Two Cents

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:54 AM EDT

I didn't think you could still get a driver's license as a Cracker Jack prize. What bad drivers!
To the Auburn Police Department: Please start writing tickets for loud cars and motorcycles. There is no reason that they have to be that loud, especially at night.

Now that the weather allows us to sleep with the windows open, it would be really nice if all dog owners, including those in the rural areas, would bring their barking dogs inside at night and be considerate of their sleeping neighbors. You are disturbing the peace by allowing your dog to stay outside and bark just because the moon is out, the stars are aligned properly or simply because it is dark.

Could we please have six yards of blacktop and a roller for the car-damaging craters in the northbound lane of Owasco Road in front of Mr. Vac vacuum cleaners sales and service?

To the City Council: Please let's do East Genesee Street all the way in. Please - we're begging you!

Do the intelligent giants write to the paper to discount spiritual matters know that the greatest mind of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, said that logically he had to admit there is a creator?

In regards to Roy Brown getting a bum rap, I'd like The Citizen to maybe print the name of the person they believe is most responsible. Then I won't walk too close to them, because lightning has a tendency to strike anything thing else around it, when it hits the principle object.

The Citizens' Say

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There are 39 comment(s)

Patriot wrote on May 16, 2007 12:02 PM:

" My dog is a Free Range dog, Ain't no chains involved. He barks when someone is near my property or when ondoor and let their dog run loose to crap and dig up my flowers. If my dog's barking bothers you, too bad. You probably do a lot of things that annoy me, but I don't whine about it. If what you were doing was creating a problem for me, I would probably be neighborly and talk to you about it. I would never call the police over a barking dog. That is ridiculous. No wonder our boys in blue can not find the time to arrest those with warrants pending, they are too busy trying to keep peace in the neighborhood because someone's dog is barking. "

Bill wrote on May 16, 2007 8:09 AM:

" Mr. Sterns may understand budgets, but not education. My son has gone two years in middle school with out math books, THANK you Mr. Sterns and Plume. "

Bill wrote on May 16, 2007 7:58 AM:

" It's nice to know I live in one of the wealthiest cities in the country. I hope this vote is Not what we will see in November, if so, the taxes will be unaffordable, if they aren't already. "

Chris wrote on May 16, 2007 7:37 AM:

" I love it. Sounds like the school budget passed. Sometimes it seems Auburn will never change for the better. The voters just don't get it. I guess they enjoy the spiraling direction this town is going. Look up Auburn, NY on wikipedia and check out its demographics. With 19% of you below the poverty line, you can see your socialist tax programs don't work. In my town, our taxes are less than a third of yours, our poverty is below 4%, and our median income is double yours. Sink or swim Auburn (its probably too late) "

Shooting threat wrote on May 16, 2007 7:26 AM:

" I wouldn't count on the police coming, Brew. Once, many years ago now, we did call the police because a neighbor was shooting his gun towards our property. We had small children and pets as well as property which could have been hit. When my husband said something to him, the neighbor started swearing and threatening us, so we called the police. They came -- but it took 45 minutes. We all would have been dead if the neighbor had decided to follow through his threats. It took the police 20 minutes arguing with the guy to convince him that he could not shoot his gun towards our house if he wanted to and could not, in fact, discharge any weapon that close to any domicile (including his own). I don't know that threatening to shoot a dog would bring anyone running. "

Unknown... wrote on May 16, 2007 7:15 AM:

" Yea!!! We all got our taxes raised!! All right!! Now some old people might lose their homes!! Oh well, at least we'll have turf!! "

To I love it wrote on May 16, 2007 7:14 AM:

" When your mother is no longer living in her house and living with you because of all these taxes. I hope you remember you were apart of the MAJORITY and you have spoken.I hope she drives you nut's. "

Poor Dog wrote on May 16, 2007 7:09 AM:

" A dog who is chained all the time develops "chained dog syndrome" -- a canine mental illness. Here are the symptoms: periods of depressed listlessness alternating with frenzied barking, unpredictable behavior such as snapping and cowering, sexual misbehavior and no signs of the discipline, intelligence and self control that marks a well-reared dog. Chained dog syndrome makes a bad dog out of a good dog, a sick dog out of a healthy dog, a dangerous dog out of a safe dog. Chaining a dog out for more than 6 hours a day is a form of abuse that leads to this sickness in dogs. LEASHES are for when a dog is going for a walk, not for tying an animal up all day in a tiny little circle in your yard. Regardless of your reason for keeping a dog, any domestic animal is also your responsibility. They have lost the ability to fend for themselves in the wild and become dependent on us for care, support and kindness. Chaining a dog out all day is abuse, pure and simple and I am very glad there are laws being passed against such treatment. Give them a yard where they can run. give them a long lead-type run and don't leave them out for hours on end, or keep a small dog in the house with family -- if you can't properly give a dog what it needs to be happy and healthy, don't have a dog. "

