Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

If anyone reading The Nugget gets the idea the building density issue is dead or gone away they need to rethink it again.

I can only assume this Irreversible building mess that is being allowed out of city hall is being financed by and through taxpayer money. As far as I know all paid employees for the City of Sisters are paid from taxpayer money.

We do not live in downtown Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle or San Francisco and certainly do not live in environments such as they have to yet.

We currently have three properties in Edge of the Pines that Sisters Investment LLC want to cut into three lots. Two such properties on Tamarack St. and one on Maple St.

I encourage anyone reading this that are interested and can make it to the city council meeting at city hall on Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m. to collectively voice our concerns loud and clear.

Remember, "united we stand, divided we fall." Lets give it a shot. Hope to see all concerned that can be in attendance on this issue Thursday evening.

Merlin C Monroe

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To the Editor:

I was heartened by Jim Cornelius' recent item ("Put the brakes on density," The Nugget, December 25, page 2) in which he objects to the current neighborhood zoning provisions in Sisters, for I am in agreement with his position.

Most of my friends know that I have been heavily involved with Habitat's construction activity from its beginning here, having volunteered on all 19 completed homes plus our flourishing Thrift Store.

But I cannot endorse, and will not participate in further construction on the compressed sites which momentarily are allowed. I will continue to support any future Habitat projects that do not involve activity on undersized lots or do not infringe on existing neighborhood values.

The preservation of the livability standards of this fine community are very important and the city needs to recognize this and act swiftly to correct its zoning regulations.

Sincerely,

Frank Baldwin

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To the Editor:

I hope the recent and continuing flap over densification in Sisters will encourage everyone to follow city issues more closely.

The stop lights are coming in the next year at Highway 20 and Locust and at Barclay. Barclay will be extended to the High School.

The current plan is to make Hood and Main (Avenues) one way streets with Cascade (Avenue) unchanged. If you don't like this idea, now is the time to get involved, not three years after the decision is made.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

Oregon needs fundamental tax reform, says Cornelius. I presume that means we should pay more taxes if among other things we are to fund our schools.

But Westlund's tax plan "3 percent consumption tax, cuts to individual income tax, and elimination of the capital gains tax?"

Really now, if I recall those details from Economics One correctly, that sounds like regressive taxation.

But what the heck?

Kudos to ol' Ben Westlund.

Our senator has the cure;

Pity, oh pity, the rich ones.

Just sock it to the poor.

Merle B. Turner