Commuter train would benefit Golden Triangle
I'm from the East Coast where trains were always an option. Whether we were going to a sporting event, a concert or just hanging out in our favorite city, the train was a cheaper, faster and all-around convenient solution.
Wouldn't it be great if there were train service within the triangle of Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati? I get to Louisville or Cincinnati once a year at best. If I had the option of jumping on a train, I would go far more often.
Such a service would entice more people to live here. People could take jobs in one of these cities and commute. It would put people to work and cut down on carbon emissions.
What are we waiting for? Time to take a giant leap into the 21st century. And, while you're at it, put a toy store and a book store in downtown Lexington. My son always asks for one when we go downtown. We'd go a whole lot more frequently if it were more child- and family-friendly.
Lynn Fors
Lexington
Blame ticket prices
I would inform University of Kentucky spokesman Tony Neely that a downgraded home schedule had nothing to do with my dropping my six season tickets ("UK season ticket sales down 8 percent," Sept. 8). The schedule has not mattered for the past 18 years that I bought them (through the good and the bad).
What forced me to drop them were increased ticket costs plus the increased K-Fund, plus increased parking to $40 per game.
Neely can spin it any way he wants, but it serves him and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart right for pricing the middle-class working man out of his beloved tickets.
Mike Meece
Ferguson
Tell the truth
Oh, for the good old days, you know, when the people running for public office were called statesmen. Way back when the campaigns focused on the candidates' agenda. When the discussion was about their record.
Not anymore.
Our Rep. Ben Chandler is helping further the term political hack as he runs his third untruthful ad against his opponent. Why?
Probably because he has no agenda that will benefit Kentucky and to hide his record as a do-nothing in his current job. He showed up last week to open the new four-lane U.S. 68 to Wilmore and nobody could remember any of his quotes the next day, mostly because he really has nothing to say. Our governor even seemed embarrassed to see him there.
Chandler should tell the truth about his voting record and stop lying about his opponent. His lack of statesmanship is showing.
Fred Doster
Lexington
No balance here
I just moved back to Kentucky after 12 years away. I picked up the Sept. 5 Herald-Leader to see if I might want to become a subscriber.
I admit I am a conservative, but I have no problem with reading opposing opinions if there is a little balance. That is not what I found on the opinion page.
What I got were cartoons making fun of David Williams, demeaning Sarah Palin and ripping Glenn Beck. As for the articles; the front page pummelled David Williams over his announcement, opposed charter schools, advocated death penalty abolition, and blamed America for all of Mexico's ills.
It went on to disparage the regular folks who attended the Beck rally and who oppose the New York mosque by portraying them as ignorant fools bought by rich conservatives. Of course, rich liberals who bankroll causes, such as George Soros, were portrayed as selfless saints.
The section finished up with yet another article bashing Bush for the Iraq war. That one was mild compared to contributing columnist Larry Webster's. It concocts out of thin air that the U.S. government has been conducting a secret war on Islam for a decade and that is the only reason we are in Iraq or care about Iran's nuclear capability. Webster finishes by joking (I think) that we should make Jerusalem a nuclear waste dump.
I will not be subscribing. I may read it for the laughs, though, if you publish an article criticizing Fox News for its "slanted" coverage.
Lawson Lambert
Brandenburg
Preserve archives
Several years ago, the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church acquired the assets of The Good Samaritan Corporation and Foundation. As a former president of The Good Samaritan Corporation and Foundation, it disturbs me to know the archives and history of Good Samaritan Hospital are in a storage shed and not available to the Lexington community.
Good Samaritan Hospital began serving health care needs in Central and Eastern Kentucky — without regard to race, creed or economic condition — more than 100 years ago. It is important that the archives be preserved and placed in the Lexington History Museum to benefit the Lexington community.
Phil Harmon
Lexington
Needing directions
In the Sept. 21-22 papers, I learned of the problems faced by the city (you and me) in the placing of 91 expensive large signs to give directions to Rupp Arena, the Headley-Whitney Museum, Keeneland and other local attractions.
The million-dollar bond for maintenance and installation for these signs and to buy more later was approved by the Urban County Council (representing you and me again).
This large order was placed with a company in Virginia Beach, Va. In the whole of Kentucky, is there not a company that could have made these signs if they are needed?
Is there a need for such signs that, after installation, will have to be maintained by the citizens? I don't recall seeing directional signs posted in cities such as New Orleans, Houston, San Francisco, New York, etc. Perhaps it's blind luck that enables visitors from Kentucky, as well as foreign countries, to navigate these cities.
In a letter to the editor Sept. 22, a reader stated, "We had better remember our winning candidates will be working for us."
Ah, if that were only true.
Joann L. Walker
Lexington
Can it add up?
Gov. Steve Beshear told state employees to prepare for six furlough days, a move to save $24 million. I hope the savings were verified by someone outside of the state government's financial department.
I tried to find the correct number of vehicles we taxpayers own. I talked to several people in the Transportation Cabinet, and one even said "Good luck" in trying to find the true numbers. I called the Finance and Administration Cabinet and was passed along to four people.
Beshear has stated he will sell off unneeded assets. How can you sell off assets if you don't know what you have? How many are driven home each night? How many credit cards are being used by state workers, and how do we know they are being used for state business?
If we have to furlough regular state workers, why can't we get answers to our questions?
Dave Willhoit
Frankfort
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