Race is Still a Chasm at Meade
I read with some surprise and dismay the Oct. 6 Sun editorial regarding the recent incident at Meade High School.
Since my daughter is enrolled as a senior there, it would be reassuring to know that racism does not exist in the corridors and classrooms of that Anne Arundel County public school.
Unfortunately, I do not agree or feel comfortable with the conclusions drawn by school officials as to the cause of this near riot. As my daughter tells me and other students have stated (see Washington Post coverage, Oct. 1), the fact that the incident involved blacks and whites was no coincidence. My daughter and her friends have witnessed such altercations on a daily basis since the beginning of the school year. The sad fact is that Meade High and other schools across the county, state and nation have become bipolar institutions where students are aligned in cliques based on musical preference, dress codes and dialogue. They hang together as groups and "posses" in hallways and the cafeteria.
If all of that weren't bad enough, the violent attack on a faculty member was disgusting and deplorable. . . . We're afraid of the consequences so we choose instead to ignore the problem and look away. The result is a teacher getting stomped senseless while students cheer the attackers and other stay uninvolved.
The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders had it right a quarter-century ago when it reported that our country was moving toward two societies -- one black and one white. At Meade, we're already there.
ichard L. Lane
Severn
'No' on Question 3
While John Gary's proposal of giving voters the option of recalling soft judges is one worthy of consideration, I would like to point out some thing that can be done this election.
Voters can vote "no" to the Constitutional Amendment 3 on the ballot this time. The amendment would increase the age limit of forced retirement of Circuit Court and Court of Appeals judges beyond 70.
This has been tried before by Chief Judge Robert Murphy in order to remain in power and was rejected by the legislature. This time, Judge Murphy had all Circuit Court judges included so it passed in the legislature. This is a very self-serving amendment to allow those in power to stay there forever. . . .
Philip D. Rose
Annapolis
Same as in '90
We face a nearly identical choice for county executive as we did in 1990. We got it right then, I hope we get it right now. John Gary has the guts to make the tough choices our county executive will be forced to face in the coming years. John Gary has the strength of character to deflect the demands of the special interest groups Ted Sophocleus panders to. Sophocleus thumbed his nose at the taxpayers when he voted for a lucrative pension for himself. . . .
Mary Chaput
Shipley's Choice
Evans' Market
Although I can't vote for her on Nov. 8, I am writing in support of Diane Evans for re-election to the Anne Arundel County Council from the 5th District. I am an Eastern Shore resident, but I genuinely enjoy shopping at the farmers market on Ritchie Highway that Mrs. Evans was instrumental in getting started. . . .
Irma Tillman
Stevensville
For Chaney
A friend received a "Dear South County Voter" letter dated Oct. 7, 1994, from John Klocko in which he has as his last paragraph: "You have a choice this November. My opponent has demonstrated a questionable commitment to the environment and wetlands preservation."
In what way has Dorothy Chancy (his opponent for County Council in District 7) demonstrated a questionable commitment to the environment and wetlands preservation? . . . Her husband, E. Steuart Chancy, president of Herrington Harbour, Inc., was accused of illegally filling wetlands on his waterfront property. The U.S. Corps of Engineers has cleared Steuart of those charges. On Oct. 2, in a public meeting at the Holland Point Civic Center, Steuart presented a well-documented slide presentation of the history of this property dating from Joseph Rose's ownership. . . .
Dorothy Chaney is an environmentally concerned individual; for controlled growth in Anne Arundel County; constituent-oriented, and very interested in our education system. Her expertise is needed on the County Council.
Evadean Lint
Rose Haven
For Holland
I am writing this letter in support of Carl G. "Dutch" Holland, candidate for a second term on the Anne Arundel County Council representing the 3rd District.
Dutch has been very responsive over the past four years to constituent needs and services and has "been there" for us on numerous occasions when we needed him. . . .
Many of us in his district find it hard to fathom why a certain environmental group doesn't support him after his considerable efforts to resolve the fly ash disposal problems in the Solley Road area in favor of the residents there.
It is quite mystifying why an organization claiming to promote environmental responsibility supports Dutch's opponent, a junkyard owner guilty of environmental zoning violations which took him 16 years to remedy. There seems to be good reason to question the motive of this same opponent in spending over $50,000 on his campaign to date. Imagine how effective this kind of money would have been if used on environmental problems? . . .
