You bet there's interest
in Attleboro politics

To the editor:

On Wednesday, June 6, Attleboro voters were given an early opportunity to meet all the potential candidates for this year's elective offices. The response, from the candidates and incumbents and the local voters, was fantastic. Over 100 voters joined 28 candidates and their supporters for a fun informal "meet and greet." The evening proved that this year, in the City of Attleboro, politics will be anything but a spectator sport!

The Attleboro Republican City Committee was proud to sponsor this non-partisan event and hopes that this becomes a local tradition. Given the positive response from those in attendance and those who have viewed the program on local cable, it seems that just about everyone from the candidates, incumbents and public felt that the informal setting was a nice positive change from a typical political event that sometimes turns to negative attacks. Even though the candidates night was scheduled early in the political season, the turnout proves that there is certainly no lack of interest in our beloved city, as there are many who enjoy actively participating in Attleboro's growth, well-being and care.

Howard Bibeault
and Susan Blais BIBEAULT is chairman and Blais vice chairman of the Attleboro Republican City Committee - ARCC.

Veterans' project was
great place to raise kids

To the editor:

I like the story Robert Fisk wrote ("Let's go for a walk to root beer stand, Rosie's," June 3). It brought back many fond memories.

I lived up the hill on County Street behind Castro's. My father built a house on Birch Street and raised five children there. While living there, we attended the Tiffany School.

I often wonder if anyone remembered Percy Sallet's Store. It was on the corner of Thacher and County streets. We would stop and buy an apple or some penny candy once in a while if we had a nickel. Other times, I would save up my change and buy canned vegetables, soup (of course, Campbell's).

That was in the '40s and I met the love of my life. We got married and raised five children. Just before Christmas in 1951, we moved to the veterans' housing on Carlon Street. Our family continued to grow even bigger and therefore we needed a three-bedroom house. Our landlord, Mr. Blackburn, allowed for our large family to move to Hillcrest Drive. Both he and his wife, Evelyn, were great people.

In the summertime, we would sit on the back steps and watch my oldest son, Wayne, and the kids play baseball and cross our fingers that no one would break a window. I can't recall if they did or not. Now they have a nice park to play and have fun (Nickerson Field). I lived there for 44 years and have many memories (mostly good).

Louise Pendleton
Attleboro

Remember when Marcos
was rumored to buy Sox? To the editor:

Although I root for our BoSox every game, I don't go crazy like some of the real fans do. Back in the '60s there was a story going around that the Phillipines' Ferdinand Marcos was going to buy the Boston Red Sox. He was going to rename them the "Manila Folders." To be honest, I think it took a little umbrage to do this; they weren't that good anyway!

But my opinion of this 2007 season is that I see the Sox with this huge early season lead. Well, that's just it. The season is early. How did that poem go about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere? "The Yankees are coming! The Yankees are coming!" Hey, just having fun.

Joe Wilson
Attleboro

City needs better plan
for S. Attleboro property

To the editor:

Development in Attleboro must proceed in a way that will not destroy the beauty and value of our residential neighborhoods and in a way that is as beneficial as possible for all residents.

Consider the vacant 5½-acre Vachon property across from the shopping centers on Washington Street (Route 1) in South Attleboro. The land acts as a buffer between residential and commercial areas - between traffic and shopping centers across Washington Street and the residential neighborhood at the rear of the Vachon property along Newport Avenue and Angeline Street.

Developers are planning high-traffic businesses for this land with entrances on the residential side. One proposed entrance would be within a school zone on Newport Avenue. The other would be on the narrow residential Angeline Street, which would feed more traffic into the school zone. In addition to creating a hazard for school children, the gridlock and bottlenecks that traffic would cause will become a problem for emergency vehicles entering the Highland Avenue and Washington Street interchanges. Instead, proper entrances should be built on Highland Avenue Extension and Washington Street with the appropriate roadwork mandated by the state.

As guaranteed by a 1999 negative easement, our neighborhood also needs a legally assured high and wide buffer with thickly planted evergreens and other vegetation to shield it from the noise and unsightly view of another asphalt jungle. However, a better use for this land would be multi-use residential or light commercial development. An assisted living facility and a public daycare center would be ideal since South Attleboro doesn't have either. An office building would be an acceptable alternative. Neither of these would generate the constant traffic of the high-impact retail buildings proposed and both would offer architecture and landscaping more palatable to a residential neighborhood.

Michael Mellett
Attleboro

Fantastic dance talent
thrives in Attleboro

To the editor:

Thank you, New England Dance Academy, for "On Broadway."

I have just returned from the most enjoyable show I've seen in years! Thank heavens my great-niece Kiara's family invited my sister and I. Naturally we were interested in seeing her three performances (which were great) but the whole show was completely wonderful! What hard work these young people endured and what great pleasure the crowd received! I have seen the "Rockettes" in New York and many shows in Vegas, but Attleboro can certainly be proud of the fantastic talent that comes out of this studio on our own Park Street.

P.S. I even got to sit across from Matt Light, as an added bonus!

Nancy Desmarais
Norton

Fining school boards
for strikes isn't fair

To the editor:

We would like to see Editor Mike Kirby review his proposal for how to make labor negotiations between school committees and teachers' unions fairer.

In his June 17 column, Mr. Kirby suggested a fine to "put pressure on elected officials to come to an agreement." He believed that this "would be fair to teachers, fair to taxpayers, fair to parents and fair to students."

