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Dropout rate needs closer scrutiny
To the Editor:
Dwindling participation in marching band, a suffering sports program, a history of unlawful behavior amongst school teachers and administrators? Ridiculous.
Last week’s article discussing the county’s increase in dropout rate (with a decrease in the rate for surrounding counties and the state as a whole) is the last straw. Superintendent Sue Nations cites factors that may contribute to an increase in dropout rate, but her reasons are too general and do not answer the more specific question: why is Jackson County’s dropout rate increasing while others’ are decreasing?
I cannot fully answer this question. Can it be that our school board does not put enough attention into the extracurricular activities – activities that engage students and make school seem “worth it” to an adolescent? When I was in marching band, membership was approximately 100 students. Six years and about seven band directors later, the marching band has fewer than 50 members. High turnover rate of band directors equals a poor program.
There also seems to be a large turnover of athletic coaches and not a strong emphasis on building strong programs. My only hope is that Mutt DeGraffenreid (a very good coach while at Western Carolina University and Cherokee High School) will add more to these programs.
I can only assume that the school board has done its best to assure the student body that their leaders will no longer commit scandalous behavior – if you cannot look up to the adults of the school, who will you look up to?
Finally, we, as constituents, need to hold our school board accountable. Write, talk, and vote with our students in mind. A high dropout rate should not be tolerated. I’m sure my reasons above are not the only reasons contributing to our new distinction. Nations needs to do more research and make changes. It’s up to our school board and superintendent to be responsible.
Steven Gentile
Cullowhee
Property assessment, revaluation system should be revised
To the Editor:
The coming commissioners’ races lack neither candidates nor issues. There is one issue that bears attention, and yet is practically beyond the reach of the candidates. Still, it ought to be discussed. The current system of property assessment and property revaluation is mandated at the state level, but its impact is a fundamental driving force in our current growth patterns and the consequences of its application may be more important than any other factor including regulation and planning in addressing our current problems.
The 2000 revaluation, which came at the end of an eight-year cycle, resulted in an average increase in assessed property value of 58 percent. The 2004 revaluation resulted in further increases of approximately 38 percent. The net effect of this is that a property valued at $100,000 prior to 2000 is now assessed at $218,000. The taxes on that property would have gone from $530 per year to $785 per year. These figures are based on averages, meaning that in some cases the increases are even more staggering.
Our next revaluation is scheduled for 2008. If trends in revaluations taking place in Buncombe and Haywood counties are reflected in Jackson County, then we can expect increases in the range of 50 percent or more, especially on those holding raw land.
There are those that argue that increasing property values reflect a healthy market offering opportunities for rural families and landowners to cash in on big profits. The problem with this perspective is that it ignores the value of stable communities. It places a premium on profit, while it marginalizes the values of quality of life and rural landscape. It redefines us as nothing more than a marketplace where everything is for sale. It demeans the value of stewardship and replaces commitment to neighbor and community with speculation.
The current system of revaluation and property assessment primarily benefits the real estate industry and the development community by feeding the fires of spiraling and speculative land values. Local governments go along with the arrangement because it drives increasing sources of revenue and opportunities for spending.
The system is a trap that directs the benefits of growth away from existing communities and people towards narrow special interests. It discourages job creation in any field that does not support development. It limits the potential of our young to find suitable and affordable housing in their communities. It encourages the fragmentation and break-up of our traditional rural landscape, limiting uses like agricultural and narrowing access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds.
The current system of revaluation is resistant to change. Homestead exemptions and property transfer taxes have been suggested as means to moderate the impacts of the system. Both might provide some relief, but neither goes far enough towards bringing equity to the system. Both have received stiff opposition from the real estate lobby in Raleigh. It appears that no small change, no regulation, nor any land-use plan would address the fundamental inequities inherent in the current system of revaluation.
A better solution that strikes at the heart of the problem is to simply do away with the system. Why should your assessment or taxes go up because your neighbor builds a million-dollar palace or a developer sets up shop in your community? Why should you be taxed on a gain that you have not realized or received?
