Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008 10:00 pm
(March 23, 2008)
They make how much an hour?
While reading today's article about the cost of getting information related to a police incident (March 16), I was shocked to learn that a person who retrieves documents makes $50 per hour. Doing some simple math, I multiplied by 40 hours in a week. That's $2,000 per week. There's 52 weeks in a year, so does that person really make $104,000 per year? Where do I apply for that job?
That's in Corvallis. A similar position in Albany pays $28 per hour. $28 times 40 equals $1,120 per week, times 52 weeks in a year is a $58,240 annual salary, which still isn't too shabby.
In the article, Lt. Dave Henslee claims that they "can't make money but we can recover our actual costs." Am I really to believe that the cost between the two departments differs by that much?
The cynic in me concludes that the outrageous cost is meant solely as a deterrent to any oversight and potential embarrassment of the department.
Eddie Merrifield, Albany
Talk about raising the price
I want to add another price gouge to your story on Sunday's (March 2) front page, "Hidden fees suddenly all over."
When I turned 65 I opted for a Medicare Advantage policy with Healthnet. For this I am required to buy Medicare part B, which I am billed for quarterly. My last payment in 2007 was $286.30. My first 2008 bill is for $805.70.
The charges for the same coverage are tied to my taxes. So I am required to pay more because my last year's taxes included a sale of an inherited home and a mutual fund I had invested in for many years. The mutual fund was bought with taxed money and taxes were paid on yearly profits and on the sale profit.
People should be made aware that if they invested in an IRA, 401(k), annuity or any investment so they can take care of themselves and their families in retirement, their Medicare coverage will be used to nearly triple their health costs.
This is like the post office charging the rich 60 cents for first class service but only 20 for the poor. If a regulated insurance company did this, it would be against the law.
I went in to the local SSA office to see about this. The first time I found the place full. There are 14 uncomfortable chairs there. They were full and about another half-dozen people standing. Six or so were over 60 years old. I left and came back.
The day I was served I went in twice. Waited a half-hour the first time and had the single counter person cancel my Medicare B. I had to come back when I found she didn't cancel it on the day I had paid up to.
The second trip: I sat there for about 90 minutes. There were two clerks but one of them was taking "new card" customers out of sequence. The lightweight chairs are turned with their back to the counter facing the rest room doors so you cannot see the clerks working. There is an armed officer who periodically comes out to warn people about weapons. Pen knives were measured and women's purses rifled through when I signed up two years ago.
The chairs are tied together so you can't pick one up and throw it. I saw one magazine for reading. When I was called, I got 15 seconds and was told rules said it had to be that date. By then I was angry enough to say something but I left because I have never felt as intimidated in anyplace that was supposed to help me as I did in the SSA office.
Ward Mackey, Albany
Housing needed for these patients
"Criminally insane patients won't live in Albany house," reads the headline in Friday's newspaper. No wonder communities are appalled at being asked to house these people! "Criminally insane" is a horribly prejudicial term. A person who has committed a legal offense while in the throes of a psychotic break does not deserve to be branded "criminally insane." How about mentally ill offender?
I call them PSRB people, because they are under the authority of the Psychiatric Security Review Board. The PSRB regulates the release and placement of mentally ill offenders. It is an extremely tough "parole board" and can "revoke" or return to the State Hospital anyone who violates the terms of their release.
The PSRB revokes 48 to 50 a year, but only one or two of them will actually have committed a crime. Even when released, they spend a long time in a group home, under 24/7 supervision. We really don't need to fear these people.
The state must expand the number of group homes both for PSRB people and other mentally ill persons, because reforming the State Hospital requires placing the backlog of approved-for-release persons into appropriate living situations. Oregon now has only 32 percent of the number of places needed.
Some time soon Corvallis will be asked to accept a PSRB group home. I hope we will do better than Albany has done. It would help to start referring to them as "mentally ill offenders" and start thinking of them as real human beings, deserving our sympathy.
Dianne Farrell, Corvallis
Please replace Lebanon rink
I am 13 years old. I go to the Lebanon skating rink every Monday and Friday. I think since the Lebanon skating rink is closing that the state should build a new one.
The Lebanon skating rink is the only thing that is keeping kids off drugs and off the streets. The only thing left in Lebanon is to go bowling, which costs a lot for some people. When I told my mom that the skating rink was closing, she said that she went to that skating rink when she was little and that she loved going.
My older sister, when she lived in Lebanon, said she always went to the Lebanon skating rink and went to the all-night skates and did all the games.
The Lebanon skating rink has been running since 1958. I have seen so many people there that have had such a good time and most of those people there have been going there for 20 years, so I just encourage you to help find a way to get the state to build a new skating rink.
That is my opinion on the skating rink closing when lots of people enjoy going.
Rene Chatneuf, Lebanon
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