Letters to the editor: Don't talk about the tax freeze from Phenix City
Misplaced blame
Ms. Pedersen has a lot of nerve to chastise the taxpayers of Columbus for not wanting the tax freeze lifted or ‘thawed’ when she readily admits to buying a home in Alabama because the mortgage was cheaper. What has the mortgage to do with the taxes? I bought a home in Columbus in 1997 and nobody mentioned that the taxes for some were , and wouldn’t have thought anything about it if they had.
What ticks me off is that she condemns us taxpayers for saving a few dollars on real estate taxes while she enjoys the fruit of our labors without paying anything toward maintaining the facilities and other benefits here. City Council provides poor long-range planning, yet blames the taxpayer for not continuously pouring out more money into their coffers. The thousands paid to lawyers for stupid lawsuits would easily have paid for the budget increases of those filing. “Thawing” the real estate tax freeze will not solve the mayor’s money shortage. It will place a hardship on low-income and senior citizens. And if you think the Aquatic Center is a money pit, wait until the mayor starts pushing for that train to/from Atlanta. That project will really drain the taxpayers and they’ll probably start immigrating to Alabama in droves. Ms. P will be one of the first to take advantage of it, too, if it should become a reality (God forbid). You want the right to complain about Columbus taxpayers, then move here and become one.
Fran Cady, Columbus
Freeloading
Stephanie Pedersen grumbles about the tax freeze in Columbus. She doesn’t understand our “please live on the outskirts of our city” tax. Someone needs to explain to me why people who do not live here complain about the tax freeze. They want to enjoy the jobs and amenities offered by the citizens of Columbus but don’t want to help us pay the freight.
You guys are the problem. If I had my way, we would have a city income tax. We would find a way to have those who can afford it pay more property taxes. Property taxes should be coupled with income.
Oh, I find it interesting that you do not live in Columbus but are able to enjoy a job in our fair city. You are not a citizen of Columbus — not even Georgia. You are a citizen of Phenix City, Alabama. People who live in glass houses should not throw rocks.
Richard Wright, Columbus
Bad planning
The school district came into enough money to build a state of the art swimming center. Now they don’t have the money to maintain the facility. Why was this not worked out in the planning stage?
This reminds me of when the Sears building could have been refurbished and transformed into just as beautiful building as they now have at a fraction of money they spent when it was torn down and a new one erected.
During this same time a friend of mine had a daughter in 2nd or 3rd grade. Her class of about 22 children had one reader book for the entire classroom. They had to take turns taking it home.
These thinking points tell me that whoever is in charge of the money has no idea of what they are doing.
G. Gaines, Columbus
Dark doings
Do you fully understand what’s happening in politics? It’s definitely not about the candidates, although it is made to appear to be.
The real power lies with an entity most have never heard of … just Google the “Deep State” and you will find the names and titles of who really controls us all … familiar names you will recognize.
They control the economy and regulations of the USA and the world. And they are becoming very frightened. Neither Trump nor Sanders is dependent upon them; therefore they must be destroyed.
The Republican elites, initially dismissing Trump as a flash-in-the-pan, are now apoplectic that he may win. The Democratic elites, not worried so much about Sanders, are fearful that Clinton may be a flawed candidate and may be indicted and have to withdraw, handing Trump the presidency.
Did you know that there is a company called “Crowds on Demand” that anyone can hire to send “actors” aka “protesters” to any event? The actors are paid $15/hr and don’t care what they protest; they just want the easy money. They are the paid protesters at the Trump rallies.
The Deep State establishment is so worried they may not get a controllable presidential candidate that they are organizing protests at the one candidate they fear the most.
Watch what happens now. If peaceful rallies are unsuccessful in stopping Trump, violence will be next on the agenda and of course the aim will be to deflect blame for it upon Trump and hope the people don’t catch on to who is really controlling the events
Don’t be surprised that the vitriol against Trump escalates.
R.A. Valentine, Phenix City
This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Don't talk about the tax freeze from Phenix City."