Mitt Romney is coordinated
I don’t understand why no one has brought up the fact that Mitt Romney violated Federal Election Law last week. When he said he was against the “Super” Pac running the ad about Jeremiah Wright, he violated Federal Election Law.
The law as handed down (thanks to Citizens United) says that a candidate cannot “coordinate” what message a Super Pac puts out. By saying he was against the ad the Super Pac wanted to run, Romney was “coordinating” the activities of that Super Pac and is therefore in violation of Federal Election Law. My question is, what are the penalties for violating that law? How do we impose them? Whose attention should this be brought to? The FEC? I am sending a copy of this to them.
Perhaps a simple analogy will help make my point clear. Say for instance the law said that you couldn’t tell someone to turn right. So instead you tell them not to turn left. You haven’t “told them” to turn right, but you are “coordinating” their actions which violates the law. The law says the candidates are to have no contact or influence on the “Super”Pacs activities (period!).
Charles A. Bowsher, 508 Southbend Drive
Dronex kicks ass
I love Dronex (“Street Art,” Nov 9, 2011). I have one of his t-shirts and ceramic dolls. I have 2 bumper stickers on both of my cars.
Robin Waller
Limestone gentrification
Mr. Anthony, I don’t believe NoC has taken an entrenched position on the 2-way street conversion debate (“Looking both ways on Limestone,” May 2012). Rather, NoC has been kind enough to print my writings on the subject. I’ve studied and opposed conversion since 2001, long before the so-called gentrification of which you speak.
I love what we’re seeing on North Limestone, and I consider it proof that conversion to 2-way isn’t needed to make this, or any other downtown street, “walkable” and “livable”.
The bases for my objections to 2-way conversion are spelled out in detail, and have nothing to do with gentrification or spending city resources on the newcomers you speak of.
I would be happy to discuss these matters in depth with you at the forum (Al’s Bar?) of your choice.
David Shattuck
”I know Studs Terkel, a writer who celebrated the vitality of urban grit, wouldn’t like it.”
Let’s not romanticize violence, drugs, and prostitution which could all be found at the old Al’s. Let’s also not fall into the trap of thinking that by cleaning up those problems that you are somehow hurting poor people through gentrification. Poor people don’t want to live under the thread of violence either. It is not like the cost of real estate has gone through the roof in that area either. I don’t think anyone is being pushed out unless you would call updating run down houses and reselling them, like Broken Fork does, pushing people out.
Dan
Joseph Anthony writes, “North of Center has had a running sort of battle with gentrification. In particular, it’s taken aim at the concept of changing one-way streets into two-way.” Later he attributes the paper’s “vehement opposition articles” to the paper’s “fear of gentrification.” As editor of that paper, I would like to clarify Anthony’s statement.
Joe’s prose is elegant but, alas, misleading He is correct that NoC continues a running (and lonely) discussion on city gentrification. But to describe the paper’s opposition to 2-way streets as solely a concern about gentrification seems to misrepresent our coverage over the past 5 issues, dating back to December.
We have raised a number of reasons why 2-way’ing Lexington’s downtown streets is a bad deal. They increase our county’s pollution footprint. They make getting from one place to another (the reason for roads) take longer for both city residents leaving and suburban residents coming. They are less pedestrian friendly. They will potentially result in the loss of on-street parking. Not all downtown store-owners want them. They have not visibly helped produce commercial traffic. Converting to them is a needless waste of city time and resources.
To say that NoC is against 2-waying downtown streets because of gentrification discounts all the other reasons why it’s stupid. Heck, gentrification’s not even in my Top 8 reasons for why conversion sucks.
Joe ends his essay by imploring his readers to “pick our battles.” We agree, which is why we have criticized our city Mayor, Jim Gray, for “picking his battle” and stating that downtown 2-way street conversion is one of his top priorities for Lexington this year. If you feel as Joe does, contact your council members and mayor and ask them to please “pick their battles” better and focus their time and capital on incredibly more important county needs.
Danny Mayer, 430 N. MLK
Eastern State Hospital cemetery
My grandfather died at ESH in 1934. His name was James Seagraves. I found out after my mother had passed away, when I started researching his life that he was buried there. I wanted to find his grave. They have the record of his death, but do not know where in the cemetery he is buried. He may be among the many others that were placed in the mass grave. I hope someday I can read his name on the list that is being compiled of the ones who died there. Keep up the good work (“Tomb of the unknowns,” December 8, 2010).
Clara Cassell
High Bridge memories
Lots of old memories (“The length of the Kentucky,” May 11, 2011). My dad was raised on Cedar Run Creek and I presently own the land talked about. My mother was from High Bridge and I was born and raised in High Bridge. And know the mentioned people well. I do not know Wes but do know his mother and father and brother. There is something deeply ingrained in your soul when you are from this area that never goes away.
Anthony Horton
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