Here are some of the letters to the editor in the Gazette, August 10th, 2011 and a comment from one of our members...Jim Lynch...
CLAYTON:
You asked that I send along the argument about LR City Hall's "Trust Deficit."
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Little Rock City Hall has used federal stimulus money to pay the salaries of police and firefighters which they now claim they are unable to keep on the payroll and therefore citizens must vote for a $500 million sales tax increase.
Most such agreements with federal grants compel local governments to clearly state assurances that if they accept federal money to begin a service that the local government promises to continue the service when the federal money runs out.
Why are hundreds of millions in new sales taxes justified by the continuation of police and fire paid with federal stimulus money? Did City Hall make a promise it could not keep to the federal government?
Can City Hall be trusted to keep its word?
City Hall for years told citizens that newly added city territories, annexed because land developers demanded it be done, that such "growth areas would pay their own way" and no new taxes would be needed to serve the new areas. This policy has proved to be untrue and the promise to citizens has been broken.
Can LR City Hall be trusted to keep its word?
The "trust deficit" at LR City Hall is much bigger than any "budget deficit" at LR City Hall!
And then there are these comments from Little Rock residents and others in the state...on the jump
Letter 1: City ignoring old area
I live in southwest Little Rock. A few months ago, Base Line Road was flooded, and rather than the city fixing it, they patched it. The road is horrible now. If I lived in Chenal, it would have been fixed instead of patched.
Even small things such as keeping things mowed do not get kept up by the city the way they should in this area. If the city would take a little pride in southwest Little Rock, maybe the people would also. This used to be a very nice area to live, but when they build a new area, it seems they forget about the older parts. We pay our taxes just like everyone else, so it makes no sense that our part of the city not get the same respect. I guess they feel they need to use all the tax money in the new, richer areas. Tell me, how does that seem fair?
ALLENE HOLLEMAN
Little Rock
Even small things such as keeping things mowed do not get kept up by the city the way they should in this area. If the city would take a little pride in southwest Little Rock, maybe the people would also. This used to be a very nice area to live, but when they build a new area, it seems they forget about the older parts. We pay our taxes just like everyone else, so it makes no sense that our part of the city not get the same respect. I guess they feel they need to use all the tax money in the new, richer areas. Tell me, how does that seem fair?
ALLENE HOLLEMAN
Little Rock
Letter 2: Not from around here
We recently received a polling call from The Committee for Little Rock’s Future, the group supporting the proposed increase in Little Rock’s sales tax. The call originated from area code 504, southeast Louisiana (New Orleans). Apparently, the support of and concern for the local Little Rock economy by those with a lot of money to spend in favor of the tax increase does not extend to the hiring of pollsters.
MIKE WATTS
Little Rock
We recently received a polling call from The Committee for Little Rock’s Future, the group supporting the proposed increase in Little Rock’s sales tax. The call originated from area code 504, southeast Louisiana (New Orleans). Apparently, the support of and concern for the local Little Rock economy by those with a lot of money to spend in favor of the tax increase does not extend to the hiring of pollsters.
MIKE WATTS
Little Rock
A recent excellent editorial pleaded for the Little Rock City Council to postpone any tax increase at this time. The editorial reasoned that the sales tax would be especially burdensome on those least able to pay it.
A few days later, godfather Mayor Mark Stodola and his mafia voted to forge ahead with a tax-increase vote in September.
The people most affected by this tax increase will never read this paper, for they are too poor to afford it. Little Rock’s TV news presents the tax as a wonderful godsend, crimes decrease, parks mowed, the zoo expanded and potholes all repaired. Then they call a retired man to speak in opposition. The shameless, merciless and greedy will be the main supporters of this tax increase.
If this tax increase passes, we can expect expanded needs at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The radio and TV stations will be more than happy to help the do-good organizations beg for help. Meanwhile the godfather and his mafia will enjoy the profits of their successful tax increase.
JIM GLOVER
Heber Springs
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So as Mr. Lynch says....
The "trust deficit" at LR City Hall is much bigger than any "budget deficit" at LR City Hall!
Can LR City Hall be trusted to keep its word?
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