Why not let the market determine the assessed value of a property? If a property sells, then let that price be the assessed value; don’t penalize adjoining landowners. If a property is substantially improved by the construction of a home or subdivision into lots then let the assessment reflect that; don’t penalize others in the community who are content to live in their homes on their land in peace.
Elimination of the current system would give people a choice. Sell if you choose, not because you must. Such a change would go farther than any plan or regulation in protecting the viability of our existing communities and the fabric of our rural landscape.
The commissioners cannot change the current system of revaluation, but as our closest representatives they are the best voice to raise the issue. They can bring focus to this issue, they can lead pressure on our representatives in Raleigh and they can reach out to their peers in other counties to build pressure to change a system that works against the average fellow’s interests. I hope the candidates for commissioner will see fit to address this issue.
Mark Jamison
Cullowhee
Tape-recorded in library
To the Editor:
Being taped in the Sylva library came as a complete surprise. When it happened, I thought I was taking part in a bad scene form a cheap novel.
Scene one: I had set up an appointment with librarian Michael Cartwright for March 13. I felt this was necessary since I am and have been for many years an advocate for social justice, and an unaffordable library falls in that category. To that end, I have worked and done statistical research (that shows the cardholders in 2003-04 averaged only 7.36 checkouts of library books, music, DVDs and newsprint in a year’s time; for the period after that, the circulation dropped 7,000 of the pitiful number of checkouts, plummeting the average well below 7.36) to inform the public to not let this handful of people (the so-called experts who read all the manuals telling us what we need is a tax burden on our backs) force us into what is not affordable for most of us. I intend to keep working towards something affordable (unlike the Taj Mahal), telling the truth about how little is read and how few people stay any length of time in the Sylva library. Nor do the people use the libraries at Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College, which we could all use if we wanted to for books. But Friends of the Library sell astounding amounts of novels, nonfiction and magazines in an old, dilapidated building that smells of musty, old books. What would the experts say about this old, ugly, cramped, uncarpeted and smelly place doing such business?
Scene two: armed with my bag of research material, which included research on not only how little people read, but population and percentage of elderly, poverty level, huge increases in taxes for Sylva and Jackson County in 2004, etc., all of which should be considered for any planned library or any other project the taxpayers have to fund for the next 30 or 40 year), I stepped into Mr. Cartwright’s almost totally glassed-in office. The door is wide open and as I sit down, the staff is about 3 feet from my back at the counter. Mr. Cartwright announces, “I am going to tape you.” Being “Alice in Wonderland,” I asked “why.” He said, “For my protection, and (with a pregnant pause) yours.” I thought, “What kind of sick scenario is this?” Then the words flew: “I don’t think I am going to talk to you. I can tell you have an adversarial position towards me.” All of this loudly I’m sure, since I am hearing-impaired and was angry, too. I had made a good-faith trip to talk about an affordable library with design to add space later if need ever arose. Instead, I am met by a man I don’t know except by sight using a personal tape recorder in a library I have used on and off for nearly 50 years, to intimidate me, I suppose.
I always assumed libraries, like anything else, should be built around existing statistics of usage: what people could afford in light of the economic hardships mountain people are facing in losing their land; poorly paid service jobs; etc. Mr. Cartwright managed to get about two statistics nearly correct, but he really doesn’t know the people. He just wants the biggest library he can get, along with (consulting architect) O’dell Thompson.
We are told “birds of a feather flock together.” I thought this situation smells; so I left Mr. Cartwright and I taped together in high-tech glory with our intertwined voices. Mine was angry and his was a flat, expressionless monotone. Shortly after the denouement of our brief encounter, I returned to the library and, very politely, requested a copy of the tape, offering to pay him for it. I received a flat “no.” It was for personal use only, he stated. I said, “You mean you taped a private citizen on library time and I can’t even buy a copy of this tape?” He turned his back and went into his office.
