Published: October 08, 2008 02:11 pm            

In Your View — 10/09/08

Noise ordinance will harm Ashland

This is in reference to the Oct. 7 story on the proposed noise ordinance.

This is just great. Do we live in America? Do we not have freedom of speech? Is this not a free country?

Is this all people have to complain about? On July 3, 2005, my father and I went for a motorcycle ride and went to Summer Motion. When we left the park, I was riding in front of my father. My pipes are not stock, but are street legal and my father’ are stock pipes.

A state politician heard me coming and watched me pass. He did not hear my father and pulled out right in front of him, causing an accident. Motorcycles are small and people don’t always see them. It helps if they can be heard.

Do you realize how much revenue this will lose for Ashland? What are you going to do when they have the rally on the river in Ironton next year? People want to come to Ashland to eat. Are we going to put caution tape around Ashland and lose all the money that comes here.

There’s a good idea. Let’s put more people out of work. If you want peace and quiet, move out of the city and move to the country.

Is this also going to apply to yippy dogs and older people who can’t hear and talk too loud?

Scott Conley, Ashland



Housing project needed in the city

This is in reference to the Oct. 2 story regarding the proposed $4.3 million housing project on Kirk Street, which was endorsed by the Ashland Board of City Commissioner by a 3-2 vote.

Opponents stated their concern over the increased traffic flow created by the proposed housing project. However, not all the traffic would be around the Blackburn Avenue entrance since Kirk Street has another entrance in the Midland Heights area.

Why would any commissioner vote against a project which would increase the city’s tax base and increase revenue for the city, while providing good, clean and affordable housing for Ashland residents with moderate incomes?

There are approximately 10 families who could be affected by the traffic on Kirk Street. They should have a voice, but how many other citizens would benefit from 12, four-unit townhouse apartments?

I encourage the Ashland Board of Zoning Adjustment to work with the developers in bringing this project to Ashland, since the developers say they will work with the residents of Kirk Street regarding the narrow width of the street.

Jerry Ross, Ashland



City’s gift helps homeless effort

On behalf of the Shelter of Hope Board of Directors and the 10 families currently residing with us, I thank the Ashland city commissioners for the generous $3,000 gift given to us out of the 2008 fiscal year budget. This money allows us to continue providing shelter, food, household goods, furniture and other items to the numerous homeless families in the Ashland area.

So far in 2008, we have provided services to 86 households, which breaks down to 322 people, 53 of whom are children. These numbers represent a dramatic increase in the number of homeless households in our area, compared to last year.

This increase in numbers further reinforces the importance of Ashland’s 10-Year Plan to Minimize Homelessness adopted by the city commissioners in 2007. In collaboration with the city of Ashland, Shelter of Hope and the other community service agencies continue to work hard to implement this brilliant and aggressive plan.

As I have mentioned to the city commissioners before. In over 20 years of non-profit work, I’ve never known a city that supports the community service agencies like Ashland does. Ashland is a model for not only Kentucky, but the United States, for meeting the needs of people in need through complete collaboration between the government and the community service agencies.

The effort to minimize homelessness in Ashland continues. We have a lot of work to do.

Debbie Sivis, Executive director, Shelter of Hope



Kelley has stayed active in Ashland

I was at the same forum Mindy Kranpitz mentioned in her Oct. 7 letter. When mayoral candidate Tom Kelley replied to the question about what he had actually done for Ashland in the past 18 months, he did say he was learning to retire.

But Ms. Kranpitz’s letter didn’t say that he’d had a part in keeping a business and 15-20 jobs in Ashland. He got a company official and Ashland’s community development director together, and the firm is still growing at a new location here in Ashland.

Although not mentioned at the forum, Tom Kelley was instrumental in keeping our 911 Center located here in Ashland. As a result, 15 qualified dispatchers and several staff members still have their jobs, and Boyd County has one of the best emergency call centers in Kentucky.

These are examples of Tom Kelley using his know-how to get the job done.

B.L. Kelley, Ashland



Can McCain solve economic woes?

Too many people throughout our country are hurting economically. Republicans don't get it: Trickle-down economics is an abysmal failure both practically and morally. It does not narrow the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots.

John McCain has admitted he’s not an expert on the economy. Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin may bring some positives and some charisma to McCain’s campaign, but if their ticket wins the presidency, failing trickle-down economics will continue to run America's economic engine into the ground.

What solutions will a McCain-Palin ticket offer to address poverty in our country? Will spending for bullets and bombs take priority over bread and butter in their administration?

Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville

        

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