And this also affects rents, as the owners have to raise their rents on people who can't afford what they're paying, let alone pay more, which they can't afford anyway.
Have you looked in the paper and seen what the normal one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments cost? Anywhere from $650 per month to $1,000 or more. These tenants are not making enough money to pay these prices.
Do you ever go down and protest your assessment? Well you should, instead of standing around griping about your taxes.
But nobody seems to care. Everyone who is living well and making good money can't be concerned. They are very well heeled and don't really get concerned about someone who can't afford these rents because the assessments are up and the owner has to pay more taxes.
Just take a minute of your time and look in the paper at the apartment prices. There are many there! And they are not rented! And they won't be at these prices. All because they have assessed the properties too high. Wake up county government, you're killing the area!
I don't know what you're doing with the money you're soaking the people for, but you sure aren't using it to fix the roads with. Eastern Boulevard is so bumpy, like asphalt they dumped off a truck with a shovel, and didn't even smooth it out. Just piles of asphalt. You should be able to fix something right with all the money you're getting. Think about it, all of you, and have a good day, if you can.
Ellis Duffey
Hagerstown
Why weren't schools closed?
To the editor:
The superintendent of Washington County Schools, Elizabeth Morgan, made a risky choice by choosing not to cancel classes last Friday. Her decision was justified by the temperature not being below 40 degrees at 5 a.m.
Did Morgan forget that every weather station was calling for freezing rain with heavy sleet and possible snow accumulation of more than three inches? Regardless of what was going on outside at the crack of dawn, Washington County was still expecting inclement weather with dangerous road conditions! At 7 a.m., there was sleet coming down; at what point did she think the road conditions would be dangerous?
At the very least, Morgan should have issued a two-hour delay to monitor the conditions of the roads, then make her ruling to close schools. Since the announcement was made for an early dismissal a little after 9 a.m., when roads were already beginning to freeze, the children had to stay in classes until mid-afternoon, when all roads were considered unsafe to drive on.
How can one person be responsible for making the decision about the safety of our children, especially when it is the wrong decision? Just ask our neighboring counties who canceled schools, and JetBlue airlines, which canceled its flights. It is unsafe to fly, but it is safe to send our children to school?
A school bus transporting children from Boonsboro was in an accident and there were 40 other accidents in the Tri-State area (mostly before schools were dismissed). Luckily, no children were hurt, but what if they had been? Would you issue a public apology? would you admit to a mistake instead of hiding behind what the weather was a 5 a.m.? Who would be held responsible? Would it be you?
I am a parent who chose to keep my child home from school. I know I made the right choice, even though her absence will be considered unexcused. My child's safety is more important than Morgan's decision to endanger it.
Jami Giannaris
Hagerstown
Mind your own state
To the editor:
Please Mr. James Salko, check your address. Why does it bother you that Maryland values our children's education system with required funding, when you live in Pennsylvania?
Victoria Ross
Hagerstown