I called him back and told him of an incident that occurred some time ago when I asked for someone to call transportation for a pick-up to go home. I was informed that the phone was for library use only. Of course the library I used to know had a little bit of warmth and kindness. Mr. Cartwright informed me that was Fontana Regional Library rules.
Gary Carden didn’t write his satiric comments without a reason.
Marie Leatherwood
Sylva
‘PRT’ could solve road problems
To the Editor:
Instead of the “Road to No Where,” how about “The PRT to Somewhere?”
“Roads! Roads! We don’t need no stinking roads!” In terms of getting there – it’s time to become more minimalist.
Personal Rapid Transit, is the solution for the Swain County’s “road to nowhere” debate. It could also be the answer to the road debates (bypass) in Jackson County, and the parking and walking-time problems on the WCU campus. In the future, we could even use it to live here and work in Atlanta, Asheville, Knoxville or Greenville. This new technology is cheap, clean and quiet, and it will not disturb wildlife and eco-systems. Did I mention cheap? It is the lowest cost transportation mode to install and operate – 10 times cheaper than light rail. It costs about $1 million per mile (up to 10 million) to build, and it takes about 16 hours to build 1 mile of track. We need about 34 miles of road, which the government estimates will take 10 to 15 years to build at a cost of $600 million. A PRT system could be built in less than a month and cost $34 million dollars.
A PRT rail is about the same width as a footbridge or a sidewalk. The lightweight, personal, aluminum-built cars travel at speeds from 25 mph up to 150 mph. They travel non-stop with one to four passengers per car, accommodating wheelchairs and bicycles. This is not a monorail, light rail, train, bus or airport tram. Each PRT travels non-stop, point-to-point because each stop has an exit ramp for merging off and on the main track. There is no waiting for a car because as one person gets off, the car waits for someone to get on. For example, a couple gets in their individual car. They choose their destination by touching a list of stops on a computer screen. The doors close and the car travels non-stop to their family’s cemetery, picnic area, or park.
Most companies offer a custom design to allow the system to blend with the environment. Do you think we could all agree on a dark hunter green? The track can be elevated from 3 to 24 feet so Yogi wouldn’t even know it was there. He would think the support poles were trees. This is a “green” system because it is powered by electricity or magnetic levitation which eliminates wheels, thus greatly reducing maintenance costs and noise. There is no pollution. Each post requires only a 2-foot square bit of ground, and they are spaced every 60 feet eliminating the need for bridges.
It wouldn’t cost us anything to invite some of these companies to come to Bryson City (and Jackson and Macon counties) for a cost-benefit sales presentation. We could use some of the left-over $16 million in study money to spring for their hotel room and give them a nice, home-cooked meal.
Catherine Baker
Cullowhee
Jackson County primaries are critical
To the Editor:
This year, in all local political races in Jackson county, there is only one Republican running, and there are several seats and offices coming open. It’s an almost all-Democractic race. With four of five county commissioners seats being contested, and with many important issues looming large, this year’s elections are critical for future of our county. Local precincts are becoming proactive with “Meet the Candidate” events, as well as organizing planning and issues meetings. Amidst all the enthusiasm, letters to the editor, advertising and local news, I’ve yet to see anything directed at the most important “issue” of all – the primaries.
Since the Democratic nominees will be running uncontested for essentially every important elected position in Jackson County, the races will all be won or lost in the primary elections on May 2. That being the case, and with low voting percentages in recent years, especially in the primaries, special emphasis needs to be placed on making sure everyone knows that they need to vote in the primaries this year if their vote is going to count.
With issues such as land-use planning being rethought and revitalized with the over-abundance of large, high-end development going on in the county, as well as a bizarre, if not surreal, race for sheriff, if folks want to participate in the dialog of these issues and others, then they need to vote.
“If you don’t vote, then you got no right to complain,” I heard one local man proclaim at a recent River precinct meeting. And he’s right. If you don’t come out and vote in the May primary, then you won’t have any grounds to moan and groan if we lose our county to developers and big business, or if our county becomes a police state.
