Her thought processes seem to lack clear logical beginnings or endings.
1. She seems vehemently opposed to anything having to do with the Hagerstown Suns and refuses to recognize the huge financial benefits the Suns bring to the city.
Hotels, restaurants and tourism in general all benefit from the Suns. Other businesses locate here in order to profit from the tourism created by having the Suns in Hagerstown. I don't see much else bringing businesses to town. The last figure I read was approximately $7 million annually. What would Nigh's plan be for making up for this loss of revenue to the city, should the Suns leave because of her constant interference?
If the people who are opposed to the fireworks did not bother to show up and make their concerns known publicly so that it may be recorded "for the record," then I can only assume it is not really that important and shame on them.
2. She has publicly stated she does not want any "nonprofits" in downtown Hagerstown, yet offers unwavering support for the Community Free Clinic which is, of course, a "nonprofit" organization.
Further, if memory serves, I believe the Community Free Clinic was the recipient of almost $20,000 from a chili cook off hosted by whom? That's right, the Hagerstown Suns. Ms. Nigh, do you want to write a check to the clinic for almost twenty grand? I don't know why, but for some reason, the word hypocrisy comes rushing to my mind.
3. While opposing fireworks for the Hagerstown Suns, she was instrumental in the City of Hagerstown's involvement in setting off fireworks for the last Fourth of July in Fairgrounds Park. Here comes that word hypocrisy again.
4. She opposed a small increase in the quarterly bill for trash pick up so that the city may begin a recycling program. Her reasoning? People won't "do it" (I assume she means recycle) and there will be trash "piled up" everywhere.
I don't know about the rest of the homeowners in Hagerstown, but I like to think I take better care of my house than that. Perhaps she doesn't. Perhaps there will be trash "piled up" around her house. Maybe she'll be one of the ones who won't "do it." I don't know.
And when the existing landfill reaches capacity, requiring it to be sealed and a new one found, costing millions of dollars prematurely (the life of the landfill could be extended by instituting a recycling program), where will that money be coming from, Ms. Nigh?
I could go on, but time and space prevents. In summation, while I'm sure she has her supporters (God love 'em), she seems to relish being the "wild thing," the "loose cannon" on the council.
Unfortunately for her, her antics come across as backward, unprofessional and clownish. She and all the council members need to remember that they are there to do "the people's business" and not just that of the 10 or 20 who may live on their street.
The loss of the Hagerstown Suns will benefit no one, including the minority who may be complaining about them.
John R. Robertson
Hagerstown
Workers have a right to improve conditions
Can you imagine a place where you were spied on just for speaking your mind? Can you imagine a place where you are forced to attend a meeting pushing a line you disagreed with and weren't even allowed to speak? Can you imagine a place where you were fired just for signing your name? Does this sound like another country or something out of the past?
Fact is, this is what happens every day in America's workplace when workers try to form unions to improve their lives. Half of U.S. workers say they would form a union tomorrow to win fair treatment and a voice on the job. All across this country, workers are being lied to, harassed, threatened coerced, followed, disciplined and even fired when they try to exercise their legal right to form a union.
As you read this, workers are fighting an uphill battle in their struggle to be recognized. They want a say in their workplaces, they want to help determine their wages, benefits and working conditions and the quality of the product they are providing or the service they perform. One thing that makes Washington and Frederick counties great is we have good union jobs that raise the tax base and strengthen our families and community.
