Traverse City Record-Eagle

Your Views

March 2, 2010

Letters to the Editor: 03/02/2010

One for the little guy

What a wonderful gift to all people who have a cottage/property that they want to stay in the family.

The appeals court ruled in favor of not uncapping the assessed value with a family transfer of property. (Appeals court: No tax bump, Feb. 18, 2010) How many times have we heard that the "old cottage" had to be sold because the next generation couldn't afford the new higher taxes due to uncapping the inflated assessment?

The local board says too bad, just pay. As with most pieces of property in this situation, the new owners are getting taxed at a higher rate even though there was joint ownership.

Besides, how many of these properties are taxed at the higher non-homestead rate? How short-sighted city assessor Debra Chavez is in her assertion that it will "bring government to its knees."

The property is not being taken off the tax rolls. They will continue to have income for their budgets. Only this time they will be forced to live within their means. Yes, local government will survive and yes, they should live with the rate of inflation like everyone else does. Score one for the little guy.

Fred D. Stoye Jr.
Traverse City

A little professionalism

My wife and I attended the 10:30 p.m. comedy festival show for J.B. Smoove Saturday night. The comic was fantastic -- kudos to all those responsible for bringing such a talented comic to TC.

However, if this festival is to be an annual event, the State Theatre needs to assign seats when tickets are purchased and forgo the "line number" gibberish.

We purchased tickets a week in advance and were told to show up at 8:30 p.m. to get our "line numbers."

We showed at 8:30 p.m., received our "line numbers" and returned at 10 p.m. (as directed) to be corralled like cattle for 47 minutes inside an empty shop next to the Opera House.

Several hundred were packed into the shop like sardines, a sight the fire marshal would not appreciate. Once inside the Opera House, we were in a race against others to claim good seats.

A little organization is necessary if this is going to be an annual event. Like at the ball game, rows have letters and seats have numbers. How about some professionalism next time and use the row/number concept and leave the "line numbers" for amateurs.

Scott Rought
Traverse City

Excellent police force

It is unfortunate that the behavior of one police officer may reflect negatively on the entire Traverse City Police Department.

Over the years, I have worked with and met with members of the department through their Sector Patrol involvement with the Old Town Neighborhood Association; I've attended the 10-week Citizens Police Academy, and I've been involved with COFAC.

As a member of COFAC, I have had my disagreements with the Traverse City police, but never with the quality or professionalism of the officers.

My hope is that the actions of one officer does not affect the perception that Traverse City residents have of their police department.

I believe that Chief Warren and Capt. Morgan will take the appropriate actions required to maintain citizen trust in what I regard as an excellent police force.

Mark Crane
Traverse City

(The writer is president of the Old Towne Neighborhood Association and served as the COFAC chair for the police subcommittee.)

A special plate

Well, ain't we special.

Being a retiree on a fixed income I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to save money and cut auto expenses. Can anyone out there advise me on how I can get me one of them there NGOODSMLP (Never Go Out Of Date Soffredine Michigan License Plates)?

Patrick McCarren
Traverse City

A friendly warning?

Regarding the recent allegations involving Traverse City Police Officer Joseph Soffredine and Grand Traverse Sheriff's deputies, is it corruption, conspiracy or a friendly warning?

No one complains unless there is a police officer involved.

Pete Cole
Lake Ann

Limits for judges

Regarding the recent article about former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's speech at Wayne State University Law School, perhaps judicial reform would better be served not by appointing judges, as she suggests, but by term limits.

My former classmate at the University of Michigan Institute of Public Policy Studies, economist Patrick L. Anderson, only went part-way when he authored the Michigan term-limits amendment for legislators. Michigan should have also included publicly elected judges.

Currently, our judges, with their appointees, have a patronage system that would make a Chicago alderman blush. Either a ballot initiative or, if Michigan voters decide this year on a constitutional convention, would provide the vehicle for this necessary reform.

George Golubovskis
Traverse City

We want action

A new federal study shows that health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person, and is now projected to nearly double by 2019.

If we don't act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy and more crushing debt for our nation.

This isn't a problem we can kick down the road for another decade -- or even another year.

n We are incredibly close to passing real health reform. I stand with President Obama in calling on Congress to finish the job.

n Too many in Washington are now saying that we should delay or give up reform entirely, but Americans understand the stakes for our economy and our lives, and that we want action.

Susan Zak
Williamsburg

Just like Detroit

A city mayor getting caught up in micro-managing a city project; multi-termed city commissioners afraid to adapt changes in their city; a public school system bordering on possible collapse due to lack of funding; and reports of city police officers not doing their jobs.

Does this sound familiar? All we need now is a dead stripper and an ex-mayor fleeing to Texas to avoid more felony charges and we'll be just like Detroit.

Mathew Branch
Traverse City

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