They call this country a “democracy.” For this to be true, a majority of people must vote. Otherwise, what we’re really living in is a “Lethocracy.” (With “Leth” standing for lethargy.)
We’re at a do-or-die nexus here in Jackson County, and the future looks troubling from where I sit out in Tuckasegee. One of the best ways to change things is to exercise our right to vote. Many of us in Jackson County have been lazy, even despondent about voting in past years. This May is going to be critical for many of us, who in a few years won’t be able to afford to live here, or won’t want to with what’s being done to our county. If ever there was a time to be informed and to get clear about the issues and the candidates who are running for local office, it is now.
If you are not registered to vote, please register. If you are registered, become informed, get involved. And, at the very least, vote on May 2.
Thomas Crowe
Tuckasegee
Sheriff’s race is ‘political nightmare’
To the Editor:
Lets face it, the sheriff’s race is a political nightmare. Both men have been dedicated to fighting crime for many years and they both should be commended for their service to the community. The problem with this office is that it seems to take good men and make them into people we no longer respect.
For instance, Sheriff (Jimmy) Ashe was a man that I admired and respected from the moment that I met him. It was then that I believed he was a true man of integrity. That integrity has gone down the drain now that Jimmy has served as sheriff. Just recently he backed his officers that shot a man with a knife seven times. Yes, seven times for a knife? How justifiable is that? I mean we live in a time of technology. Where were the tear gas, the rubber bullets and tasers? A man would be in jail now instead of dead if these officers had been trained better.
Jimmy Ashe also finds it difficult to accept that good people make bad choices sometimes. He says that people can change, but then why would he go behind people’s backs and say the opposite. Sheriff Ashe has the ability to look you in the face and say one thing, and then say another behind your back, whether it’s at church, or in the lobby of Harris Regional.
Jim Cruzan, however, is a little different. He has treated everyone the same as sheriff, and he didn’t stand for anyone in his office to go the wrong route. Jim Cruzan’s problems are that he broke moral rules within the community and now some of them are starting to surface. A sheriff has to have higher standards and values than others.
One of Cruzan’s famous sayings was “This is my county,” and he needs to realize this county belongs to the people. Both of these men wanting the votes for sheriff are in fact good men, but instead of talking about what they did as sheriff, why don’t they have some integrity and talk about what they didn’t do?
Being sheriff means that you expect people within the community to be honest and admit their wrongs, so shouldn’t the sheriff lead by example? As I said before, both these men have good intentions, but we as a community need more. People can change, so let’s start at the top. Both Jimmy Ashe and Jim Cruzan have the ability to become true leaders, but the question remains, will they rise to the challenge?
John Woodring
Webster
Local Trout Unlimited chapter opposes sale of USFS land
To the Editor:
The proposed sale of U.S. Forest Service land has generated considerable alarm both locally and nationally. Almost 10,000 acres in North Carolina alone have been identified for possible sale. A significant portion of these tracts of land are in Western North Carolina, including Jackson County.
During its March meeting, the Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited adopted a resolution in opposition to this proposed sale. The rationale for this sale is to provide funding for rural schools. While our membership fully supports monies for schools, we feel this is an ineffective and short-sighted avenue for providing this funding.
The value of our national forests cannot be overstated. These forests provide crucial wildlife habitat, as well as serving as a source for timber production and firewood for area residents. As part of its multiple-use role, these forests support a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. Hiking, camping, fishing hunting and horseback riding are just a few examples. With the growth in population and the increasing demands on our national forests, the sale of any acreage does not seem justified.
Widespread growth and development is rapidly transforming the face of Western North Carolina. Our national forests serve as critical islands in this sea of development and help preserve the rural character of our region. The Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited encourages everyone who is concerned about this sale to contact our senators and congressmen to encourage them to oppose the sale of our national forest land.
Delos Monteith
President
Tuckaseigee Chapter
Trout Unlimited
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