Misperceptions of Edgewood Schools
I would like to respond to the letter in The Sun for Harford County (Feb. 12) concerning the double talk on Abingdon schools. First of all, I attended the meeting and, according to the announcement I received, one of the main topics concerned the misperceptions surrounding Edgewood Middle and Edgewood High Schools. For that reason, faculty, staff and students from both schools were present.
Speeding up the timetable for construction of new schools would be great but has many obstacles. Two years ago, I served on the county executive's Committee on School Construction and, at that time, it was obvious it would be difficult to fund all of the needed projects in the next several years. And that was before the current tax cut/spend cut mood swept the land. Yes, 28 students per class may seem like a handful, but I believe that many schools in the county have similar class sizes.
We have lived in the Abingdon/Edgewood area for six years. My older son attended Edgewood Middle for three years and is in his second year at Edgewood High School. Not once has he been singled out for criticism for living "outside the area" and he did not have the benefit of entering middle school with a group of classmates and friends. . . .
I am pleased the author mentioned the dedicated teachers. I have yet to encounter a teacher or member of the staff . . . who did not have the best interest of the students in mind.
Yes, "only 58 percent" of Edgewood students attend college, which is more than some schools in the county and less than some others. College attendance is the result of many factors, not the least of which are parental involvement and student motivation. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand that will have every child become a dedicated student leading to a responsible adult. . . .
David Bulluck
Abingdon
Racetrack Noise
If there is a pervasive theme on the part of proponents of the Maryland racetrack, it is a callous disregard for its impact on neighboring communities.
In a study paid for by developer Richard Rothman, peak noise is casually dismissed as no worse than from a neighbor's lawn mower. It is probable that this is a low estimate in that it originates from a study Mr. Rothman paid for. . . .
But even if your estimate is correct, Mr. Rothman, my neighbors don't mow their lawns from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., all day, all weekend, every weekend, all summer, as you will conduct racing at your track. Can you imagine how annoying that would be? Perhaps every county resident would care to join us in a lawn mower/racetrack day where we all run our mowers all day and see how we enjoy it?
Residents of neighboring communities are criticized for our overwhelming opposition to the track, and are described as selfish because we wish to maintain the quality of our lives and the value of our property. Perhaps we are selfish, but no more so than local merchants who seek to line their pockets at our expense. Unfortunately, these merchants also lack the courage to take a public stance on the issue. . . .
Remember this is a private venture, not a public project, for private gain, not public good. Mr. Rothman's offers of donations are simply a wealthy man's bribes to buy support at the expense of retired couples and working families who live in areas near the track.
If this racetrack is such a good idea, local merchants and Mr. Rothman, with so little impact on the surrounding community, why don't you build it in your neighborhood? . . .
J. F. Stewart
Havre de Grace
Abortion, Welfare
The Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis is planning a bill that will deny funding of abortions through Medicaid. This, of course, affects the low-income women who are most in need of this service. During the 1994 election campaign, many candidates "claimed" they were not against a woman's right to choose and that they would uphold the law.
Now these elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, seem to be doing an about-face. These lawmakers have this on their agenda for welfare reform, but the logic escapes me. The cost of an abortion is many times less than the money needed for pre-natal care, hospital costs, child care and, most likely, an unwanted child that will end up on welfare rolls eventually.
The law, as it stands, does not force anyone to have an abortion, and if one does not believe it to be "moral," than they should not have one. However, the law allows "choice." I believe that this bill has a deeper motive in trying to do away with the right to choose. . . .
B. Dan Riley
Edgewood
Bel Air Democracy?
More than 200 years ago, our forefathers objected to the concept of "taxation without representation." In an age when our country was one-tenth its present size, there seemed to be no shortage of viable candidates willing to step forward and represent the people.
Today, in a country recognized as the leader of the world, there seems to be a shortage of good candidates for political office. How can this be?
Well, if you've tried to run for Bel Air Town Commissioner you would understand that our government has an active policy which prevents viable candidates from running for office. I would think that most people would want to be represented by a U.S. citizen that has served honorably in their country's military for nearly 12 years, is a Disabled American Veteran, is relied upon to handle government secrets, is experienced in making multi-million dollar decisions involving the expenditure of taxpayer dollars, has a proven record of accomplishing high-quality work on time and under-budget, has run a local business, has an M.S. in management, and volunteers his time to work with youths.
However, this is exactly the type of person our government does not want to see hold office. I believe most people will be surprised to learn that the Hatch Act prohibits government employees from running in partisan elections. . . .
Is it a surprise to anybody that you can count the number of major non-partisan political positions in Maryland and the United States on one hand. Aside from that limitation, consider the fact that even though I live in Bel Air, I am not considered a resident of Bel Air.
Granted, my property tax rate is 1 percent lower, but that only means I am not entitled to the same services as a Bel Air resident who pays the higher tax rate. Why should this preclude me from running for one of the few non-partisan political offices left in our country? When speaking with people, I often hear somebody say that it's a shame we can't find good people to run for office. . . .
Let me urge our local, county, state and federal legislators to repeal the laws prohibiting viable candidates from running for office. If enacted, maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't need to enact term limitations against the select few who enjoy the privilege of "representation."
Thomas E. Maloney
Bel Air