‘What we have here is a lack of planning’

I have many friends who work for the city of Hamilton, and I wish to see no one lose their job. But what we have here is a lack of planning by someone.

The city is supposed to know about how much money they will receive each year. The problem is not having enough, the problem is spending more than you take in, and/or not taking in money you should have.

We know how many homes and how much area we must take care of, and reducing the fire and the police departments is not the answer. Doing this is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We need a certain number of firemen and police officers to cover our entire city. Take that away and you may as well make each citizen a prisoner, because that will be what we feel like when we are afraid to leave our homes. Crime is bad enough without helping the crooks by cutting the services we really need.

What you need to do is quit allowing businesses to force you into giving them free taxes. They knew they had to pay taxes when they started their businesses. And don’t let them get away without paying their utility bills. If they think moving from a safe community and reasonable rates is cheaper than staying, then they should not be in business to start with. No matter where they move, they will not be as happy, because they know — any day now — that city will have to raise their taxes and utilities, and they will have to move again. Moving is not cheap and finding a good community with a great fire department and police force is not easy.

... Our citizens need to know they can feel safe. If your home or business was on fire, wouldn’t you want to know you have a great fire department to count on? Being able to have these feelings is not cheap and they both come with a price. ... We have them and we need them and we should thank them for watching over our city as we sleep at night.

How dare you people ask them to give up their pay and what little money you give them for the service they give you. ...

Rick Rouse

Hamilton

‘Does the city care about its citizens?’

Approximately five to six years ago, the city of Hamilton resurfaced streets in Brookwood, except for the 1000 block of Kingston Drive and one other street. These two streets were in dire need of repair. The last resurfacing for the 1000 block was in the 1970s. If our street had been resurfaced six years ago, I wouldn’t be facing this huge expense now.

My husband and I are both retired. Five years ago, our finances were sound. In today’s economy, we have taken a loss in income. Definitely this is not a good time for anyone to have the expense of replacing curbs and sidewalks. One quote to repair the sidewalk and curbs is for $1,700. Another is for $1,494. We are waiting for two more quotes.

Does the city of Hamilton care about its citizens? The city of Cincinnati takes care of the curbs when resurfacing streets at no cost to the taxpayer, while the city of Hamilton taxpayer has to foot the bill. At this time of economic crisis, does the city of Hamilton care about its citizens? I think not!

Eloise Berglund

Hamilton

‘Freedom’s baton’

It was encouraging to see many celebrating Flag Day on this bright and beautiful day (June 14). It would be even more encouraging should they look fondly upon our nation’s flag the remaining 364 days a year while reading and studying the words contained in the Constitution.

I’ve no doubt the guys behind the wall would be proud of the generations, to whom they passed freedom’s baton, should they do so even one day a month.

Emmette Boone

College Corner