Letters to the editor, Nov. 7, 2009
Downtown not dying or costing taxpayers
I write in response to Tim Hankins’ recent Letter to the Editor in which he states that downtown Dells is dying and costing taxpayers.
Hankins states that “empty stores downtown…could provide extra taxes if they were filled…” Real estate taxes are paid on property, vacant or not. It is true that it would be far better if there were no vacant stores downtown because this would imply a very strong demand for space and a strong consumer demand. But the real estate pays either way.
He goes on to say that, if building owners would lower rent, then the stores would be full. This is obviously true: at some point, as the rent demanded for a property is reduced, it will become more profitable for a person to rent it and do business. Some would agree with Hankins that rents are too high. Not all building owners raise rents. At least one major owner of downtown commercial property told me that, in the past three years, he has reduced all of the rents for his major property downtown.
Finally, he states that “…the downtown is dying…[and that he doesn’t]…see it getting better any time soon…” I disagree vigorously with that statement.
No vacant stores would be preferred, for sure, and we probably have too many. But consider this partial list of businesses that have either opened new or have substantially upscaled an existing business within the past four years: Mimi’s Grill, Artistic Expression, Carvellis, Paint It Pottery Shop, M&I Bank, Carr Valley Cheese, Gilley’s Island, Southwest Creations, Taste of New Orleans, Burl and Boyd, Bank of Wisconsin Dells, Steffes Hardware, Tuggs Grill, Dells 4D, and the Point. These are businesses offering first class goods and services — they are not T-shirt stores. They are diverse in their offerings and will attract customers. That the downtown is not dying is demonstrated by the fact that people are putting up their own money to have a business downtown. Beyond this, the Business Improvement District and the city are taking, and have planned, initiatives to promote a vibrant downtown.
There are many things that can be done to improve the downtown, and more merchant efforts to maintain and promote are needed, but it is a substantial and growing place with a very bright future.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am the chairman of the Business Improvement District (BID). I do not have any economic interest in any property or business downtown. I am writing this as a city taxpayer and resident and not in my BID capacity.
Bill Brown, Wisconsin Dells
Nothing can be done about TV channels
I am writing in response to the letters you received concerning DirecTV changing its local channels to Wausau/Rhinelander. I am also upset about this and contacted the number that was provided in the letter. I had talked to four different people and received four different answers. They told me to call the number on the letter we received.
I called the number, and they just set up for the free installation of the equipment needed for the changeover Dec 16. They told me any other concerns were to go to DirecTV customer service. So it was back and forth.
I decided to write a letter to DirecTV, which they suggested. I received the letter from DirecTV and it said: “I completely understand your concern about the local channels. Please note that Federal regulations mandate that DirecTV assign local stations based on established local market areas. DirecTV uses Nielsen Media Research to determine these local market areas. Based on the latest information from Nielsen, your local channel market has changed, and you’ll now get your locals from the Wausau-Rhinelander Wis. market. Please note that DirecTV is unable to change these local market designations.”
I have been trying to find a way to contact Nielsen Media Research but it is located out of state and DirecTV customer service has no number to give us so I am sorry to say it is going to change and there is nothing we can do. I am scheduled to get the free equipment because after Dec. 16 you will not have any local channels without an antenna or converter box, and you will have to pay for any necessary equipment from Direct TV.
I also contacted Dish Network and its local channels are Wausau/Rhinelander for our zip code or county.
Karen Wahl, Wisconsin Dells
Efficiency of Sauk jail is not improving
Pod A proponents often claim efficiency gains of the current jail over the old one. This is refuted by the facts. The net cost of the jail in 2008 was more than four times higher than in 2000 which was the last year prior to the beginning of new jail construction.
The number of sheriff’s staff increased by 79 (69 for the jail), while the average number of Sauk County inmates increased by 126 including renters from 2000 to 2008. If the school district were that “efficient” they would hire a teacher for every two new students.
So far in 2009, the efficiency of the current jail is no better than in 2008 and the proposed county budget allows it to be even worse in 2010 at the expense of the taxpayers and other needed public services.
We shouldn’t fully staff three half full jail units.
Tom Kriegl, member of the Sauk County Board
Health care reform will hurt Medicare
I am very concerned about the idea that our government is going to cut Medicare in order to pay for any health care reform plan. My Medicare Advantage plan is very important to me, and any cuts to my plan mean more out of pocket costs to me. It is very unfair that our elected officials are trying to pay for their big health care reform plan by having senior citizens pay more for their Medicare plans. How does this fix health care? How is this health care reform. Every senior citizen in Wisconsin should be contacting their legislator today to tell them they do not support any cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Judith Cahoon, Wisconsin Dells
Preserve memories and honor veterans
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson observed the first Armistice Day, which would later become Veterans Day, by reflecting “with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” Ninety years later, Americans everywhere continue to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I.
One tradition I have been proud to participate in is the Honor Flight program. Honor Flight brings World War II veterans to Washington free of charge to visit their war memorial for the first time. Last year, this program helped over 11,000 veterans visit the memorial that was constructed in their honor. I have been proud to personally support this effort, and honored to meet Wisconsin veterans during their visit to the World War II memorial.
To learn more about Honor Flight, visit its Web site. http://www.honorflight.org/.
While meeting Wisconsin veterans on an Honor Flight, I was deeply troubled to meet a man who had not received the awards he deserved because his service records were destroyed in a fire. He was wounded at the battle of Zigzag Pass in the Philippines, but the Army rejected his two previous Purple Heart applications because of the missing records. After working with the Army, enough information was found in reconstructed records to allow me to present the veteran with his long overdue medals, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, on Sept. 11, 2009.
Preserving the memories of the men and women who defended our country is more important than ever. In 2000, Congress created the Veterans History Project to collect interviews with veterans, as well as wartime letters and photographs. The Library of Congress saves these valuable memories for future generations, and Americans everywhere can submit material to the collection and join this effort.
To participate in the Veterans History Project, I encourage you to visit the Web site at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
Visitors can search the project’s collection and read about the experiences of our country in wartime. You can also download a field kit to submit your own interviews or materials to the collection.
Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to honor those who defended our freedom — but we must also remember the tragedy of war. Armistice Day became Veterans Day in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War ended the hope that World War I would be the “war to end all wars.”
President Eisenhower’s proclamation called on Americans to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly…and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis.
President make a decision on war
Don’t wait for Rahm Emanuel to advise you on the result of the polls and their political impact. We are in an eight year war. Either we should take the advice of the military and win it, or turn tail like “Harry” did in Korea. I was in the Air Force during that one.
If the inaction of the White House is indicative of the next three years, and we had another 9/11, the fire trucks would still be in route. Please, Mr. President, stand up and get off your hands. You are the chief executive.
Dick Napier, Baraboo