To the editor:
In response to Pelham School Board member Linda Mahoney, concerned Pelham taxpayers would just like the facts — for once.
FACT: Pelham will lose $11-12 million in state funding unless a high school proposal is approved by June 2010. If we approve a plan in time, 30 percent of the bill will be paid by the state .
FACT: In order to loophole the fire codes, the current high school is rigged with a fire holding area, as the exits don't allow all children to get out of a burning building.
FACT: Someone once paid for you and all Pelham adults to go to a safe high school. This isn't a fancy Windham plan; this is a safe, no-frills option for Pelham. No auditorium, no frills. Get informed.
FACT: You mislead voters by stating that you would support a Pelham-only option if the co-op was voted down. You now mislead voters again; as a board member, you know that we have a viable land option (same as before) and plan. You are one of the major obstacles to seeing the plans approved. It is time that you honor your word and support a Pelham-only high school.
FACT: The Pelham High School Facilities Committee concluded that it is better to build a new school on a new site than to continue using the existing building as a high school. The plan solves two big problems, as we can save huge dollars by renovating the old building to use as a middle school.
FACT: Crowded conditions at the high school were cited in a recent accreditation report prepared by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. PHS is currently on warning status from New England Association of Schools and Colleges, (NEASC), November 2008. Get informed: This is a disaster looming for all property owners.
FACT: 5,000 registered voters didn't vote on the high school last time. Are you to blame?
JIM PATCHEN
Pelham, N.H.
Health care bill the result of pork-barrel chicanery
To the editor:
When President Obama was campaigning for President he made a solemn pledge he would eliminate or reduce earmarks. He broke that promise during the push to implement the new health care program.
The White House cut backroom deals with a number of senators to secure their votes for the bill. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska received $100 million in federal funds for a rip-off which exempted his state from paying for new Medicaid patients. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got a kickback of $300 million in extra federal spending for her state.
The health care bill will add $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years, and the Medicare system will suffer cuts of $500 billion. Approximately 30 million people will be added to the health care system. This will place a severe strain on hospitals and doctors who will not be able to handle the huge influx of new patients. The end result will be long waiting periods and lower quality service for all.
A particular concern is the impact of the program on small businesses, which will be forced to provide health insurance to their employees. This program could force many small businesses to raise prices and/or reduce costs (primarily labor costs), and some businesses will be forced to close their doors. It should be noted small businesses account for about 70 percent of the jobs in this country.
It is unfortunate the White House had to resort to pork barrel chicanery to get a highly flawed health care bill passed.
Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, N.H.
Taxpayer wells are running dry
To the editor:
As a resident of Methuen, I want to thank the city councilors for voting as they did at Monday night's meeting. We would prefer to see no property tax increase, as had been promised, but the vote last night was more reasonable than what was being requested.
State government has to take responsibility for what is happening in our cities and towns. The state and/or pension plan cannot expect property owners in our cities and towns to make up for the losses occurred because of bad investments or because of the stock market crash that took place. That is totally unreasonable!
So our hats are off to the councilors who had the strength, courage and audacity to stand up to those who wanted a higher increase and to stand up to the demands of the state government. A little creativity goes a long way.
History tells us that the American Revolution took place because of the high taxation being levied on those living in the colonies of what became America. Perhaps a tax revolt needs to take place as it did then. A well holds only so much water — our wells are running dry.
Lucie M. Consentino
Methuen
