Speak Out A 01/19/03

Proceed with caution

IF ALL developers of residential subdivisions in Cape Girardeau applied for and received TIF status, the school district would quickly find itself short on funds. Prestwick Plantation will consist of 900 acres. That's lot of potential students for the school district. Reportedly, Prestwick has offered to spend up to $8 million to build a new elementary school if its subdivision resulted in such a need. What assurances are there the funds would be there for such a school? Missouri TIF laws were intended for use in blighted areas. The area intended may legally meet the definition of blighted, but in reality it is far from blighted. The school board, TIF commission and city council should proceed very cautiously with respect to this TIF application to ensure beyond any doubt that our schools and future taxpayers are not harmed.

Test others too

AS A senior-citizen driver, I'm willing to retake a driving test as long as the cell-phone users, boom-box players, speeders and tailgaters are required to take one also.

Terrible example

I AM absolutely in shock that ABC would have the American Music Awards on prime time with a host who has to be continually blipped for using foul language. What a terrible example this sets for our young people. Also, shame on ABC for allowing some of the entertainment to come out on stage wearing an outfit that didn't leave much to the imagination. Here I go again. As I get older, I sound more and more like my parents.