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Letters
June 26, 2010
No taxes for library
Since my previous letters seem to have hit
a nerve regarding the Hood River library, I would like to share
the “why” of my opinions.
One of the politicians in the primary for
the governorship of Oregon made the claim that Oregon was second
only to the state of Mississippi in hunger. I doubted that claim,
so I did a little research. As part of that research I looked up
the status of Hood River County. Here is what I found:
In 2008 there were 21,625 people in Hood
River County. 12.7 percent of those people live in poverty. 39.6
percent are living at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty
level. 56.7 percent of all students in Hood River County qualified
for free or reduced-price meals. 56 percent of all pregnant women
in Hood River County received aid from the Women/Children/Infants
program as compared to the 40 percent average statewide.
These are people who are being asked to
pay higher property taxes (or rent) to keep the Hood River library
open. One letter to the editor made the comment that “You can’t
live in a country club environment and not pay your dues.” I
suspect the above-mentioned individuals are not living in a
country club environment.
On May 18 we were asked to vote for or
against an increased property tax and the creation of a new
library district. Once the measure was voted down, ideas were
presented by those who attended a public meeting. I read that
privatization of the library was the idea most often presented (an
idea I had espoused in an earlier letter to the editor).
It was decided that privatization was not
a good option and that the best option would be to present another
measure to the voters in November so they can vote for or against
an increased property tax and the creation of a new library
district.
I guess that’s what you call “thinking
outside the box.” Ergo, my “no means no” letter. I am not against
the library. What I am against is causing harm to my neighbors by
taxing them out of their homes and making it more difficult for
them to put food on the table. In my opinion, a roof over head and
food on the table trumps a library. Find a solution that does not
involve increased taxation and I’ll vote for it.
Carolyn Hattrup
Hood River
Sad to see
It is sad to see the passing of the
library, it is a testimonial to the Hood River of the past that
they would build such a beautiful and functional building. It
shows just how they valued literacy and education, now it seems we
can’t find the operating funds just to keep it running.
Sad, in South America they have found that
building libraries not only increases literacy but they also
decrease juvenile delinquency. As the schools cut back on
educational programs and the library is closed, Hood River is
going to need those expensive, pursuit cruisers to chase down the
new group of juvenile delinquents created by the short sighted
policies of today’s city and county administrators.
There is a millionaire former Microsoft
executive who is traveling around the world donating time and
money to building libraries in countries all over the world, yet
we have no one here willing to step up and save such a crucial
part of Hood River's infrastructure. One thing you can be sure of,
without the library, ignorance will prevail. Sad. Libraries are
truly important for us all.
Gregg Morris
Hood River
Rein it in
What a novel idea, pay for your kids'
sports instead of the taxpayers doing it. If sports is so
important do what we do; pay for it!
Our daughter is on the high school
equestrian team, a sport which receives no funding whatsoever from
the school system. We fund her sport to the tune of around $4,000
every year, not counting the extra bonus of the occasional vet
bill if the horse gets sick. We do, however, get to pick up poop
and keep the stalls clean as a bonus while we wait for them to
finish riding every night. This is not just during a sport season
as these kids spend 365 days a year at their sport.
I wish I could put up their jock strap for
just part of a season but we can’t; so quit your whining and live
with the fact we as taxpayers can no longer pay for your kids to
play a sport in which they probably won’t make a living from
anyway.
And if you think they are good enough to
make the grade someday then PAY for it! And God help you if your
kid gets to go to the state finals.
Jim Burdick
Hood River
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