Letters 4/28/05

April 27, 2005

No Nukes
(To James Kunstler, author of “The Long Emergency,“ Express, 4/14.)
My friend from Traverse City, Mark Nixon, has turned me on to numerous writings of yours and I think you are right on target, except for one very big exception-- your discussion on the need (for better or worse) for nuclear power. WRONG! Now I see the most avid environmentalist writing and thinking we need nuclear power! What’s going on here? The nuclear industrialists fool environmentalist (and otherwise smart people) again?
As my European friends say, “we don’t even waste one breath talking about nuclear power.”
Nuclear power is dead, dead, dead.... We don’t need you digging up the corpse.
The Europeans just argue the environmental, waste storage, dangerous war-making aspects of nuclear power, especially being so close in place and time with Chernobyl . The economic aspects are just as bad. I make an interesting comparison using a local nuke plant that was recently decommissioned. The first five year decomissioning budget ($300 million) already spent, could have bought and installed enough wind power to make all of the electricity the nuke plant made in its 30+ year lifetime.Wind power is cheaper than decommissioning a nuke.
What about the next 1,000 years? We can’t even figure out how to make a warning sign that will last that long and be translated by future more evolved monkeys.
Having worked in energy, utility and especially efficiency and renewables field for many years, I can assure you “integrated renewables” can make all we need with existing technology.
Writing about nuclear power is a waste of your breath and paper. I hope it’s not too late to edit that part of your book, on to the bright solar future!

Steve Smiley • Suttons Bay

Much ado about
The Decemberists
Recently, I read your review of The Decemberist’s most current album entitled “Picaresque.“ Unfortunately, I was not impressed with your portrayal of the band, not to mention, your lack of information regarding of their previous recordings. You also neglected to mention that Colin Meloy, singer/songwriter wrote all of the lyrics and created the signature sound for the band.
You stated that “Picaresque“ is more energetic than usual by adding merging guitars and an accordion, which has always been the basis for their unique sound. What you didn’t mention is that they added the amazing violinist Petra Haden and drummer John Moen in place of Rachel Blumberg (Norfolk and Western) -who’s is equally excellent. They have always been energetic. Her Majesty, Castaways and Cutouts, Five Songs, and the Tain, not to mention the Bill Liar single that had two unreleased tracks, all contain material suitable to support this claim.
Last but not least, the most appropriately pronounced clash between “Picaresque“ and the first few albums is that it’s more pop-influenced, and less independent. The band needs to be appreciated for it’s albums prior to “Picaresque“ before being labeled incorrectly.

Miranda Ransom • via email

Nuclear option a bad deal
We Americans deserve fair and nonpartisan judges in our federal courts. If judges are intimidated and manipulated by any political party philosophy, how are we any different from North Korea, China, Cuba, etc.
If nominees have already been rejected by the last Senate session, why is the Bush Administration pushing so hard to get these extremist judges confirmed? Could the reason be these nominees would most likely rule favorably on issues affecting big Republican campaign contributors? That sounds to me like corruption!
The nuclear option would steamroll nominees through the confirmation process without debate on their ability to be fair and impartial to all the citizens of this country. After all isn’t our government to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people”?

Beverly Christensen • Cedar

Our frumpy women
I cannot take it any longer. Your “fashion” piece has simply the most unfashionable people and continues to highlight Northern Michigan women as the epitome of frumpy! (Looking Good - page 22.)
Do you have any clue as to what a personal style statement is? I can assure you that it is not a woman wearing blue jeans and a jean jacket. You are missing a fantastic opportunity to focus on the real fashionistas and creative dressers in our community -- those people who dress out of the box and actually have a keen fashion sense. Take me along on your next photo shoot and I will personally point out those individuals who make a real statement with their personal style. Your fashion piece is an embarassment to any and all who love the art of dressing.

Sarah Schuster • TC

Does anyone care?
This is the 11-year anniversary of the Rwanda genocide, when we remember the 800,000 people who were killed in 100 days. Our leaders claim that “never again” will the world stay silent during genocide, yet the U.S. Administration has kept silent for seven months since declaring genocide in Darfur.
Breaking this shocking silence are voices across the U.S. calling for a multinational humanitarian intervention to support the African Union to protect the people. The violence is escalating and now famine is on the horizon in Darfur. We can no longer tolerate the failure to help the people of Darfur. The U.S. must do everything in its power to move the U.N. Security Council to ensure a rapid and robust international intervention in Darfur or up to a million people could be dead by the end of this year.

