Misc. Letters to the Editor

[Daisy]

Here is a letter I wrote to the RDR - considering the RDR's candidate endorsements, this one might not get printed....;)

Editor,

Well, true to their word, the new Mayor and new Councilors didn't allow their first Council meeting to become "business as usual".

Rather than let several items be voted on together in a consent agenda, Councilor McWilliams pulled those items in order to ask questions and have each one explained to himself and the citizens in attendance. He did a lot of research and called administrators to the podium to explain each one before a vote was taken. The citizens of Roswell could actually understand and follow the process, instead of those items just being quickly run through and then voted on.

Councilor McWilliams also got in touch with a Leadership Class presenter (don't remember the name), who agreed to come to Roswell to present a class, rather than the Councilors and Mayor all going to another city (using taxpayer money, if I'm not mistaken) for other classes. I thought that was great - of course, there were some Councilors who didn't feel the same way. We taxpayers like it when our money is used wisely.

Councilor Huckabee participated with relevant questions and comments and Mayor Jurney did a great job keeping it all together with a lot of patience and a bit of humor.

Several people addressed the Council with comments and concerns and a couple were even allowed to go over their allotted three minute speaking time!

I have to say that it was the most interesting City Council meeting I have attended so far.

Way to go, newbies - keep up the good work!!

Sincerely,

Toni Wiebenga

[ltccuster]

Good letter!

One reason Capps has survived so long is because the RDR has not wanted to do any investigative reporting of city hall. The RDR has its share of blame for restraining their reporting and not wanting to create waves with the local political machine.

We have to tread lightly with our letters to the editor or they won't get published.

Isn't it a lecturn versus a podium?

[Daisy]

Good letter!
Thank you!

Isn't it a lecturn versus a podium?

I think the two are interchangable.

From Webster's online:

Podium
2. a: a dais especially for an orchestral conductor b: lectern

[Daisy]

Good letter to the Editor in today's paper by Sonny Schaeffer. You can read the whole thing on the left hand side of the page without logging on.

Municipal Election (http://www.roswell-record.com/opinion/municipal_election)

I would also like to thank Billy Wood for working so hard to get more people involved in how their city is governed. It's important work he's doing and I'm happy to be part of it!

Way to go, Billy! :smk3:

I still say that you would have won the election if it hadn't been for those two vote splitters..........just my opinion, of course. ;)

[shotgun]

Agreed, the good ole boys knew Billy Wood would win if they didn't split up the vote with ringers. Let's hope Henderson will retire soon, if the Mayor is smart he'll appoint Wood, they can't keep a good man down.:smk2:

Great letter Daisy and good job newbies!

[Daisy]

Great letter Daisy and good job newbies!

Thanks, shotgun - I was very surprised that they printed my letter. I would have bet money against it. The RDR has been very good about printing letters from the citizens of Roswell - my hat's off to them for that! :smk3:

[shelby]

Great letter today supporting Billy Wood in the RDR. He has done a great job helping people voice and share their opinion in Roswell.

[Rainbow]

That was a nice letter in the RDR. I think Billy should be proud. He did well and it shows me that he is being heard. Making an impact. I would gladly write a letter of support for him to be appointed by the mayor if that becomes a possibiity.

[Daisy]

I wrote a letter to the editor this morning about the Foley lawsuit against the city. Many of you seem to feel strongly that the city should not settle with Foley, so I encourage you to write your own letters to the paper, so that our city leaders know how you feel about this. Expressing your opnions in a public arena, such as the paper, is a good way to make your voice heard by the people who govern the city AND many other Roswell citizens, who just may agree and write their own letters.

Editor,

I applaud the RDR's editorial article of March 31st, regarding the lawsuit filed by Dan Foley against the city of Roswell and its Police Department.

Mr. Foley's behavior and actions at that basketball game in 2007 were way out of line and he should have been prosecuted for his those actions. Since he was a State Representative, though, the criminal charges were dropped, which is disgusting to me. Just because he was Dan Foley, State Rep., did not mean he was better than any other citizen or above the law.

I sincerely hope the City of Roswell does NOT settle out of court with Dan Foley. The Police reports are good evidence of his wrongdoing and there were also many witnesses who can and should testify against him. Mr. Foley, alone, is responsible for his actions that day and should not be allowed to bully the City into settling this lawsuit out of court.

The way to stop frivolous lawsuits is to stand up to those who file them. This city has settled out of court and compensated a few high profile citizens that I can think of, which, in my opinion, was the wrong thing to do. Those who wrongly blame others for their actions should never be rewarded and when they are, it only encourages others to do the same.

Roswell should stop being an easy mark for those who file frivolous lawsuits and this Foley suit is a good place to start.

Sincerely,

Toni Wiebenga

[Hoyle]

Great letter, Daisy. Hopefully there will others.

[Daisy]

Thanks, so are you almost finished working on your letter to the editor? :smk3:

[rover]

Lectern Vs Podium: I was taught back in college that the difference is in the root word...same root word as in podiatrist, which is the doctor who deals with feet. A podium "has a leg to stand on" ...that is, it is free-standing, has a pedestal. Ped in pedestal has a similar meaning; ped means feet. A pedestrian is "on foot." A pedicure means a manicure on feet. etc. A lectern can be either one, self-standing or a small platform to hold notes or a book that rests on a desk or table or whatever. But if it is a small top piece only (without its own leg to stand on) it is not a podium. Clear as mud??

[Jim]

Not sure if this is the right thread but I'm referring to the letters-to-the-editor in the May 16, 2010 RDR.

Way to go Daisy! Good letter re town hall meetings and kudos to Mayor Jurney for that.

Bob Craig wrote a letter with 14 stats re illegal aliens and the new AZ law.
I'm not sure if his stats have been fact checked but if they're correct they're alarming. This has got to be a top priority issue for congress.

[Daisy]

Thanks, Jim! I moved your post here, since we had a thread for it.

See, I don't ONLY gripe and complain! I think it's just as important to show appreciation when things that are done well, too. :smk3:

I sure hope the RDR takes my suggestion to print bigger, better announcements for the Town Halls and other important city meetings.....we'll just have to wait and see.

[saw]

A nice letter to the editor in todays RDR about Neil. Nice work Neil!!!!!!!

[Jim]

Ditto that re Kudos for Neil. Why didn't that guy want to stop? He was in a parking lot. Never know what kind of person you'll encounter in Neil's job.

[Daisy]

Way to go, Neil!! Quick thinking that likely saved lives and/or property. :smk3:

Here's the letter at the RDR website for those who may have missed it. It's easy to register or login in order to read the whole thing and it's free....so far.

Officer Acts Quickly (http://www.roswell-record.com/article/officer_acts_quickly052710?id=138326)

[Alfdom]

The article mentioned he was limping. I hope the injury was not severe. I am thankful the incident did not get worse. I am always amazed at how tough that thin blue line is.

[Jim]

Never underestimate the thin blue line.

[Neil]

Thanks, but I don't know what all the fuss is about. I get into foot pursuits all the time, this one was different because it was with a Chevy truck.**laugh**

[Daisy]

I get into foot pursuits all the time, this one was different because it was with a Chevy truck.

Sometimes, in a battle between man and truck, the truck wins. We're just glad the man won that particular battle. :D

[Neil]

Never lost a foot pursuit yet. Just wanted to keep my 100% success rating:D