George Weikart
Pasadena
Schrum's Run
Regarding your recent article on the District 31 Senate race: Nancy Schrum may have revealed a little more of herself than she meant to. What kind of person seeks the support of an elected official and then rewards this effort by running against him? Sen. Phil Jimeno supported Mrs. Schrum's appointment to the school board as he has always supported the person nominated by the School Board Nominating Convention. . . .
Joseph M. Brady Sr.
Glen Burnie
Where Was GOP?
As a concerned citizen and with the election quickly approaching, I want to ask a question: Where were the Republican candidates for the Senate and the House of Delegates during the last four years? Where were they when Sen. Phil Jimeno, Delegates Joan Cadden, Ray Huff and Stokes Kolodziejski were testifying against the transfer of funds from the Lake Shore complex? Where were they when the United 31st was fighting to stop the building of a jail at Schramn's Farm or Ordnance Road? Where were they when the United 31st was fighting BGE over the fly-ash problem? . . .
Barry Reusing
Glen Burnie
Tax and Tax
Over the past four years the current District 31 delegation of Joan Cadden, Ray Huff and Stokes Kolodziejski has tightened its grip on the wallets of the taxpayers.
In 1991, after the last election and knowing the people had four years to forget, delegates Cadden and Huff voted for $95 million in new taxes. Delegate Kolodziejski could not vote against his fellow delegates and could not vote for the people, so he took the easy way out and did not vote.
In 1992, Delegate Huff continued his taxing ways by voting again for $600 million in new taxes. In fact, this delegation has voted for more tax increases than any other delegation in the county and gave themselves a $3,000 pay raise. . . . I ask fellow residences of District 31 to remember the taxing way of our current delegation and this election, vote yourself a tax cut by voting for Doug Arnold and Vicki Schade.
Thomas R. Gardner
Glen Burnie
Sheriff Defends His Budget
Response to The Sun article dated Oct. 26: The Sun has again shown its lack of understanding of public administration issues related to the sheriff's office and opted to publish erroneous and misleading information regarding the activities of the Anne Arundel County sheriff's office. It is unfortunate at best and appears viciously partisan. To allow this article to go unanswered would be an insult to all the hard-working, dedicated employees of the sheriff's office, as well as disservice to myself.
The article cited an outrageous estimate of overspending that was derived by manipulating expenditure figures based on first quarter operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1994.
These figures include a substantial amount of funds that are "front-loaded" for purchase of services to be delivered throughout the fiscal year, a practice demanded by the very audit and accounting staffs who were quoted so freely as criticizing the expenditure rate of the sheriff's budget.
The actual rate of expenditure of funds for the first quarter is 28.2 percent of the budget for 25 percent of the year.
This very tight public administration of funds has been accomplished in spite of a substantial increase of 38.4 percent in demand for services over the levels estimated to be needed when the budget was developed. These increases in demand for manpower and support are due, in part, to longer operational hours of the courthouse . . .
The article implies that my opponent will somehow magically be able to reduce the demands for manpower at the courthouse and on the streets of Anne Arundel County. He criticizes my use of part-time deputies and staff.
If I had not set up the current procedures for supplying qualified deputies and staff to service the courts and respond to the increased level of warrant and civil paper service that has occurred over the last several years, costs for manpower and support would be significantly higher for the simple reason that a part-time deputy costs $14 per hour and works only the hours that I need him or her to work, while a full-time, unionized deputy costs the county $25 per hour. . . .
Unfortunately, crime and civil litigation have been increasing in Anne Arundel County. Consequently, demands for services from the sheriff's office have been increasing steadily as a direct result of demands by the courts and individuals dealing with the criminal and civil justice system.
By law, the sheriff must respond with services without regard to budgetary restraints. This requirement has been well-established by court orders and judicial rulings whenever sheriffs have not provided such services.
To successfully manage the sheriff's office with all the restraints of today's environment, I have had to call on all of my 26 years of experience as a member of the Maryland State Police, and on the considerable talents and experience of my staff. . . .
'Robert G. Pepersack Sr.
Annapolis
The writer is Anne Arundel County sheriff.