Light Rail Crime is a Real Worry
I have been criticized by the news media because I responded not only as a citizen of this county and a resident of the legislative district impacted by light rail, but also as an elected law enforcement officer. In a letter to the governor, I reiterated the concerns of many Linthicum residents.
What disturbs me, as a citizen and an elected official with 30 years of law enforcement experience, is that now that the system is running, there are serious concerns as to increased crime. Committees are being formed and task forces organized to study and fight a criminal situation that obviously was not planned for or anticipated by the state.
I am concerned that the crime problems of Washington and Baltimore are infiltrating Anne Arundel County. The mass transit police are obviously seriously understaffed and are unable to keep commitments made to have officers at or nearby train stations, and to have an adequate number riding the trains. Instead, the state is requesting the citizens of our county to shoulder the tax burden by using our county police to do the job of the state.
As to the newspaper's assertions that I should stick to my job, I have and will continue to do my job. For instance, in the three years, your sheriff's office has made 4,954 criminal arrests; apprehended 1,682 deadbeat parents, and returned more than $890,000 to the county treasury. Also of note is the apprehension of two bank robbers by deputy sheriffs in the last six months.
As your sheriff, I will continue to fulfill the pledge I made that this office will be involved with and assist our front line law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible. Fighting crime is everyone's job.
'Robert G. Pepersack Sr.
Annapolis
The writer is Anne Arundel County sheriff.
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In recent weeks, much has been said and written about the Linthicum neighborhood regarding the light rail and crime. This issue has become so volatile that it has divided the community, so much so that lifelong friends and neighbors have now become embittered with one another. Instead of bringing us together, we are allowing society's undesirable elements to divide us.
Our community leaders and government officials have heard our cry of dissatisfaction. They are responding. Now it is time to work with them to improve the situation.
Linthicum residents need to participate together in problem solving. Residents can volunteer time for the existing security patrol. Take part in the Improvement Association, attending meetings. Provide our community representatives with constructive suggestions to this and other issues. Stop debating the pros and cons of the light rail and station closure. Let's concentrate on working together to make our community resources safe and available to all.
Susan E. March
Linthicum
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The recent negative conditions surrounding the operation of the light rail system makes an excellent case for privatization.
Private enterprise could not allow its customers to be harassed or harmed, nor would they be able to allow passengers to ride for free.
Kenneth A. Pippin
Linthicum
The writer sold the state the right-of-way for the light rail's southern spur in 1991.
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Light rail is not a bane just recently brought to the forefront because it is an election year as reported by Elise Armacost in her May 22 column, "Light Rail Carries the Public's Worries." As Linthicum residents who have served on light-rail committees, who have heard the Mass Transit Administration's rhetoric and talked to other residents, the agenda is not the same.
We agree that Anne Arundel County needs to keep pace in alternative transportation, but as far as Linthicum Heights is concerned, the walk-up stop in Linthicum is not necessary or wanted.
Everyone we have communicated with has never wanted a Linthicum Heights stop. Because of the proximity of the Ferndale and North Linthicum stops, we would be accommodated without it. However, we would back the homeowners associations in both areas. . . . The only reason the Linthicum Heights stop exists is to serve the Baltimore-Washington International Airport
business sector until the spur is constructed.
Linthicum residents are a little more intelligent than to be misled by the posturing of the candidates. We act on fact: documented increase of thefts in this area; a young woman attacked at the North Linthicum stop; an 11-year-old Linthicum youth battered at the Linthicum Heights stop by five young people from the Baltimore area, who rode the light rail without purchasing tickets.
Are these the disadvantages that you, MTA and Maryland politicians say we have to live with? Well, we want you all to know that Linthicum residents have a right to be "ballistic" and we will not let anyone tell us what is good for us. Lost in all the rhetoric about the benefits of light rail is the fact that the crime outweighs the advantages.
Vickie Cromer
Mary Leach
Denise Bush
Linthicum
Why Name Bridge At All?
Elise Armacost's column of June 5 about "naming" the new and intrusive skyscraper Severn River Bridge reminds me of nothing so much as, to quote the Bard, "much ado about !B nothing," and an example of the desperation resulting from the need to produce regular commentary.
The bridge's very design is both lackluster and functional/utilitarian, whose sole purpose is to move the maximum number of vehicles (including large trucks; remember, took $32 million in federal funds and can't bar them!) across the behemoth in the shortest time, so they may pile up in gridlock at the Naval Academy's Gate 8 bottleneck. This bridge too high is a prime candidate for having no name at all.