To Patriot wrote on May 16, 2007 6:25 AM:

" sounds like the shoe fits and you wear them. Barking dogs who are tied up day and night is a public nuisance. PERIOD. Actually, from your comments I don't think you deserve to even own a pet as you clearly don't treat it well at all. You should be given the same treatment day in and day out and see how you like it. "

Hey Teacher wrote on May 16, 2007 6:11 AM:

" Maybe you should start looking at all of your students as worth your time or get out of the profession. "

Brew wrote on May 16, 2007 2:57 AM:

" If you want your dogs to bark freely on your property then constuct a tall soundproof fence around your yard so that your freedom does not infringe on your neighbors freedom to enjoy peace and quiet. If you want the police to answer a nuisance dog complaint get a prepaid cell phone that is untracable and say you are getting your gun and going to the neighbors house to shot a dog. They will respond then. "

I love it wrote on May 16, 2007 1:29 AM:

" Looks like you people posting on here about anti- school budget are in the MINORITY... Game over you lose.... The MAJORITY have spoken. Not just in Auburn but all of Cayuga county. "

Patriot wrote on May 15, 2007 11:14 PM:

" To Betsy Go back to your sewing. You were sucessful, your comments annoyed me. For you to question my intelligence because I believe that you and the government should stay out of my backyard indicates that you lack any sound arguments against enfringing on my Property Rights. I believe that the Founding Fathers would never had commissiioned your services if they had known what a staunch advocate of dictoral governance you would become. It is people like you that make the American Flag a worthless symbol of a bygone belief system. "

For Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 9:37 PM:

" Amen, as a teacher@AHS I am sick of all the time, money, effort put into kids who will drop out anyway. Too often in society we reward or look out for the people who deserve it least. Lets do more for the kids who want to be there and try their best. "

Jerry Morgan Sr wrote on May 15, 2007 8:45 PM:

" To everyone that supported my candadicy I would like to say Thank You! I greatly appreciate all the support you have shown me during this campaign. I can say without a doubt, I am not the man I was almost 20 years ago when I first came on the scene. I have made friends out of people I never would have thought possible. This happened because we were able to have dialog. Win or lose, we must all play the cards we were dealt, all I can say is, this is just the beginning. I am as determined today as I was that very first day I spoke in public. My deepest appreciation is extended to everyone. "

Betsy Ross wrote on May 15, 2007 7:51 PM:

" To "Patriot": What goes on in your back yard is the business of others when your dogs annoy others. Your remark reflects your ignorance. I feel sorry for your animals and hope they run away from you. "

Non resident wrote on May 15, 2007 7:40 PM:

" Ask yourself these questions ladies and gentlemen. Is John Plume leaving the district in better condition than when he assumed the Superintendents position? Has John Plume and your board demanded excellence? Have your students excelled? Does this board and this administration have the trust of the teachers? Who is responsible for bring John Plume to this district? What were the expectations of John Plume? Did he meet these expectations? Your district was sold a bill of goods, and your district bought it. John Plume and his administrators were likened unto Julius Caesar, he was going to save your district, yet he is responsible for just the opposite. You board of education was busy throwing rose peddles before his feet, giving him carte' blanche with the district and the taxpayers. Yet in the end as Rome burned, so is Auburn. Your teachers have had to pick up the slack, and deal with a board and administration that was obsessed with self image more than education. If your district supports the propositions and the incumbents then Auburn is destined to stay the path of self indulgence and destruction. Not only will your educators suffer, but the kids and the parents who are asked year after year to foot the bill. I say NO! Vote them out and make the administration return with a budget your district can accept "

Free Republic wrote on May 15, 2007 6:23 PM:

" Big Deal, you just don't get it do you? If constantly dumping more and more money into the school system has worked for the past 6 years, it won't work now. Money is not the problem, leadership is! The real answer would be to privatize schools and you will find better education and financial responsibilty through free market competition. "

To H/S Teacher wrote on May 15, 2007 6:15 PM:

" Well put. It's refreshing to know there are some free thinking teachers out there. "

To Mike S wrote on May 15, 2007 6:09 PM:

" Stop screaming, please! "

Educators care wrote on May 15, 2007 6:00 PM:

