|
Reader appreciates cartoon about country’s early patriots
To the Editor:
I loved the cartoon reminding us that our country exists because of people willing to criticize the government of King George III.
Too often patriotism is defined as unquestioning support of a country’s leader and policies. Dare to question a presidential decision and risk being branded unpatriotic and invited to leave the U.S. for another country without “free speech.” Maybe I am confused, but I thought freedom of speech meant more than “feel free to spout pretty platitudes about the government.”
If I wanted to worship the leader of my country, I would move to North Korea. Instead, I choose to live in this country where our “founding fathers” were able to distinguish between patriotism and policy.
Lisa Bacon
Sylva
Town leaders short-sighted to slash DSA funds
To the Editor
The Sylva town board has gutted the funding for the Downtown Sylva Association. This is like someone trying to lose weight by cutting out his own heart. Sure, he has lost a few pounds, but at what cost to the whole system?
Sylva is the heart of Jackson County, and the downtown area is the heart of Sylva. That is why what happens in downtown should be important to all the citizens of Jackson County.
The whole county is going through a phase of unprecedented growth. The development patterns that are set now will dominate the county’s economic growth for decades to come. The DSA is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the charm, distinctive character, and small-town appeal of Sylva. It is run by owners of small, locally-based businesses that make an important economic contribution to the community. While “big box” stores and franchises are busy siphoning money out of our community for the benefit of their rich owners, local businesses keep money here and recycle it within the community to the benefit of all.
The DSA is working to implement a vision. It is not just an exercise in nostalgia. It is an economic development strategy designed to give local, small business owners a fighting chance against corporate businesses with huge advertising budgets and access to national media. But it also happens to be a vision of a town that is a much nicer place for county inhabitants to shop, work and live.
This vision is worth our support. If some feel that the DSA is not doing enough to further the vision, then they should ask, “how can we help make this work better?” rather than feeling smug that they have saved $18,000 for the town budget.
Down the road, we may find that this $18,000 has been very costly to us indeed.
David Wheeler
Whittier
Town officials made right choice
To the Editor:
Through the “rose-tinted” windows at The Sylva Herald, I see money spent for aesthetics to draw tourists to Sylva.
(Sylva board members) Harold Hensley, Ray Lewis and Danny Allen are right on target with their decision to cut town funding to the Downtown Sylva Association (formerly Sylva Partners in Renewal). They are trying to look out for local people who work, pay taxes – which are greatly inflated by the tourism industry – and live here year round.
Hensley also hit the mark when he said that we’ve always had parades and Fourth of July events and celebrations in our town. And before DSA/SPIR, the parades were on Sunday afternoons when the weather was warmer and people could shop afterwards. These were much better for both children and adults than the night-time parades we have now.
And I’m sure if DSA/SPIR is not around that the mountains will still “green up,” praise the lord.
The downtown area is definitely geared for summer and transitory people. Blackrock Outdoor Co. owner Holly Hooper’s letter took issue with the cut to DSA funding, but her store is geared to whitewater, outdoor and camping enthusiasts only. Anyone who needs personal items must go to Roses or Family Dollar, as there is no longer a store on Main Street that sells everyday products. Last week I bought ice cream at a local Main Street store, and it cost $3 plus tax. I could buy a half-gallon at the grocery store for that much money. After ordering, you pay, right?
The restaurants are the draw to downtown, and Hollifield Jewelers, Vance Hardware, Jewelry Outlet and Peebles are not specialty stores. Like the barber shop, insurance offices, photo store and eye doctor, they are anchor businesses and vital to all of us.
It seems to me that most of our downtown buildings are very old. Some post the date built, and at least two (Jackson’s General and The Sylva Herald) predate the Courthouse. Most merchants keep their own businesses up, as is proper.
Parking spaces in front of businesses, according to DSA/SPIR, are very valuable; yet 19 were lost during Streetscape improvements. Spaces were later added when the old Ritz Theater was demolished and its location was turned into a parking lot by the town. It is beautiful, and it adds parking, but those spaces are not right in front of businesses as the lost ones were.
No one can make Sylva into a Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg-style town. It’s between a mountain, a creek and railroad, and there is little room to expand. As the old saying goes, “you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.”
Please, town board members, don’t agree to fund DSA/SPIR – monies could be spent better. Some of our city (and county) leaders must believe money grows on trees.
I suppose if I were losing my “position,” I’d cry for help, too. Is (DSA administrator) Linda Gillman local? Isn’t it always someone from somewhere else telling us what, when and how us locals are doing everything all wrong?
It seems Mayor (Brenda) Oliver and board members Stacy Knotts and Maurice Moody are squared off against Hensley, Lewis and Allen.
Our city police could use more money for patrol, vehicles and equipment. More people moving in have certainly made their job harder.
Maxie Parris
Cullowhee
(Parris is a Sylva Herald employee; her opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.)
ARF needs new home
To the Editor:
If you’ve seen the big banner on the ARF building in front of Ingles, you know Jackson County Humane Society (ARF) desperately needs help to find a new home. The lot we’ve borrowed since 1978, except for a three-year stint in front of Wal-Mart, has been sold, and unless someone steps forward to help, ARF may be forced to suspend its life-saving efforts to stop animal overpopulation and rescue homeless animals.
