would be big enough to do something like that. Good job. -- Brian Ash, Columbia
About developers who don't take public tax money
Mr. Martin, How about we just let the free market handle these issues? I'd say look at the guys doing it the right way in choosing with whom to do business. How about ol' Bob Lemone? That guy went out and started his business park years ago and did it right. He was one tough hombre to business with. How about David Atkins? He is a sharp guy doing it right. Look to the guys who aren't soaking up taxpayers' resources and do business with them. Be sure to take a pass on the dudes working us over on the downtown TIFs too. That is a story that needs to be smoked out.
Good job on continuing to do some real reporting. -- John Rentschler, Columbia
About our story on City Hall's Low-income housing rehab programs
Mike, Didn't realize that program participants are required to use Columbia Housing Rehab program contractors. Perhaps one of your readers can enlighten me. Assuming that the housing rehab program is federally funded, would a bid request process be required? Does the city conduct QA on these contractors? If the city entered the contract, why would the homeowner have to sue for damages? -- Krissy Heitkamp, Columbia
About the Columbia Area Jobs Foundation and Shovel Ready Sites
Does anyone know the actual inventory of shovel ready sites? Near the opposite intersection of the site referenced in your "Good Ol' Boys" story is about 100 acres of fully completed infrastructure, shovel ready sites. There is the site near the landfill, a site near the airport, a site near Ashland, and sites at Lamone Industrial Park. How much do we need? Is this really the issue: not enough shovel ready sites? -- Name Withheld by Request
About poor planning at the County Fairgrounds
Hi Mike, OK, I now agree, the County continues to go overboard on buildings. The Courthouse expansion, I approved of that and still do. But now comes the "free" building donated to the County for the fairgrounds with 22,000 sf (fire sprinklers required at 12,000 sf) touted for basketball, livestock shows, horse shows etc. The public seems to be going for it.
I e-mailed the Commission asking if this facility was fire sprinkled? No answer. I called Stan Shawver who confirmed "there is a problem". He explained that since it is not sprinkled, the building can only be used for equine practice.
No shows or gatherings whatsoever. So we now have a used building, over budget and unable to be used by the public...ouch...great planning.
Thanks for your work. -- John from Hallsville
About George Parker
Mike, Just saw your article on George Parker. Good job. Someone recently gave me the following quote: “The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." -- Plato I sure wish everyone would pay more attention to public affairs.
-- Carol Van Gorp, Columbia
About the ongoing bikes vs. cars debate
Mike, This issue of 'us vs them' is useless, counterproductive and recognizes a confrontation that does not exist. I am a cyclist and a motorist: I ride my bike to work when I can otherwise I take my car. I believe that the same is true of all Columbia cyclists. So stop giving this issue credence.
The real problem is the waste of $25 million on road markings. An egregious and dangerous example is the westbound lane on Stadium and Forum. The right turn lane, perhaps 50 yards in length, and correctly treated by motorists as a deceleration lane (from 50 mph to a stop), crosses the bike path at the initiation of the lane. Really? The city expects me to cross into 50 mph traffic? Perhaps some of that money should be invested in a direct line to a house of worship, a hospital or a funeral home.
Sharing the many sparsely travelled roads with cars by a simple painting helps cyclists feel less threatened and defines for motorists bicycle paths. But on 50 mph highway the bicycle path must be off the road. One possibility for those heavily travelled roads is sidewalks. Let's make the sidewalks easier for both cyclists and pedestrians.
I like riding my bike, and I like that my community has made a commitment to the safety of it's citizenry that ride bikes. But the joy goes away if I have to force a motorist choose between severely injuring or killing me and damaging cars and possibly injuring themselves.
-- Harry W. Tyrer, Columbia
About our Crimestoppers Forum
http://nccna.20.forumer.com/
A very good idea Mike, especially when it's a cooperative effort between citizens and the CPD. Hope it works out well. -- Lorah Steiner, Columbia
About where to shop to avoid TDDs
Mike, Is it possible for you to put up a city may showing the special sales tax areas so a person can make a good decision as where to shop and save money?? Thanks.
-- Jack Rhoads, Columbia, MO
[Ed. Note: I don't know of any such map, but it sounds like a good idea].
About the "real" West Broadway folly
Mike, I always thought the West Broadway folly was the idea of widening it to 4 lanes. I fail to see a proportional need for such a major project, beyond regular maintenance and upgrade, and wish that someone would state the REAL reason behind the push to widen West Broadway. I don't live on West Broadway, but do enjoy its traditional, if not historical, neighborhood and ambiance, and never see a flow-of-traffic problem outside of a short 5 o'clock period, like so many other streets throughout the city. My opinion is that a major thoroughfare or highway through the center of a city deadens it and detracts from its character, and is divisive.