This is not the Pont Neuf, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge or that at Verrazano Narrows. It is . . . an ill-placed behemoth opposed by more than 10,000 Annapolis area residents and a host of organizations including Historic Annapolis and the Severn River Association, whose only error was in the tardy timing of the opposition.
A name? Give us a break!
The predecessor span, built in 1924 and serving still, was not "named" nor is the Route 50 bridge to the north.
Rather and quite naturally, each is known and referred to by the roads of which they are components -- Routes 450 and 50.
The new bridge will become the Route 450 crossing and needs no other title.
Names? I can think of a few for those who conceived of, designed and thrust this metallic monster across the Severn to "replace" a graceful shore-level structure, but this is said to be a "family" newspaper.
Stuart G. Morris
St. Margaret's
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Elise Armacost wants a name for the new Severn River bridge ("What Do You Call That Bridge Again?," June 5). What about Midbridge? It could honor the midshipmen, the Naval Academy and the symbiotic relationship between the academy and the city of Annapolis.
Tom Gill
Annapolis
Leopold: Positions Well-Defined
The Sun editorial of June 15 ("And. . . They're Off") that said I "can be hard to pin down on issues" is disappointing in its intellectually dishonest disregard of the record.
During my eight-year tenure in the House of Delegates, The Sun has reported detailed information in both its news and editorial columns about my views regarding optional no-fault automobile insurance, higher education tuition assistance, growth LTC management and impact fees, maintenance of effort in education funding, single-member legislative districting and numerous other issues.
In addition, for the past three years I have been distributing a brochure of my goals and priorities for the future of Anne Arundel County, and this document was provided to The Sun.
During my two terms in the General Assembly, I sponsored 13 bills that were enacted into law. One cannot achieve such a record by being a "loner," but by demonstrating an ability to forge coalitions with legislators on both sides of the aisle.
ohn R. Leopold
Pasadena
The writer is a former delegate in the Maryland General Assembly.
Surviving Cancer
On behalf of Anne Arundel Medical Center, I would like to thank everyone for helping to make the Anne Arundel County Coalition's "Celebration of Life" a huge success.
The county-wide effort to promote cancer survivorship was initiated by a coalition including Anne Arundel Medical Center Society, Harbor Hospital, Hospice of the Chesapeake, Anne Arundel County Health Department "Learn to Live" program, and North Arundel Hospital and Professional Center.
More than 100 people participated in the Annapolis celebration at Sandy Point State Park on June 5. . . . The event was coordinated with much dedication and hard work this year, and has helped us to create a tradition that promises to grow each year. . . . Very special thanks to our volunteers and local businesses who generously supported this event. You can be proud of spreading the greatest message of hope to those who " do or will have cancer; people do survive. The fight is being won.
James Young
Annapolis
The writer is manager of the oncology center at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
It's Politics
So now we know what it's all about; not sex, not harassment, just politics pure and simple.
The practitioners of the "good kind" of sexual harassment, i.e. Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, etc., are to be understood and forgiven, while those of the "bad kind," Clarence Thomas, John Tower, etc. are to be endlessly pilloried. Innuendo and lack of corroboration matter not; it's only whose side you're on that counts. Liberal equals OK, conservative equals guilty as accused . . . always.
Even KAL had to get into the act; too bad he hasn't bothered to do enough research to notice that Ms. Jones' name is not Rachel.
At least the empty-headed bias of the NOW crowd and the media is out in the open, for all to see and hold up to ridicule.
Di Censo
Annapolis
X-mas In April
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the men, women, children and some young men from the Naval Academy who worked on my house April 30 and May 1.
Some of them worked until dark on both days. They tore off three layers of shingles from my roof and put on a new roof. A lady and young girl painted my stairwell going to my attic and a railing was put up. And a man cleaned my kitchen fan and cut my grass. I also want to thank the businesses who gave the shingles, paint and materials.
Dunkin Donuts from Odenton furnished four dozen doughnuts, McDonald's from Severn furnished coffee and the Junior League gave subs for lunch. Also my daughter-in-law brought a big pot of chili which was enjoyed by all.
My deepest thanks to Frank Scarpola, the captain, and Cecelia Evans, ambassador, who worked ver hard to organize everything.
Lola M. Brown
Severn