" Historically the general consensus has been the educators of the Auburn School District just don't care. Well I am here to tell you we do care, we care about obtaining a quality superintendent not another rubber stamp of John Plume and Mike Stearns. This district needs leadership. Please call the board members and encourage them to do an outside search for the next leader of our district. Vote against the incumbents if you desire change. To re-elect them is asking for more of the play it again sam. "

Patriot wrote on May 15, 2007 5:58 PM:

" What goes on in my backyard is none of your business. I keep dogs for protection, not to be all cute and cuddly. If he is barking, it is to alert me that some idiot is trespassing on my property and may need a hot lead injection. "

Hey Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 5:56 PM:

" I have a BS and make aboout $40K. I think it is a huge deal that my school taxes have increased 41% since that idiot took office. It is even more disgusting when you realize that we did not gain anything for that money. Test scores are falling, more kids are dropping out, and the schools are no safer,even though we have armed police officers wandering the hall. You must be uneducated if you think we are getting our money's worth. "

Animal Lover wrote on May 15, 2007 5:55 PM:

" Why have a dog if you have to chain it outside? Why can't it stay in the house? An animal should be part of the family-not a lawn ornament! "

I Agree wrote on May 15, 2007 5:54 PM:

" with H/S teacher. I wish I knew who you were. I would shake your hand. I couldn't have said it better myself! "

H/S Teacher wrote on May 15, 2007 4:58 PM:

" I happen to be an educated high school teacher, yet I do not support this budget, and I do not support the incumbents that are running for re-election. I realize this school district has a declined enrollment, I realize that our district has a failing record I realize that our kids are dropping out like never before I realize that less kids are graduating I realize that our district has been like a ship without a rudder since the arrival of John Plume. If this district is expected to improve, then the leadership must change, and the board must change. Finally, I realize that the taxpayers cannot be expected to fund pie in the sky wish lists, wish lists that were created by people who only wish to see their names on a brass plate. There are other more important items that must be addressed. John Plume has failed this district, and the board of education has allowed the greatest district in Central NY to decline to depths we have never known. So myself and my family are not supporting the propositions and we are also voting against the incumbents. We need change. It is critical that we change direction if we are expected to succeed "

Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 4:54 PM:

" It's about time we take care of the kids who want to learn and have a future. I could care less, like this board, what the dropout rate is, as long as the smart kids get taken care of. Most of the droputs will get minimum wage jobs, like their parents, and perform the necessary menial jobs. We should spend whatever it takes to move the smart kids along, and if the others don't want to study, let them quit. I'm with Michael Stearns on this one, education whatever it costs is fine with me. "

Mr. Bill wrote on May 15, 2007 4:43 PM:

" When is our Mayor and Council going to fix the sound system for the televised council meetings. Now that they are discussing the budget and major changes in the way trash is handled and fees, we should be able to hear every word. So when election time comes we will remember who said and did what. Fees are nothing more than a way to supplement the taxes. No matter how you look at this trash fee it still hits the property owners hard. As one of the trash committee members said just put it on the water bill and it becomes the property owners problem. The city doesn't need to do anything except bill and collect. If the property owner wants to pass this fee along to tenants than so be it. Well now what's the difference between this fee and the taxes we pay????? If we all thought like the committee member than we would just pass on all our tax increases to tenants, if we had tenants. Not to mention fees are not something you can claim at the end of the year. We need to leave the trash collection system alone. Lets not forget who supports what in November! "

to Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 4:33 PM:

" Auburn, NY taxes are much higher than other cities across the country with similar population sizes. What have your high taxes brought you? Better education, growth, prosperity, no, it is proven that raising taxes does just the opposite. Cutting taxes brings jobs, new business and thus more money and better education. Stop driving away business, just cut spending and give tax incentives for new businesses. The money will follow. "

to Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 4:15 PM:

" It is a big deal to me.I'm a educated guy and want to keep thing's in balance and this spending is way out of control.They should try like manufacturing is doing more with less and cut some of the fat out. There well educated people show us that they can do it with less.I work hard all year long with no summer off give me a break.The smart one's have move and so will I. And you have a poor attitude on people.VOTE NO. "

MICK S wrote on May 15, 2007 4:09 PM:

" TO DAN B. AND HIS SIMPLE " JUST SAY NO " REMARKS ON THE AUBURN SCHOOL SYS. HAVE UTILITIES AND HEALTH CARE KEPT UP WITH INFLATION OR FAR EXCEEDED IT !! ALSO VOTE NO ON ALL PROPOSITIONS. WHATS WRONG WITH PUTTING UNUSED LAND BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS OR BUYING NEW BUSES 90% FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOV.MAYBE YOU'RE JUST UNINFORMED OR NEGATIVE AS MOST OF AUBURN IS. "

