SPEAKOUT

A problem with traffic

DRIVE AROUND the city and check out the parking lots of those federal agencies that are going to be in the new federal building. They generate a lot of traffic. Can narrow Broadway handle all of that added traffic? I think it is great to have the federal building in close proximity to the old one, the courthouse and City Hall; but there are many historic homes in that area, and those owners have worked hard to restore and maintain them. I take pride in showing visitors that part of our city even though I don't live there. The old hospital location makes more sense and it is not too far from the defined, downtown area. The old hospital location provides ample space with minimum buyout problems with easy access from the many arteries, William on the north and Highway 74 on the south.

Sidewalks needed

I LIVE in the 1900 block of West End Boulevard. I would like to know why there is no sidewalk on West End when there are so many joggers and walkers. It stops at the Lorberg Funeral Home. I think the city needs to put up sidewalks down here for the increasing number of joggers and walkers.

Public housing opposed

WELL, FOLKS, I guess the city Planning and Zoning Commission has done it; they approved low-income public housing for Cape. I thought we voted that down twice. Now it will go to the city council. I bet the city council will approve it, and we never got a chance to vote on it. Tell your city councilman no or at least let us vote on it.

Reply:

City officials say the project does not constitute public housing, which was twice rejected by city voters. Private developments don't require voter approval, even if they involve government subsidies.

Understanding merit

YOUR EDITORIAL writer doesn't understand the university merit-pay program. The classroom is not the emphasis. The provost encourages faculty to compromise their teaching in order to promote themselves and glorify the university.

AC overdue

REGARDING THE question of lack of air conditioning in the schools. It occurred to me that when these schools were built, it was well within the time when it was common practice to include air conditioning with the basic plans of any structure. Business and private structures were already including air conditioning just as a common part of the architectural features. This seems to me gross incompetence on the part of the people who planned these schools. By their reasoning, you wonder why they put in heating systems; after all, only part of the school year is warm weather. I remember being in school and how much more conducive to education being half-way comfortable would have been. It was miserable when I went to school. I would also like to compliment Marc Powers. He was absolutely correct when he talked about the preference of LPs over CDs. Boy, is he right about that.

War games

I THINK that was an excellent picture in Thursday's edition of the war game participant. Strangely, though, war must only be a game for this guy. Most guys in combat would be wearing a helmet, not a floppy hat, even though the floppy hat looks a lot cooler.

Another view

THIS COMMENT goes out to the caller who moved from a major city in the north to go to SEMO. First of all, you probably know nothing about the library deal going on here in Jackson because you have never used either library. Second of all, if you are going to SEMO it is most likely you don't have any kids, so why are you complaining about us debating the idea of air conditioning classrooms when it doesn't even concern you? Thirdly, if you don't like the people who live here why don't you go back to that major city?

Teachers should teach

I AM calling about the article in the paper about SEMO and the interim president, who feels the university teachers should be raising funds to help pay for scholarships and equipment. I feel their job is to teach. We have a student that goes to SEMO. I would rather they spend their time and effort teaching the students rather then trying to raise money.

A waste of money

I WISH to call everyone's attention to the article in the Sept. 12 issue of the Missourian. It is titled, "State's AIDS program broke with over a million dollars in bills." Then a follow-up on the Sept. 14 issue. Is this the way our governor is running our state? If it is, it is time to clean the house out. It is terrible the taxpayers have to pay money for such silliness and overuse of money.

Consider the traffic

THE CITY of Cape needs to do a thorough and strategic plan for the corner of Sprigg and Bertling. This is a lovely area. I am joining with many people in opposing a housing development there. There is always a traffic back-up on Sprigg because of all the many teams using the parks.

Criticism for Kit

I JUST heard that one Democrat in the Senate voted against the welfare reform amendment that would take away more pay for more children. I think we should give this conservative Democrat to Missouri and have him take Kit Bond's place. Bond doesn't think that working people are working people; he thinks we are just their to provide the taxes that he can vote to increase.

Smokers' rights

THIS IS a comment to the person who left a comment about having emphysema because of secondhand smoke. Listen, honey, that is your fault. We smokers have a right to smoke wherever we want.