Letters - Tuesday

HOOP CONFLICT
The cops dragged me away over a dog licensing dispute

I can relate to Lorraine Coke-Clark's story "Teacher learns lesson from brush with police" (Other Voices, Oct. 8).

A few years ago I was taken away in handcuffs after 10 p.m. from my daughter and family by a Colorado Springs police officer to spend the night in jail with felons. My offense? Not paying a ticket that I had received from the Humane Society regarding a dog license. I received the ticket because a neighbor called and complained multiple times about my parents' dog, and now my dog because he was barking at a hot air balloon above the house.

I did not want to be harassed by my parents' bad neighbor or bullied by the Humane Society into licensing my dog. I felt it silly to license my dog with Colorado Springs when I was in the process of moving to Pueblo.

I am a positive, productive member of society with no criminal record. Why was I arrested and taken away from my home in the middle of the night over a dog license? I am sure there were more important things they could have been doing.

I do not support the new tax. The people in charge of our budget have no idea what they are doing and we should find people more qualified to replace them before increasing our taxes. Learn to prioritize.

Sherrie Smith, Pueblo

Maybe we should blame Coke-Clark for our public safety crisis

Ms. Lorraine Coke-Clark (a teacher and a member of The Gazette's Editorial Board) wrote that she learned the truth about the city's stated financial crisis by placing her children's basketball net partially over her neighbor's property, then repeatedly refusing to move it in a timely manner, and finally necessitating her neighbor to call the police, who responded promptly, thus supposedly showing they had time and funds to spare.

How silly and self-centered.

What Ms. Coke-Clark should have learned, if she somehow was unaware of this before, was that she should not have placed this net over her neighbor's property in the first place and that she should have quickly moved it when first asked. If she were really a good neighbor, she would not have put it anywhere near the property line to begin with. Then she writes this self-righteous piece, exposing and then minimizing her selfish actions and needlessly wasting police time and money, as a lead-in to question if the city is really in a financial crisis.

If our city is in such a crisis, it is partly because of nonsense such as this.

Walter Marr, Colorado Springs

Do people like Coke-Clark really belong on editorial board?

The lady (Coke-Clark) says that she's a member of The Gazette's editorial board. I guess you want the board to be inclusive and represent all segments of the community. What segment is it that willfully trespasses a neighbor's space, doesn't take corrective action when asked, then gets all self-righteous when the neighbor takes the appropriate corrective action?

What segment seems to think that, as a member of your board, she can take up the time of the police, forcing them to come intercede in a potentially violent dispute, and then conclude that the police department is overstaffed because they took the time to protect her neighbor?

Does that segment really rate having representation on your editorial board?

Brian Scott, Colorado Springs

Ms. Coke-Clark is the very reason we need cops in this town

In her story, there were so many ways that Ms. Coke-Clark's attitudes and actions disagreed with me that I didn't even know where to begin. The bottom line is that Ms. Coke-Clark was the offender and was not willing to end her trespass in order to avoid a citation, fine, or maybe worse. And I do not see how the timeliness, professionalism, and courtesy of the police officers is evidence they are sufficiently funded. It cannot possibly be that simple.

The offensive attitudes and actions admitted to by Ms. Coke-Clark are some of the very reasons why law enforcement is necessary. We all need to respect the rights and property of others whether or not police officers are there to force us to. Thanks from the rest of us for "allowing" your hoop to be moved, Ms. Coke-Clark.

How can you not be embarrassed by what you have written? I'm glad you're not my neighbor.

Dave Ito, Colorado Springs

Did Coke-Clark exaggerate the response to the "crime"?

I am surprised that Lorraine Coke-Clark did not also cite the article and photo recently appearing in The Gazette showing an individual being arrested for the "crime" of demonstrating ("Protester arrested at Obama headquarters," Metro, Oct. 29).

The accompanying photo clearly shows four police officers standing in the background while the arresting officer walks away with the perpetrator walking at his side.

Robert E. Jent, Colorado Springs

THANKING SIGN THIEVES
Sign thieves convince voter that McCain's the right choice

A special thank you goes out to the Obama supporter that decided to commit a felony in my neighborhood last week.

You stole enough yard signs that it would be considered a felony in this state. You are in good company associating yourself with Obama, given that Obama associates himself with known criminal terrorist Bill Ayers and flagrant racist Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Thank you for confirming that I am voting for the right person for President, John McCain. I will be picking up more signs today, enough for my whole street and replacements.

Timothy Ives, Colorado Springs

SENATE CAMPAIGN
Young women want voters to choose their dad on Nov. 4

To young voters across the state: We would like to ask you to vote for our dad, Bob Schaffer. As you know, Colorado is a swing state, and our dad is running for U.S. Senate.
He is running against a respectable candidate, Congressman Mark Udall. Congressman Udall is tactful, adept and has a love for Colorado.

However, if you're like us, looking ahead, hoping to find a good job, unsure of the future economy, and ready to clean up the war in the Middle East, then please vote for our dad.

Today's issues are complex, and solutions with limited reasoning will not work.

Solutions to our nation's most pressing problems will undoubtedly carry national security and economic consequences. Here lies the difference between Bob Schaffer and Congressman Udall.

Our dad studies today's issues, our issues, thoroughly and seeks the advice and opinion of people across Colorado, and experts throughout the country. (Come to our house and see the stacks of handwritten note, papers, and books spread throughout the office.) He works hard to fully understand economic, military, energy, health care, social security, education and moral issues.

He recognizes economic growth, job creation, and American energy independence are vitally important to our future. The solutions to today's problems will not be easy. They require competent minds and unwavering character - the virtues our dad encompasses.
We hope to persuade you to vote for our dad and appreciate your support. We know he will take Colorado's values to Washington D.C. and continue to serve this nation with honor and dignity.

Emily and Jenny Schaffer, Fort Collins