LETTER: Churches would welcome hostile letter writer

In regards to L.M Miller letter to the editor on 7/31/08,  she wrote, "Witness our lovely, old downtown. A business district that should be full of places to shop, but since we have a council with no back bone to pass an ordinance that lousy foreign language churches all over the business district are not permissible, no one will want to patronize the area. Especially at night when it's scary."

My goodness, we should all be afraid of these foreign language churches.  Yes, it is scary to think we have churches downtown with people worshiping God in them, what is the government thinking to allow this? 

Please, L.M Miller, you sound ignorant to say the least. Maybe you should walk down by a few downtown bars on a Friday or Saturday night -- now that may be a little intimidating to some. I can understand with the drunks and fights, that might be scary -- but a church? Please. 

So if this was an "English-speaking" church downtown, you obvioulsy wouldn't be frightened, correct?

You should be happy these foreigners are spending time in a religious establishment. Maybe you should try it -- it may put a little love or compassion in your heart. I'm sure these churches downtown would welcome you with open arms.  Too bad you don't have an "open mind."

And as far as all these third world idiots bringing our town down, maybe you should check the police records and reports and do a survey to see how many non-foreigners are the real trouble makers and breaking the laws.

As far as living in fear, I don't know where you hang out at night, but I feel pretty safe in my neighborhood, even with all these ’foreigners.'

V.M. Bardales

1723 N Lafayette Ave.

Candidates chasing Latino votes

Most everyone is aware that McCain and Obama agree to support comprehensive immigration reform, amnesty for illegal aliens, path to citizenship and need for an illegal alien guest worker program.

It appears the voters of only one ethnicity -- "Latino" --are important to these candidates. Both candidates are reassuring pro-illegal alien group leaders that ’your wish is our command.'

For example, "McCain, Obama Court Latinos" was the headline of the June 29, Los Angeles Times article reporting on their meeting with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) in Washington , D.C.

Sen. Obama (who has yet produced his birth certificate,) came on stage saying his slogan "Yes, we can" in Spanish and received sustained applause for talking about scholarships for college and other subjects. Sen. McCain tried to evade his commitment to secure the border and referred to the millions of illegal aliens now in our country as "God's Children”.

McCain and Obama were asked if they would make immigration reform a priority in the first 100 days of their presidency. McCain responded it would be "yesterday, today and tomorrow. Obama promised them he would make it a priority, not in the first 100 days, but the first day in office.

 Mike Van Winkle

Wood River



Making a list and checking the tax

Mayor Hornady has repeatedly told the voters that bringing the State Fair to Grand Island will not increase our property taxes. Well, she must not read the daily paper and must think the property owners don't read it either.

First it was replenishing the reserve that was going to cause a huge increase in our property taxes. Then is that money going to stay in the reserve? Oh No ! Any guesses on what that money will be spent on?

Next the Hall County Agricultural Society says it needs an extra $200,000 a year for "fairgrounds infrastructure improvements" and Supervisor Pam Lancaster says the only place to get that money is from property taxes.

Now in the Independent today (Aug. 4,  2008) we learn that it has been proposed by Supervisor Dan Wagoner to rename the money going to Stuhr Museum to "recreation fund" so it can be diverted to go into the State Fair fund.

I want every property owner to sit down with their last property tax statement and see if you can afford an increase of 20 to 30 percent. If you rent, don't think you are off the hook. Your landlord is going to charge you more rent to help him cover the tax increase.

There has been talk of increasing taxes on motels and restaurants. That money will come out of your pocket as well every time you eat out.

I encourage everyone, property owner or renter, to sit down and make a list of all the different ways you are going to have money taken out of your pocket to fund the State Fair move. Now I want you to make a list of all, if any, of the ways that the State Fair move is going to put money back into your pocket. There is a reason that houses are on the market in Grand Island for a year or more. Potential buyers don't want to pay the outrageous property taxes.

Mary Lanfear

2128 N. Custer