-- Vicki Smith, Columbia
About Pepper and Friends and Enemies
Mike: Most people whining about Pepper & Friends probably don't understand the logic for this decision. Few people watch this show regularly -- usually only when their relative or club is being featured. Most people are occupied with work or school at 11 AM weekdays. Those who are not, are watching the soaps or Martha Stewart. That leaves a small population. I don't hear the sponsors complaining. They have been very patient over the years in what is probably a poor advertising investment.. done more as a community service. Does anyone blame them for pulling financial support? -- John Dean, Columbia
Showing posts with label Readers' Rite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Readers' Rite. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
READERS VENT: About Eminent Domain
About our recent stories on the possible use of eminent domain to condemn privately owned land for a new downtown history museum, readers had this to say:
Just another indication of the steady government trip toward socialism. -- John Merrill, Columbia
This is disgusting but not at all surprising. Nobody values the constitution or the fifth amendment any longer. When are people going to wake up on a national level, as well as on a municipal level? You point out that the hearing is slated in a way as so to manipulate the outcome, and that certainly seems to be in keeping with other things I think we've seen from the municipal government in the past. Back room deals that cannot but wither and die when exposed to the light of day are deals that should not be considered by an honest government working on the behalf of the people. -- Christian Cepel, Columbia
Such utter ignorance and lack of caring! Planning to take the property and livelihoods away from people of this community without ANY preplanning NOR even a pretense of concern. Where have we gotten to? It makes me very ashamed. -- J. Gibson, Columbia
I in no way want to demean the need for a new State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSM) facility. I just don't think taking unblighted private property for "public use" is justified in this case. If my memory serves me right, the surface parking lot west of the Cherry Street Garage was once being considered for use by the SHSM. Given the proximity of the parking garage, not to mention the best brew pub in Missouri, this lot seems like a perfect location for the SHSM. -- Karl Kruse, Columbia
People are definitely energized about this issue. A reporter not connected to the coverage said she's getting tons of emails about this. I wonder if the city knew how much they were biting off with this. -- Scott Rowson, Columbia
The City wants to use Eminent Domain to purchase property that is a sales tax revenue and property tax revenue source. They are shooting themselves in the foot. They could find land for the Historical Society -- which is not even a government entity -- without taking property. I wonder if there is not support for some type of clarification of land use policies with regard to Eminent Domain? -- Mike Clark, Columbia
The gall of the Historical Society treasurer's comments on Eminent Domain! What qualifies him to judge what the owners of a 'beer joint' need or should have? When people fear their government, you have tyranny. When the government fears its people, you have liberty. This guy is an example of how the former situation develops.
-- A citizen that fears a city government's 'bullet proof' commando tactics to implement its own wishes, flying in the face of opposition from its constituents.
I don't know where you are getting your information about urban renewal taking good black property and then renting it back to the black community. I am old enough to know that what happened.was that the area taken was mostly a shanty town owned by white landlords without any water or sewer. The landlords charged black tenants exorbitant prices for these shanties. The land clearance provided new housing for the black community to replace the shanties which were taken. I am a former mayor of columbia and lived in columbia all my life and practiced law here so it do know a little about what was going on. I enjoy your newsletter but get concerned when you don't have your facts right. -- Robert C. Smith, Columbia
About other stories, corrections, etc., readers write:
The lack of support for the Humane Society is nothing short of a disgrace. Boone County with a 17+ million dollar reserve just sitting there and His Majesty Schauwecker with his own 1.4 million reserve fund (for what?), all sitting on their thumbs while hundreds of good people and thousands of animals are left unfunded. And ol' Elkin having a win-win deal up his sleeve is very worrisome, too. You can bet that he has a big project for the land "developers" (destroyers) on tap. Wonder when "our county assessor" will busy himself re-appraising OUR property values downward to reflect their current market value? -- The G's, Boone County
I’d respectfully request a clarification on your item regarding [city council candidate] Allan Sharrock. While he does leave comments at our site, he is not a blogger in the sense that we do not employ him or necessarily endorse his views. He’d more accurately be called a “contributing reader” or something along those lines. Anyone who wishes to register and join the conversation like Mr. Sharrock has is welcome to do so at ColumbiaMissourian.com.
-- Jake Sherlock Clinical instructor, news editor and opinion page editor, Columbia Missourian
That school board expose [School Board Candidates May Have Legal Troubles] was something. Are there any clean people left out there? -- M. Hultsch, Columbia
Thank you for all you do for the citizens of Columbia.
