'Smart growth' is key to bringing growth under sensible limits
In his Opinion Commentary article, Bill Thompson criticized "smart growth" ("Nothing 'reasonable' about 'smart growth' " Jan. 15).
Without "smart growth," developers build too much housing. According to Baltimore County's Consolidated Plan, the Baltimore region's population increased by 177,000 households from 1970 to 1990, but 336,000 new housing units were built during that time.
All these new homes make it harder for homeowners to sell their homes and reduce house prices. For instance, the average price of existing Baltimore County houses dropped 3.75 percent from December 1997 to December 1998.
Our homes are one of our biggest financial assets. We depend on the price of our homes to increase so we can pay for things such as college for our kids.
New homes built on previously undeveloped land destroy wildlife habitat and require expensive infrastructure such as new roads and schools. If you own a home in any county around Baltimore, aren't you being taxed to pay for expenses associated with new homes? Don't these new homes reduce the value of your home? Is that how you want your hard-earned tax dollars spent?
The main problem with "smart growth" is that it is not strong enough to keep developers from building disposable neighborhoods, where housing prices decrease because of the glut of houses on the market.
Bruce Smith, Loch Raven
Lack of two-party system brings us higher taxes
The fact that we are talking about raising taxes in a time of such great prosperity is unconscionable. And it is a prime example of the bad public policy that Marylanders are forced to endure because of our state's lack of a true two-party system.
Our huge surplus and the money from the tobacco settlement will be spent irresponsibly, and every Maryland taxpayer will be forced to make up for it. Sadly, the Democratic leaders of our state will make sure that this happens, and nobody will be able to stop them.
Even sadder is the fact that in election after election, we do nothing to put an end to this harmfully partisan form of government.
Joseph L. Beavers, Davidsonville
Surplus is not enough to satisfy Democrats
In an obvious misreading of the election results, Gov. Parris N. Glendening and the Democrat leadership in the General Assembly are poised to push Maryland back into the economic mess we have just started to overcome.
I don't remember the voters of Maryland saying they wanted higher taxes, a higher cost of living and, ultimately, a weaker economy. The state is running a record surplus, but it is not enough money to satisfy the spendthrift appetites of the Democrats who run this state.
What I find highly ironic is that the same people our governor exhorted to go to the polls with the race-baiting campaign are the people he is about to stick it to. Everyone knows that sales and consumption taxes are the most regressive taxes. Apparently, this is of little concern to the governor and his Democratic allies in Annapolis.
Now is a great time for Maryland Republicans to celebrate. The Maryland Democratic Party is headed over the same cliff that the national Democratic Party went over in 1993 by passing the largest tax increase in history.
Maryland Republicans need to represent the interests of Marylanders, including those the Democrats are betraying, by steadfastly opposing the great money grab of 1999.
Robb MacKie, Columbia
Our Middle East presence has not promoted peace
Thank you for the article "Toppling Hussein poses no easy task" (Jan. 13) by Mark Matthews and Tom Bowman. I appreciate your continued coverage of the world situation, especially that troublesome Middle East.
With all the human misery, one may wonder what we are doing there. Particularly around Arab lands, our presence seems to promote anything but peace. Whatever we do concerning Iraq, we seem to be risking more casualties. In situations approaching war, we tolerate so much suffering, so many casualties.
For those safe from the slaughter, it has been said that truth is an early casualty of war.
The late Viktor Frankl, with wisdom honed by first-hand experience, reminds us: "So live as if you were living already for the second time, and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now."
Frank Kasper, Baltimore
No mystery or loyalty in support for Clinton
It never ceases to amaze me how political pundits such as William Safire totally ignore the obvious ("The loyalty mystery," Jan. 13).
Mr. Safire cannot understand why President Clinton continues to hold the support he does and calls this phenomenon "loyalty."
Mr. Clinton does not have enough loyal supporters in this country to get elected sheriff in Arkansas. What he does have is a public that is scared to death that the religious right in this country, which now has a financial death grip on the Republican Party, will one day gain the White House.
The GOP has shown no inclination toward any sensible leadership, and now the rumble is Elizabeth Dole. She practically destroyed the Department of Transportation and, for all practical purposes, did destroy the Federal Aviation Administration.
Until the GOP shapes up and offers the country some sensible, dignified leadership, which is not committed to right to life and the suppression of the middle and lower middle class, the voters will elect and support almost anyone else.
Frank T. Parish Sr., Sykesville
City has nothing to lose with N.Y. police approach
Regarding the Opinion Commentary article "How New York reduced crime" (Jan. 14) by Henry Brownstein, the program called Crimestac seems to be working in New York City.
Weekly communication and networking among police units increases team policing against criminals. Community policing is also very productive.
Mr. Brownstein is correct when he says, referring to Baltimore, "What do they have to lose?"
Patricia M. Ranney, Millersville
For the homeless, a power outage every day
The recent ice and snowstorms that affected many sections of the country, including Maryland, brought a few brief comments to mind.
Yes, we were among those who had no heat or electricity for 38 hours but still survived the ordeal by staying home, bundling up and taking precautions to prevent serious illness.
I thought about the homeless. Many are homeless by circumstances, not by choice. I though about how fortunate most of us are. Under normal conditions, we enjoy the necessities of life.
This was an experience that my family and I will never forget.
Edward R. Platt, Randallstown
Phoning while driving should be outlawed
I urge all Maryland voters to contact their state legislators to support House Bill 37, sponsored by state Del. John Arnick of Baltimore County. The bill would prohibit drivers from using telephones in motor vehicles that are in motion.
The popularity of cellular telephones has increased tremendously over the past several years. Their use has become a serious safety hazard on our highways, endangering the lives of users and others. Cellular telephone users tend to drive below the posted speed limit, thus impending the flow of traffic.
Many times I have witnesses drivers using these devices and being so involved in conversation that they are oblivious to their surroundings. If one must absolutely carry on a conversation while in a motor vehicle, that person should be considerate of others and pull over to the side of the road.
Thomas F. Cotter, Elkridge
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Pub Date: 1/21/99