What this proposal would do is create a separate personal interest in the minds of elected officials. No longer would elected officials be making contract decisions on the merits of the different proposals; they would have their own financial interest in the debate. This conflict of interest would exist if the fines were to be paid out of pocket by each member.

Would the fines be paid from the school budget? This would not help make the level playing field Mr. Kirby is searching for. When most of the elected municipal officials work without compensation in our towns, is it fair to fine them if they are doing their job reasonably?

Personal fines may be reasonable in Open Meeting Law violations. However, a fine for elected officials doing their jobs diligently does not. Mr. Kirby's proposal would lead to everyone suffering without resolving the problem. In one case by incentivizing school committee members to settle early with lessened attention to protecting the schools while in the latter case the taxpayer loses from all fronts.

Finally, if both sides were to be shown as negotiating in good faith, would the fine still apply? Is the presumption of innocence out the window?

Andres Navedo
Foxboro

Bush plays to his base
with pardon for crooks

To the editor:

Last week President Bush betrayed investors, taxpayers, American workers and all politicians who demonstrate ethical behaviors.

In pressuring Solicitor General Paul Clement to steer clear of a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that could provide shareholders with the necessary tools to hold crooked CEOs accountable - as is still needed for Enron investors defrauded only five years ago.

The case, Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta, asks whether investors can recover investment losses from investment banks, attorneys, accountants and other parties involved in fraudulent corporate collusion. The Supreme Court is expected to consider the case during its next term. The outcome could determine whether victims of the Enron scandal can proceed with a $40 billion lawsuit against investment banks that enabled Enron's massive fraud.

Even though the Securities and Exchange Commission urged the administration to file a brief in support of investors, the administration thumbed its nose at investors. This president again demonstrates his disdain for the everyday working man and woman in favor of his corporate cronies and makes a mockery of the equality and justice system.

With Bush's approval rating hovering around 30 percent, his only remaining support comes from the CEOs of giant corporations. He's just playing to the last of his base, while showing small investors across America how little regard his administration has for our well-being.

Patricia Medeiros
Taunton

It's the liberals who
are intolerant zealots

To the editor:

I don't know where Bill Gallant gets off telling me that I destroy dialogue with insults. The last time I looked, it was local liberals like Gallant and Stephen Cote and John Wade who were calling me at best an intolerant right-wing zealot and at worst, a Nazi worse than Hitler. My writing that "Humans shouldn't want to do anything about the greenhouse effect and those who do are crazy" pales in comparison. The hatred I see is spewed by liberals. Just go to the liberal blog sites where they openly wish death upon both President Bush and Vice President Cheney and call Joe Lieberman a racist and religious bigot. If these folks think I'm like Joe Lieberman, I couldn't be happier. Mr. Gallant, look in a mirror before you condemn me for my words and get the folks on your side to rein in their words; that's the source of any impediment to dialogue.

Anna DeMarinis
North Attleboro

Opponent of dependency
ignores plight of retarded

To the editor:

Re: Anna DeMarinis opinion of June 7 about dependency and her comments about the differences about liberal vs. conservatives and Dems vs Gop.

I have read many of Anna's opinions, and I have come to the conclusion that this lady has let her fanatical views obstruct what should be her intelligence.

Let me remind her of her comments on Darfur ("who gives a damn?"). She obviously believes everyone should have a gun? A gun serves one purpose and it cannot be an object for everyone to have.

This last opinion - I wonder what her solution is for the people who are mentally retarded; what exactly does she propose we do with them ? They are not considered Democrats or Republicans nor are they liberals or conservatives. They certainly cannot take care of their needs. She has so many misguided opinions I would be interested in what her thoughts are on people who are not as privileged as she obviously is and doesn't give a damn about anybody else.

William Gallant
Attleboro

Enforce the current
immigration laws

To the editor:

Ted Kennedy, supporting the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 1986, stated, "We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this." What is difference between the 1986 Act and the Immigration "Reform" Act of 2007? Kennedy lied to us in 1986 and he is lying to us again.

The numbers are five times higher now. The last three presidents have failed to protect our borders and enforce the laws. Even the terrible, terrible tragedy on 9/11 was not enough motivation for our DC'ers to secure our borders. Do you honestly believe that the Immigration Reform Act of 2007 will be any different?

The DC'ers say "this is not amnesty" and "this is what America wants." They will further state that the proposed $5,000 "fine" is not equivalent to amnesty. So, Mr. Senator, I can rob a bank and keep the money after doing my time or paying a penalty?

You will also hear that immigration is good for America because these immigrants do the jobs that Americans won't. Do you know that there are currently 23 million less-educated Americans unemployed not counted in the 4.5 percent unemployment rate because their benefits have expired or have dropped out of the workforce? To suggest these Americans will not do the work illegal aliens are currently doing is an insult.

Enforce the existing laws. Secure our borders. Fine the heck out of businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Get involved. Contact your legislators. Demand they oppose the Immigration Reform Act of 2007.

Chris Lindehan
Attleboro

I second the motion
to outlaw pit bulls

To the editor:

I agree with Gerald Chase on pit bulls (June 10 letter). There are many breeds of dogs available. I cannot understand why anyone would want an aggressive, unreliable dog.

My stepmother had one for many years. She was devoted to him. She sat on a couch next to him which startled him awake. He promptly bit her finger, which required medical attention. I didn't like the dog. He ran sideways at me and knocked me off my feet. People considered that funny. I did not.

If any breed of dog achieves the reputation pit bulls have, they should be banned.

Jean Amaral
Rehoboth