-- Kurt and Patrice Albert, Columbia
[School board candidate] Sam Phillips looks truly exceptional. Thanx for informing us.
-- Paul Wallace, Columbia
It seems to me the group seeking to raise money for Paquin Towers is letting City Hall duck responsibility. Would it not be time and effort better spent insisting the city council fund Paquin Towers from the Parks and Rec budget? Are not the folks living at Paquin as important as basketball and baseball players? Paquin is requesting about (1-2%) of the parks budget. Instead of asking the taxpayers to pay again out of their generosity and their own pockets, how about using the money they have already paid? -- Allan Rodgers, Columbia
Just another indication of the steady government trip toward socialism. -- John Merrill, Columbia
This is disgusting but not at all surprising. Nobody values the constitution or the fifth amendment any longer. When are people going to wake up on a national level, as well as on a municipal level? You point out that the hearing is slated in a way as so to manipulate the outcome, and that certainly seems to be in keeping with other things I think we've seen from the municipal government in the past. Back room deals that cannot but wither and die when exposed to the light of day are deals that should not be considered by an honest government working on the behalf of the people. -- Christian Cepel, Columbia
Such utter ignorance and lack of caring! Planning to take the property and livelihoods away from people of this community without ANY preplanning NOR even a pretense of concern. Where have we gotten to? It makes me very ashamed. -- J. Gibson, Columbia
I in no way want to demean the need for a new State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSM) facility. I just don't think taking unblighted private property for "public use" is justified in this case. If my memory serves me right, the surface parking lot west of the Cherry Street Garage was once being considered for use by the SHSM. Given the proximity of the parking garage, not to mention the best brew pub in Missouri, this lot seems like a perfect location for the SHSM. -- Karl Kruse, Columbia
People are definitely energized about this issue. A reporter not connected to the coverage said she's getting tons of emails about this. I wonder if the city knew how much they were biting off with this. -- Scott Rowson, Columbia
The City wants to use Eminent Domain to purchase property that is a sales tax revenue and property tax revenue source. They are shooting themselves in the foot. They could find land for the Historical Society -- which is not even a government entity -- without taking property. I wonder if there is not support for some type of clarification of land use policies with regard to Eminent Domain? -- Mike Clark, Columbia
The gall of the Historical Society treasurer's comments on Eminent Domain! What qualifies him to judge what the owners of a 'beer joint' need or should have? When people fear their government, you have tyranny. When the government fears its people, you have liberty. This guy is an example of how the former situation develops.
-- A citizen that fears a city government's 'bullet proof' commando tactics to implement its own wishes, flying in the face of opposition from its constituents.
I don't know where you are getting your information about urban renewal taking good black property and then renting it back to the black community. I am old enough to know that what happened.was that the area taken was mostly a shanty town owned by white landlords without any water or sewer. The landlords charged black tenants exorbitant prices for these shanties. The land clearance provided new housing for the black community to replace the shanties which were taken. I am a former mayor of columbia and lived in columbia all my life and practiced law here so it do know a little about what was going on. I enjoy your newsletter but get concerned when you don't have your facts right. -- Robert C. Smith, Columbia
About other stories, corrections, etc., readers write:
The lack of support for the Humane Society is nothing short of a disgrace. Boone County with a 17+ million dollar reserve just sitting there and His Majesty Schauwecker with his own 1.4 million reserve fund (for what?), all sitting on their thumbs while hundreds of good people and thousands of animals are left unfunded. And ol' Elkin having a win-win deal up his sleeve is very worrisome, too. You can bet that he has a big project for the land "developers" (destroyers) on tap. Wonder when "our county assessor" will busy himself re-appraising OUR property values downward to reflect their current market value? -- The G's, Boone County
I’d respectfully request a clarification on your item regarding [city council candidate] Allan Sharrock. While he does leave comments at our site, he is not a blogger in the sense that we do not employ him or necessarily endorse his views. He’d more accurately be called a “contributing reader” or something along those lines. Anyone who wishes to register and join the conversation like Mr. Sharrock has is welcome to do so at ColumbiaMissourian.com.
-- Jake Sherlock Clinical instructor, news editor and opinion page editor, Columbia Missourian
That school board expose [School Board Candidates May Have Legal Troubles] was something. Are there any clean people left out there? -- M. Hultsch, Columbia
Thank you for all you do for the citizens of Columbia.
-- Kurt and Patrice Albert, Columbia
[School board candidate] Sam Phillips looks truly exceptional. Thanx for informing us.
