Expanded jail still won't meet county's needs
Jonathan Rockoff's article "Baltimore County jail expansion draws candidates' fire" (Nov. 3) misrepresented the reasons for our opposition to this project. "Noise, trash and traffic" do not come close to explaining why we have spent the last two years trying to get someone to listen to us.
In our view, it is fiscally irresponsible to spend $73 million on a prison that will need to be replaced nearly as soon as it is built. The 1,000 inmates currently housed at the facility -- plus the 300 inmates housed in the aging women's jail -- equals 1,300 inmates today in Baltimore County.
When the first phase of this expansion is completed, the jail will have only 1,552 beds. The county wants us to believe that this will satisfy our needs until the year 2010. It won't.
It's easy to call those who oppose this expansion NIMBYs -- but even a cursory look at the numbers involved reveals how ridiculous this expansion plan is.
Stopping construction now -- and doing it right -- is the most responsible thing our next county executive can do.
Cathi Forbes
Towson
The writer is the founder of the Coalition for Open Government, a group that opposes the jail's expansion.
Prejudicing readers against Likud bloc
Peter Hermann's article "Sharon coalition facing collapse over settlements" (Oct. 30) is long on editorializing, short on objectivity.
For example, he describes Mr. Sharon's government as "hard-line" and "right-wing," while referring to the Labor Party as "left-of-center." These mismatched and lopsided labels only serve to prejudice the reader against the Likud Party and Mr. Sharon.
As another example, Mr. Hermann asserts that "Sharon saw Labor as providing him with political cover -- he could launch attacks on the Palestinians and deflect criticism."
Mr. Hermann conveniently omits the fact that such attacks by Israel have been in response to a 25-month campaign of terrorism that has left more than 620 Israelis (mostly civilians) dead and thousands wounded and maimed.
Jay Lewis
Baltimore
Palestinians' rights are abused every day
Gregory Kane criticizes those at a recent discussion of the Mideast conflict for having a "pity party for Palestine" ("Session on Mideast turmoil attracts arguing, little peace," Nov. 2).
It may be true that more criticism of the Palestinian Authority could have been expressed and more sympathy could have been shown for the Israelis during the event; however, it is the Palestinians whose basic human rights are violated every day because of their ethnicity.
And there is no simpler or more accurate way to describe the Israeli government's policy toward the Palestinians other than downright cruel racism.
Paul Baroody
Baltimore
Irradiated beef not so appetizing
It's ridiculous that Giant Food Inc. is now selling irradiated ground beef ("Company hurt by irradiation delay," Nov. 4). If meat is so contaminated it needs to be nuked, we really shouldn't be eating it at all.
Irradiation hardly sounds any more appetizing than E. coli or other food-borne contaminants.
And anything that needs to be set aside and marked with warning signs is bad news.
Veggie burgers, anyone?
Katie Moore
Baltimore
An unused database can't stop killings
A recent letter decried the absence of a ballistic database, suggesting that such a database might have prevented the sniper murders ("Database on guns could save lives," Nov. 3).
But hasn't anyone picked up on the fact that a clean fingerprint directly connected to a killing in Alabama went unchecked until it was associated with the sniper murders?
What good are tools that lie unused in a tool box?
Jim Cummings
Towson
Restrictive gun laws contribute to crime
I read with great interest the claim in the letter "NRA blocks efforts to stem the violence" (Nov. 2) that the National Rifle Association (NRA) obstructs the passage of what the writer calls "reasonable gun laws."
But most of the gun laws proposed, and many of the gun laws on the books today, fail to reduce violence.
These unreasonable gun laws fail because they restrict lawful citizens' access to the firearms that keep violent criminals in check.
What I find so appalling is that these unreasonable gun laws contribute to the high violent crime rate.
Charles Guggenheimer
Baltimore
A telling tribute to citizen, activist
The article "From Citizen to Activist" (Nov. 3) was a tribute to a young woman with the courage of her convictions -- a true patriot.
I am grateful to the editors for featuring peace activism in such a positive way. Kudos and cheers also to Laura Brodie for her valor and determination and applause to Lisa Pollak for telling her story so vividly.
As I read the article, I experienced dM-ijM-' vu recalling my own first experiences as an activist during the Vietnam War.
The sad reality is that after 30 years, we are again (still) having to join mass demonstrations against war as an option in international conflicts. But don't be discouraged, Ms. Brodie, we will eventually win the peace.
Phyllis S. Yingling
Baltimore
Hunters respect the environment
Most hunters have a deep and abiding respect for nature and their environment ("Killing for sport dims respect for life," letters, Oct. 31). Moreover, they are willing to put their money where their mouths are by paying for licenses, which help the state to manage the wildlife population.
Most true sportsmen leave their place in the environment cleaner than they found it.
And the fact is that there are more deer in this country today than there were when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, and if they weren't hunted they would have to be euthanized or would starve en masse because they would outstrip the ability of their environment to sustain them.
There is no moral theme here. It is just nature's way.
George Toplanchik
Baltimore
Plant a garden to honor Dawsons
The Dawson family does indeed deserve a memorial, not only for giving their lives to defend their beliefs but also as a reminder to all that things must change ("The Dawson family merits a monument," letters, Nov. 3).
I would like to suggest that their house not be rebuilt. Instead, it should be taken down and a memorial garden should be placed where it now stands -- a place of peace and serenity, perhaps with benches, sandboxes and a plaque in their memory.
Anne B. Hackney
Parkton