In Response to Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 3:59 PM:

" How ignorant are you? What's the level of your education? If you invested 50% more into something over six years with little or no improvement you'd be an idiot to keep investing. Sports, Driver Ed.,after school activities and turf have very little effect on the majority of students. My child goes to high school in Auburn, plays sports and I have no problem paying for his out of class activities. What I have a problem with is continually paying increased tax bills in a district with declining enrollment. You want to do something constructive then look at teacher schedules and administrative staff at these schools. They make work for them to justify their jobs because no one wants to be the bad guy with lay offs. If anyone ran a business like they do this school district they'd be brought up on charges for fiscal mismanagement. But you and people like you start off with the same old "tired" line.....our students with suffer if the budget isn't passed. "

Look to your future wrote on May 15, 2007 3:42 PM:

" I cannot believe the Town Board & Fleming community. The Izzo's want to bring in housing that is needed for this area(Randall Report that was just done for all of Cayuga County), and you are concerned about run-off. Are you giving the farms down the lake the same trouble or is this just reserved for them? Were you not listening? Improved drainage, increased tax revenue, upgrades to water and sewer service and top it all off with a storm water system. What more do you need to hear? Open your minds! "

Danny B wrote on May 15, 2007 2:03 PM:

" Folks it is time to exercise your right to vote and to take control of a school district that raised your taxes over 40% in the last 6 years alone! Spending within the district increased over twice the rate of inflation. The superintendent is going to retire and move south so the money we have provided to him in his retirement package will go farther. Has this superintendent live up to the expectations of the district? Have our children excelled? Has the superintendent gained the respect and support of the teachers? Has this board gained the confidence of this community? We all know the answers Vote no onthe propositions and vote out the incumbents "

Don't automatically Blame the Dogs wrote on May 15, 2007 1:55 PM:

" Or their owners. In Owasco we have what sounds to be a huge coyote/coy dog population. They start in around 9:30 pm and that gets the domestic dogs going sometimes too. Especially if they are to close to homes. As for laws, their is one, it's called a leash law, which is in direct conflict with what poor dogs posted. All our dogs have been tied up, with the exception of when we are outside to watch them. If we don't they get smooshed in the road, run off and bother the neighbors or drag home some God awful road kill present. I suppose after a few years there will be some terrible syndrome for those outrageously expensive invisible fences that will require them to be outlawed. Be grateful that the owners are keeping their animals under control as required by law. "

Big Deal wrote on May 15, 2007 1:46 PM:

" So who really cares that Stearns raised school taxes 45% or 50%. It is for the future of this fine city, and I am sick of hearing people crying about high taxes. Most of the people who whine about high taxes are uneducated anyways, and are lucky to even have a minimum wage job. Maybe if he raises taxes even more in the next 3 years, some of the whiners will move out and leave us a better city. No vote for Morgan, who doesn't understand budgets like Mr. Stearns. The bottom line is if you cannot afford the taxes, then move out and we will be better off for it. "

henry wrote on May 15, 2007 1:31 PM:

" Yeah what is this fad with teenagers and those fat muffler tips? Making a Honda cool I guess. Well it's not. It rather annoying and they use them for intimidation. "

Poor Dogs, poor neighbors wrote on May 15, 2007 12:47 PM:

" Dogs should never be left tied up for more than 6 hours a day, tops -- it is inhumane and, hopefully that law will pass and it will soon also be illegal to abuse and neglect a dog that way. Such negligent and cruel treatment causes Chained Dog Syndrome, for which there is no cure. Right now a barking dog is a nuisance -- good luck getting the police or dog warden out to take care of it. MAYBE if the law passes making it animal abuse, maybe we can get some action for these poor dogs and their hapless, sleepless neighbors, and shame on the authorities for not following up on calls (I've made several over the years and have yet to have a cop or the dog warden come investigate). "

karl L. wrote on May 15, 2007 12:38 PM:

" Soooo...Einstein was omniscient? We, as human beings tend to relate everything to the boundaries of our experiences--we postulate that there is a "creator" because we "create" things ourselves, so we assume that everything had to be "created" somehow. In the old "watch in the desert" argument, when we find a watch in the desert, we must assume there is a watchmaker BECAUSE we KNOW what makes watches. We do NOT, however, KNOW what or "who" makes universes or life--it's as simple as that. To believe in a "creator" is to take the words of men "on faith"--you might as well believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. "

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