All of Hamilton County must contribute to the county bus system, not just Cincinnati (Porkopolis, issue of Jan. 5-11). This year's city subsidy is about $38 million; most of the rest came from the federal government and fares. Almost none came from cities and townships outside of Cincinnati, even though the bus system operates over most of the county.
Over the 30 years that the SORTA bus system has been operating, the Cincinnati portion would have paid for two Paul Brown Stadiums.
Given that Cincinnati has made the only local commitment to the bus system by dedicating .3 percent of the 2.1 percent earnings tax, one would expect that it would make the decisions as to where the bus system operates. But no, the county appoints the majority of the nine-member board. The four members recommended by Cincinnati aren't enough to control the board.
All in all, this is a great deal for the rest of the county -- they pay almost nothing but decide how Cincinnati's tax money is spent. This must change for the bus system to continue charging affordable fares.
-- Michael Patton, Oakley
Police Must Participate in Agreement
The Collaborative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice can succeed only with the cooperation of all parties. We are deeply disturbed by the rude and defiant behavior of the Cincinnati Police administrators and officers, as described in the latest report from Saul Green, the independent monitor for the Collaborative Agreement.
Not only is this behavior counterproductive to the implementation of the Collaborative Agreement, it also constitutes, as Green concluded and reported to the conciliator, serious material breach of contract by the Cincinnati Police and the city of Cincinnati as parties to the agreement.
We believe that city council members and city administrators should join us in voicing strong disappointment and concern and should also take steps to modify the behavior of the Cincinnati Police Department, including making administrative changes at the top. These are all actions they have failed to take to date.
If the city fails to act, the court will have no choice but to impose remedies that are likely to cost Cincinnati both public embarrassment and financial loss. The citizens of Cincinnati deserve better.
-- Linda Newman and Daisy Quarm, Cincinnati Progressive Action
Republicans Must Stop Ridiculing Debate
At the ceremonial counting of the Electoral College votes last week, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio) opened a debate on how to address voter irregularities in the 2004 election in Ohio. They weren't challenging the results of the election, nor is anyone else.
They merely wished to bring the disenfranchisement of some American voters to the attention of America's leaders. Republican senators accused them of being "sore losers."
The known instances of voter intimidation, discrimination and fraud undermine the very means by which American citizens choose and influence their leaders. There's nothing unreasonable about an open, honest debate on how to resolve these concerns.
What is unreasonable is the attempt by Republican leaders to silence or ridicule such a debate. Their words at the ceremony suggest the Republican senators' distaste for an election that counts every vote.
-- Richard C. Reifsnyder, Anderson Twp.