We don’t need a place to keep our animals. For 28 years, ARF volunteers have kept adoptable pets in our homes, so the generous person or group that helps us won’t have to worry about animals barking at all hours of the night. We only need an accessible, visible lot where we can perform our two greatest services to this community: Saturday afternoon pet adoptions and Tuesday morning loading for our spay/ neuter trips to Asheville Humane Alliance.
Ideally, this spot would have running water and a place we could store our crates or erect a temporary storage facility. ARF arranges for low-cost or free spay/neuter of at least 500 animals annually. That’s 40-50 crates that have to be cleaned and stored every month so that animals may be transported safely. Dozens of volunteers, veterinarians, foundations, businesses, and private donors make that happen. Thanks to them, ARF rescues animals from the road, answers calls from dispatch, supports emergency surgery and care, and places hundreds of animals in homes every year. Thanks to them, euthanasia rates at the animal shelter have steadily dropped. But if no one steps in, those efforts could cease for good.
Western Builders, who donated the use of their building and lot for so many years, has done their part. Now we need help finding a place from which to serve this community. The gift of free or reduced rent would be tax-deductible; it would also be a priceless gift to this town, its animals, and the people who love them.
If anyone has a way to help, please call Jean at 293-5629.
Mary Adams
Sylva
Town leaders correct to consider all of Sylva, not just downtown
To the Editor:
Attending the Sylva town board meeting brought me into close proximity with a phalanx of DSA/Main Street business owners; all primed to verbalize their displeasure with board members (Harold) Hensley, (Danny) Allen, and (Ray) Lewis.
I had not intended to speak in this meeting, only to listen; my impaired hearing, at times does not process the continuity of verbal interchanges enough to know what is taking place in time to join in floor exchanges, as the gentleman near me was doing quite often. Nor am I always aware of voice decibels. Certainly I offer no apology for what is a fact of life that I deal with. But after listening to some of the rationalization and hyperbole designed to browbeat Hensley, Allen and Lewis into giving them another $20,000 in new and continued future funding, I could make no other decision than to speak about all the money they have had. They should be grateful for the $1.3 million that has gone to Main Street and Mill Street renovations. There are few businesses on Mill Street – it’s mostly back doors of Main Street businesses.
If I were in their place, I would be studying the budget for the town because this whole concerted campaign through the Sylva Herald and frequent “in your face” appearances before the Sylva board is about one thing only: “money.” I even heard love of Sylva mentioned. I can relate to that through my son’s love of multi-generational land (dating back to the 1800s). At age 15 he planned a career to enable him to live in this county on that land. DSA has no intention of being satisfied with the $1.3 million of UDAG money expended on Main Street and Mill Street to enhance the businesses there. The annual payment of $20,000 since 1995 (included in this) has paid for an almost $4,000 office in the Hooper House and certainly a salary for Mrs. Gillman, as director of DSA to tout Main Street. This organization was supposed to have been independent five years ago, but its town board friends kept funding it. The same funding of $8,206 has been continued with the Economic Development Commission, although this organization acted as a conduit of $1.3 million of county money to the Jackson County Development Corp. – the same organization that has no accountability to the taxpayers. As (former EDC Chairman Tom) McClure has clearly stated in the Sylva Herald, once this money goes to EDC or JDC it is their money. Why has this type of funding continued and especially when the town has so little money? There is no fairness to all the other taxpayers who own businesses outside of Main Street and have received nothing. Examinations of the organizations’ (DSA and EDC) funding only emphasize the blatant discrimination that has been an ongoing practice. Blatant discrimination also applies to homeowner taxpayers. A new 100-foot section of sidewalk in front of a private home on Jackson Street, costing $14,455.14 out of our Powell Bill funds (downtown of course) is a shining example. My street (Maple) feeds onto Savannah Drive and then to Main Street. The sidewalk, paralleling the street was broken (much still is) unlevel and tilted at a dangerous angle for many, many feet. Only recently, after at least 30 years, was this sidewalk that I walk on repaired. Nothing was done to the other part.
The town has only $285,000 left of the UDAG funds which are invested (4.87 percent). The town has been unable since 2000 to pay back UDAG funds used for the swimming pool renovations. Salaries are having to be taken from the Powell Bill street funds, because of inadequate operational funds. Sylva owes $105,000 to the county. Very little money is spent on street repair or asphalt topping. Lack of money stopped the recycling program. Municipal Hall needs a new roof. The general fund balance is not even up to a minimum 30 percent level. Allen Street, because of 50 or 60 years of non-repair is a $100,000 disaster.
Perhaps these major amounts of fiscal problems will indicate to all taxpayers the need that Hensley, Allen, and Lewis saw to tighten the budget and deal justly and equitably with all taxpayers, not just special interest groups.
A question for board member (Maurice) Moody: are UDAG funds used for sewer installation in Moody Bottom considered economic development but not streets or storm drains?
Marie Leatherwood
Sylva
|
