L-E, publish your own numbers
If the Ledger-Enquirer feels the moral obligation to print every employee's salary of the Muscogee County School District, then when will the Ledger print the salary of every one of its employees?
What benefit is that going to derive other than provide very hacking criminal basic personal information (name, employer and salary) for identity theft? Is the Ledger that stupid? Of course, readership is so low, maybe it doesn't matter!
I hope the Ledger-Enquirer has adequate legal insurance to defend the lawsuits brought by the Ken Nugents of the world when the identity thefts of Muscogee County employees are discovered to be the result of your story.
You now have the moral obligation to apologize or print the salaries of your employees. Your choice.
Joseph J. Bialoncik
Midland
Artistic triumph
On Saturday evening, October 24, we were among the fortunate audience who experienced an exhilarating performance of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Our experience has led to my reflecting upon our good fortune in having available, accessible and affordable musical performances of such superb quality here in Columbus.
First, we have a world-class performance hall. Few cities our size can boast of such a facility. CSU's Schwob Department of Music's faculty and students infuse our community with talent, energy, scholarship and accomplished musicians. The very existence of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the second-oldest continuously performing symphony orchestra in this country, is also fact of which we should all be proud. Conductor George del Gobbo is a major contributor to our city's reputation for musical excellence. The scale of collaboration between the CSO and other organizations in our region for this performance was precisely what our community's leaders had in mind when RiverCenter was created. For this performance, the CSO was joined by CSU's Choral Union, Auburn University's Chamber Choir and LaGrange College's Chamber Choir. Four internationally renowned solo vocalists provided stellar performances as guest artists for the evening.
Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children) and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op.125 "Choral" comprised the program. The juxtaposition of these two works in a single evening's performance was inspired. The Mahler work was appropriately doleful and moving and was performed with sensitivity and finesse; the Beethoven symphony was rife with exuberant joy and spirit. The finale of the symphony, with over 150 voices joining the soloists and musicians of the CSO, brought the performance to a rousing and soul-stirring conclusion.
How fortunate we are to live in a community in which one can experience the magic of such a splendid performance. Bravo!
Susan Lawhorne
Columbus
Simpler solution
Reading about the railroad crossing on Buena Vista Road raises a couple of questions.
The first solution was to build an underpass. Flooding was the first thing that popped into my mind. Didn't they learn anything about the problems with the underpasses on First and Fourth avenues?
The second solution was to build a vehicle bridge over the tracks. I can only imagine the nightmare with all those streets coming into it or the underpass. I see both of these solutions as causing more problems than they solve and the millions of dollars either would cost.
My hobby is real and model trains. I subscribe to a magazine titled "Trains." It is all about real trains, the latest technology, problems they have and solutions for those problems. In several places a lots of trains cross each other's tracks. They build a "fly over" -- basically, a bridge over the other tracks. A single track bridge over Buena Vista Road could be built without any interruption to the trains or vehicle flow. Once the bridge is built, the tracks could be cut at each end and moved over and tied into the bridge. A one or two percent grade would be required for the trains to make it up and over the bridge. Present this idea to the railroad and get their input. This would be less expensive, and cause fewer problems. The track crossing the road wouldn't have to be removed after the bridge is built.
David C. Barfield
Smiths Station
A living wage?
Often working in Providence, Rhode Island's capital city, with a similar population to my hometown of Columbus, it is interesting to compare public policy and its effect on citizens' lives and local economic development.
Rhode Island's extensive public sector union presence (many say control) profoundly affects all public employment and all local and state government policy (politicians are beholden to unions for votes).
Providence School bus drivers' base salary range is $23,650 to $46,400. Income will substantially increase in 2017 per union agreement.
The lower range salary IS not a living wage for a mother and child. The upper range is slightly below a living wage.
Columbus school bus drivers' base salary range is $12,555 to $17,500. Both the upper and lower salary are well below a living wage for a mother and child.
Salaries for new drivers: Columbus, $12,555; Providence, $23,650. Living wage (MIT.ED) Columbus (one parent one child), $20.24/hour; Providence, $23.29/hour. Approximate property tax for single family $470,000 value home (both examples non owner occupied): Providence, $16,000 (Revalued every two years and taxed on current value), Columbus, $7,773. (District #1 new sale).
Economic development activity in Rhode Island is near the worst in the country and has been for a long time, primarily because of union presence and its overwhelming antibusiness mindset. Also, staggering property tax burden for homeowners drives away new business. However, school bus drivers in Providence, who hold the lives of the citizens' children within their hands, are apparentely treated much more fairly as employees.
(Sources: Citiysalaries.com, MIT. Ed, Ledger-Enquirer online, Livingwage.com. Columbus and Providence Tax Assessors.)
Walter Thorne
New York, N.Y.
This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 2:14 PM with the headline "L-E, publish your own numbers ."