Traverse City Record-Eagle

Your Views

January 19, 2012

Letters to the Editor: 01/19/2012

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Help protect lives



May we all remember to have a moment of silence on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 (39 years of abortion on demand). During that quiet time, we can pray for the 5 million babies that have been allowed to be aborted since Roe vs. Wade under the guise of “choice.”

May we also pray for all the women who have lived to regret their decision because of the lies they were told that abortion was the best alternative for them.

May we now recognize, as we are able to see ultrasounds, that the fetus is not a glob of tissue but a living, separate human being. May we help to resolve “open season” on the unborn and stand up to help protect their lives.

Pauline Alley

Interlochen



Protect what is ours



While the intersection of Front and Division is overdue for reuse, approval of a CVS pharmacy/convenience store here would be short-sighted.

By approving, we’d lock into the existing road formation.

With the growth of the west side we see lines at this light all day. What’s this going to be like a decade from now?

Every plan has called for this intersection to be significantly restructured. Approval would eliminate that possibility.

At more than double the existing zoning, which allows a 6,000-square-foot footprint for a building, consider the precedent this accommodation sets.

What do we say to the next chain that wants to build an oversize store, with parking lot, along Front Street? And the next? Is this the future for Traverse City?

Are we ready to cede any of our main street to chain stores? Tourism drives our city, and those fine folks choose Traverse City because it is not their hometown. Once we start down this path there is no turning back.

We need to protect what is ours. Let our commission hear from the residents and business owners who have a vision of what we want our future to look like: http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/city-commission.

Paul Danielson

Traverse City



Will utilities raise rates?



I have been wondering about the law to make America use these energy-efficient lightbulbs that most people do not like for a variety of reasons.

They may save kilowatts from being used, but how long before the electric companies will raise their rates because of the reduction in profits?

Adding a programmable thermostat to my propane heating system has caused the response from my provider as to the usage being less, they have raised my/our pricing per gallon.

It all comes down to profit and how far corporate America can and will go deeper into our pockets.

What are the restraints on utilities to not increase pricing for those of us that are trying to be good citizens and follow the rules?

It hasn’t worked for propane, and I am positive that it will not work with the electric companies.

Jim Williams

Kalkaska

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