Art on Jefferson hydrants

Now that school is back in session, I would like to say “thank you” to the students of Jefferson high, middle and elementary schools for their work on the fire hydrant art project (June 12, Young Voices section of the DH).

It has been fun to see the different designs painted on the fire hydrants around Jefferson. A special “thank you” to Krystina Fredricson for the adorable firehouse dog hydrant, which is quite imaginative and which I enjoy twice a day going to and from work. I’m sure we’ll all be looking forward to seeing even more designs this fall. Nice work everyone!

Donna Barnes, Marion

Against Christman on council

You may or may not have heard of Jeff Christman, who is running for re-election as city councilor for Ward III, where I live.

Money is the bottom line for Christman, as he cares next to nothing about the quality of life in Albany, and he votes for any type of development proposal, no matter how much surrounding neighbors oppose it. He works at Central Willamette Credit Union, along with Dan Bedore, who is on the board of directors for that company, and whom Christman helped to appoint as mayor.

In November 2007, the city staff told Christman that it was unnecessary to increase water rates, but he voted to raise the rates anyway. He voted to spend $100,000 of taxpayer money to hire a consultant to expand the urban growth boundary to benefit one particular wealthy property owner.

Jeff Christman wants to do away with the city planning commission and hire a hearings officer to make all decisions regarding land use issues. Jeff Christman wants to take those decisions away from our elected representatives. If you care about the future of Albany, please do not vote for Jeff Christman. Frank Frenzel is easily the better choice.

Mitch Scheele, Albany

Councilman Christman’s response: I do not approve just any type of development. I do approve developments that are properly zoned, meet Albany’s development code and have worked their way through the process. I make my decisions based on staff reports, hearings before the planning commission and testimony given at hearings in front of the city council. It is not my desire to do away with the city planning commission. I have asked for the council to review the pros and cons of a hearings officer at a work session.

In November 2007 staff did not say it was unnecessary to increase water rates. They said that for this year we would be OK because we were able to save in other areas. If we only look at one year at a time, we will never be able to fix the significant number of leaky pipes the city has. We still lose about 20 percent of our water through leaks in the distribution system.

Finally, I have supported Dan Bedore since 2006 when he first ran for city council. It should also be noted the board of directors of a credit union are voluntary positions that set credit union policy. They have no authority over the paid staff.

Disappointed in Palin

At first I was enchanted by Sarah Palin, the PTA mom and avid moose hunter who believed she could be commander in chief of the United States of America if need be. I began to think she was another Joan of Arc, a freedom fighter.

Her vice-presidential acceptance speech was delivered with the attitude of let’s fight for change. But what kind of change? What change on Capitol Hill could she be for if her speech was written by Matthew Scully, a veteran of the pro-life slogans of the early Bush White House?

Scully started the speech before Sarah Palin was selected. If she was free to choose her writer, she would never use a moderate who vigorously defends animal rights, a vegetarian and frequent critic of the NRA. She was a weak puppet for John McCain.

The changes she says she wants deceive us into the loss of more freedoms. She has a record of censoring books out of her hometown library, advocating no choice in abortions while opposing comprehensive sex education.

There are examples in history of how freedoms are lost chip by chip by weak leaders gaining power through fear and deception, wearing religion when they were backed by other interests like Bush, McCain and Palin.

Diane Widler Wenzel, Albany

Police department is better

Recently I had the opportunity to have lunch with an Albany police officer. He was very friendly and declined my offer to buy his lunch, as it was against the police department’s regulations.

He shared a few things that might interest the public.

One of the major items: He felt the morale and working conditions in the police department are much better than five years ago, for various reasons that we will not go into.

Another eye opener for me: He mentioned that since our police department has been equipped with Tasers, his job is much safer and thus less stressful for the officers.

Police officers do not like having to pull their guns to do their jobs. The Taser gives the officers the ability to deal with uncivilized, drunken or aggressive behavior without having to get into a fistfight or go to the extreme level of pulling their firearms and risking grave bodily harm in order to do their job.

He tells me the elements of society that police deal with, often the same persons on a daily or weekly basis, learned quickly that being Tasered is not fun and complying with the officer’s directions is a better choice than resistance.

David G. Brown, Albany

Gouged for no towing

I was recently charged $150 for the towing of my vehicle that was parked right next door to the towing facility. However, there was no towing involved. My car was driven right next door to the facility, maybe 100 feet, by the tow truck driver as opposed to being towed. My invoice reflects “hookup $150.” I picked up the car in less than two hours and was charged their 24-hour storage fee of $45 per day on top of the “towing” fee.

“Price gouging” comes to mind. This is just ludicrous.

Cristie Strasser, Lebanon

Aid to Cuba should be allowed

Successive hurricanes have hit Cuba with 55-foot waves, destroying 85 percent of the crops and buildings in two provinces. Because of Cuba’s efficient evacuation system, no lives were lost (unlike in neighboring Haiti).

Friends would like to send aid to family members, but there is no way to do that legally. Both Rice and the State Department say this is no time to lift the embargo that has been in place for over 40 years.

Please call your reps and ask to waive the “direct relative” classification for remittances and the limitations on gift parcels so they may include clothing, soap and other essentials that were allowed prior to the 2004 tightening of restrictions. Call me for more info at 926-7070.

June Hemmingson, Albany