-- Paul Wallace, Columbia
It seems to me the group seeking to raise money for Paquin Towers is letting City Hall duck responsibility. Would it not be time and effort better spent insisting the city council fund Paquin Towers from the Parks and Rec budget? Are not the folks living at Paquin as important as basketball and baseball players? Paquin is requesting about (1-2%) of the parks budget. Instead of asking the taxpayers to pay again out of their generosity and their own pockets, how about using the money they have already paid? -- Allan Rodgers, Columbia
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
READERS RITE
Thanks for keeping on top of things that Channel 13 and local newspaper moguls will not. I wonder why the Missourian, with its minions of student reporters and their inquiring minds, avoid such stories.
-- Allan Rodgers, Columbia
Thanks for your great reporting. I enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work.
-- Pat Barnes, Columbia
On our stories about county taxes, property tax breaks for developers, and the city suing Fred Parry:
Mr. Martin,
Congratulations on this issue. Good investigative reporting on the property taxes not being paid by some of the wealthy in town, and on Fred Parry’s case. The old print media wonder why it is failing and the competition from the Internet is one reason. Another reason is that, at least with our local newspapers, they have so many conflicts of interest that they can’t report the news objectively. In addition, they do little investigative reporting anymore. Your publication helps fill a huge gap and is a great service to us.
-- Name Withheld by Request
Wow...no wonder all those developers are bank rolling (county assessor) Tom Schauwecker. I think we should file a complaint with the next attorney general and take this story to the KC Star and St. Louis Post Dispatch. Here's where you can get Tony Messenger to run with a great story.
-- Traci Kleekamp, Columbia
Actually the intent for the Johnson Paint building for the short term (4-6 years minimum I hope) was to use it as a pollworker training facility. This year it is saving the taxpayers about $36,000 (and untold scheduling/setup/equipment security issues) in fees and costs related to having to locate rooms for hundreds of sessions over the course of a year. Just because it's in the paper(particulary the headline writer's summation of a story) does not mean it's true. Thanks.
-- Wendy Noren, Columbia
[Ed. Note: Yes, and years later the Ford, Parshall and Baker building remains empty and FOR RENT. Contact the County Commission. Their phone number is on the building, across from the police station.]
On Columbia "Pubic" Schools televised spelling error:
It was Dan Quayle who obtained some fame for a spelling error…although there is more to that story apparently: http://www.rightgrrl.com/carolyn/potatoe.html
-- Name Withheld by Request
Our story DOG DAYS: Humane Society Faces Closure generated quite a buzz on the Columbia Tribune's News Board:
http://board.columbiatribune.com/index.php?showtopic=6955
-- Allan Rodgers, Columbia
Thanks for your great reporting. I enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work.
-- Pat Barnes, Columbia
On our stories about county taxes, property tax breaks for developers, and the city suing Fred Parry:
Mr. Martin,
Congratulations on this issue. Good investigative reporting on the property taxes not being paid by some of the wealthy in town, and on Fred Parry’s case. The old print media wonder why it is failing and the competition from the Internet is one reason. Another reason is that, at least with our local newspapers, they have so many conflicts of interest that they can’t report the news objectively. In addition, they do little investigative reporting anymore. Your publication helps fill a huge gap and is a great service to us.
-- Name Withheld by Request
Wow...no wonder all those developers are bank rolling (county assessor) Tom Schauwecker. I think we should file a complaint with the next attorney general and take this story to the KC Star and St. Louis Post Dispatch. Here's where you can get Tony Messenger to run with a great story.
-- Traci Kleekamp, Columbia
Actually the intent for the Johnson Paint building for the short term (4-6 years minimum I hope) was to use it as a pollworker training facility. This year it is saving the taxpayers about $36,000 (and untold scheduling/setup/equipment security issues) in fees and costs related to having to locate rooms for hundreds of sessions over the course of a year. Just because it's in the paper(particulary the headline writer's summation of a story) does not mean it's true. Thanks.
-- Wendy Noren, Columbia
[Ed. Note: Yes, and years later the Ford, Parshall and Baker building remains empty and FOR RENT. Contact the County Commission. Their phone number is on the building, across from the police station.]
On Columbia "Pubic" Schools televised spelling error:
It was Dan Quayle who obtained some fame for a spelling error…although there is more to that story apparently: http://www.rightgrrl.com/carolyn/potatoe.html
-- Name Withheld by Request
Our story DOG DAYS: Humane Society Faces Closure generated quite a buzz on the Columbia Tribune's News Board:
http://board.columbiatribune.com/index.php?showtopic=6955
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