Posted: Friday, December 8, 2006 12:00 am
We're ignored on kicker
It seems to me that every time the public is supposed to get a rebate, the state says they need the money to build a rainy-day fund for emergency purposes. It has been several years since we actually saw a refund from our overpaid taxes. Obviously, the state is ignoring the will of the people about giving back to the citizens the money collected in excess of the budget needs.
The state has argued there is a need for a "rainy-day" fund and has not returned our kicker fund as demanded by law. How much longer will they be allowed to get away with what amounts to outright stealing from its taxpayers?
Personally, I've had enough of the Legislature and the governor trampling our rights and the laws we enact to protect ourselves and our money. Let's demand from each of our elected officials that they uphold the will of the people. They already have enough of our money for "emergency purposes." Demand the kicker money be returned, NOW.
Mel Yeager, Albany
Cats: It's a Linn responsibility
As a long-time volunteer and board member of SafeHaven Humane Society, I am acutely aware of the crucial need for services for stray, abandoned and feral cats in Linn County. This need has become far more critical since Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis recently stopped accepting Linn County animals. Heartland's decision was made for a valid reason: to be able to better serve the animals of Benton County. The consequence of this new policy is that countless cats and kittens in our community have nowhere to go. This problem belongs to all of us. And Linn County must step up and take responsibility.
SafeHaven Humane Society is not a county facility, but rather a small nonprofit shelter strongly committed to a mission of serving animals without euthanizing one to make room for another. Shelter staff works tirelessly to help every animal possible, but space is limited. It is not unusual for staff to take animals home to provide temporary care for them in order to be able to help even more than shelter space allows. Yes, it is our hope someday to build a modern new facility large enough to serve a greater number of animals, but that is then. This is now.
We must not forget that homeless, stray and abandoned cats and kittens are living beings that suffer a miserable existence, experiencing short lives filled with hunger, cold, sickness, injury and abuse. One does not need to be involved in animal welfare, own a cat or even be an "animal person" to have compassion and concern for this sad situation and realize that something must be done.
Linn County is one of a very few counties across the country that does not have a county facility providing humane services for cats. The development of such a facility is imperative. This, coupled with a year-round, low-cost (or even below-cost) county-funded spay/neuter clinic, would quickly begin to have a real impact on cat overpopulation.
It would not entirely eliminate the problem. There are always those who refuse to spay/neuter or take responsibility for their intact pets' contribution to overpopulation. However, such a clinic would make it possible for those who feel getting a pet spayed or neutered is financially beyond reach to do the responsible thing. It only takes one unaltered pair of cats to begin a cycle of reproduction that is soon out of control. Every single spay/neuter does make a difference.
Osalyn Houser, Albany
Another big box? Not here!
"Shop downtown! Shop downtown!" We have been encouraged to do this for a long time. The downtown merchants have been renovating, bringing in new stores, working very hard and spending a lot of money to make it an attractive area to shop.
Now a Wal-Mart wants to move into Albany. Sure, Wal-Mart would mean more jobs for some. But it would also put many out of work by closing existing downtown shops that can't compete against the giant box-store. You might as well put up a sign at the corner of First and Lyon, reading, "Sorry, out of business."
We don't need another box store here. We already have Costco. When even Costco will likely be strongly impacted by Wal-Mart, what chance do our smaller businesses stand on competing with the behemoth?
I believe that we should be able to vote on this decision whether to allow Wal-Mart into our community. This town belongs to all of us, not just the few that usually make these very important decisions.
We don't want or need a Wal-Mart. Use the land for business that will really contribute to the growth of our local economy, not suck it dry!
Betty Peterson, Albany
Wal-Mart told the Democrat-Herald last week that it's interested in Albany but has no specific projects in mind.
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