Brooke Stamm • East Lansing

Deceptive media in
Lake Street project
From the onset, the Lake Street Development Project has been misrepresented by the media, its proponents, the previous mayor and lame duck council members and, most of all, the developers.
Early news coverage of the city meetings quoted and pictured only the developers and did not quote any resident who spoke against the project.
The previous mayor and council voted to approve the project on Dec. 27, three days before leaving office.
Nonresident business owners believe they should have more clout than the 900 plus residents who signed the repeal petition, and belittled any opposing view point.
The media and proponents continuously refer to the three “vacant buildings” on Petoskey St. when in reality all three (the insurance company, the kite shop and the home décor store) closed because of the proposed demolition.
The theater was “condemned” by the city building inspector the day after it closed. (I was in attendance for the last picture show and it was approved for occupancy at that time.)
The city will not gain any public parking spaces, but will pay $32,000 for each public space on the basement level.
Figures given in recent advertisements are very deceiving. According to the figures the jobs created are at minimum wage and many may very likely be seasonal.
There will be no hotel. Privately owned condos will be rented out only if the owners agree to do so. No “hotel” amenities will be available.
The residents of Petoskey deserve better – a developer with integrity using “hard data” and not “opinions, projections and assumptions.”
Prime property will attract other developers and the residents can retain the beautiful views, the quaint shopping district and encourage downtown apartment living -- not more occasional condo dwellers as those seldom seen in Bay Harbor.
For the sake of the City of Petoskey help restore “truth and integrity.” Vote YES on May 3 to Repeal 692.

Carolyn Bourland • Petoskey

A good deal for Petoskey
The following is in response to the unsubstantiated facts and irrelevant comparisons included in a guest commentary, from the Petoskey News-Review, April l, 2005, “Lake Street project is sweetheart-deal, for the developer.”
The Lake Street project is a sweetheart deal for everyone. The block in question has been partially empty and under utilized for 25 years. Developers of The Lake Street Project own the theater building. The developers did not close the theater and when they finally bought the building it was, and still is, condemned. The old car dealership building that was on the Mitchell Street side of the project was also condemned and removed, some 20 years ago. This entrance to our city has been an eyesore for almost 25 years. Through the years three other projects were partially developed for this site. The site is still undeveloped. The Lake Street Developers did not create the parcel‘s problems and the solutions they propose will benefit everyone.
The Lake Street Project was unanimously approved by the City of Petoskey’s Planning Commission and the DDA. A majority vote by the Petoskey City Council also approved the PUD project.
The City of Petoskey is not financing any part of the project, nor is the city giving the developer any incentives to do the project. Tax abatements or any other inducements are not part of the deal. When the Lake Street Project is given occupancy approval, then and only then, will the City of Petoskey purchase, at a preset price, some of the parking spaces included in the project. Captured taxes will pay for parking, not general tax revenues. These public parking spaces will benefit everyone.
The Lake Street Project property is currently valued at slightly more than one million dollars, with the ability to raise approximately $60,000 in taxes. The proposed project has an estimated value of $60 million, and the potential of $1.4 million in taxes. The TIF being proposed has a time limit which controls how long tax dollars can be captured.
The city is not in a no-win situation. Performance bonds will be provided to ensure the completion of the project. The developers pay for these performance bonds. These performance bonds ensure a positive outcome for the project.
The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance of Emmet, Charlevoix, and Antrim Counties reported on July 15, 2003 and, also, in a September 30, 2004 update, the following positive economic news:
• The project will create 115 new jobs in Downtown Petoskey.
• 88 to 135 new jobs will be needed during the construction phase.
• Construction payroll is estimated at $14 million for the project.
• New consumer annual visits to downtown Petoskey will approximate 127,062, with $45 to $175 spent per visit.
• New property taxes paid will approximate $1,200,000 annually.
• 193 public parking spaces and 200 private spaces for hotel/condo guests will be added to the Petoskey parking system.

The above mentioned positives are only a summary. The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance report should be read in its entirety, to understand all the positives, The Lake Street Project will bring to Petoskey and its citizens.

Mike Teska • Petoskey

Let‘s get along
Belief systems which have emerged through mankind’s history have failed humanity in a physical world which is indifferent to human survival. Biased political and religious institutions have produced no lasting benefit to the human race as it strives to reach a still unknown destiny.
A new focus must shun the use of any doctrine which diminishes the capacity of humanity to achieve its evolutionary goals: the elimination of want, the fulfillment of basic human needs, and successful adaptation to a future which will pose challenges as yet unknown.
Human survival requires a belief that human beings are capable of living together collaboratively. We must reduce failures of living together. Diverse political and religious persuasions need not be mutually antagonistic. Efforts at establishing political or religious hegemony over others in culturally diverse societies have produced estrangement from the real purpose of human striving: the achievement of a positive future.
The tsunami devastation recently experienced revealed how people are kindred in their actions as they alleviate suffering and affirm human worth.
Despite religious and political affiliations, all systems have within their tenets and ideologies moral obligations which support human advancement. They can be a guide to progress across cultures and beliefs
Further, it becomes necessary to reject any claim of supermorality as a reason for advancing or imposing a political or religious agenda on others. Changing focus would be long and arduous. Survival of humanity is in the balance.

Frank Tosiello, Ed.D. • TC