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Show THE PARK RECORD Viewpoints A-15 WEDTHURSFRI, JANUARY 1 5-1 7, 2003 E EDITORIAL iding One of the most controversial issues facing the Utah State Legislature this year is Senate Bill 34, a proposal to give tax breaks to families who send their children to private schools. The bill is sponsored by Senator D. Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) who says there is a good chance his legislation will be approved. Considering the fact that the Legislature had to call two emergency special sessions to reconcile major budget deficits, it is hard to believe they are considering any new tax breaks, let alone one with the potential to pull funds out of public-school coffers. Support for the so-called 'tuition tax credits' is largely based on the flawed assumption that tax credits would allow more families fam-ilies to send their children to private schools and would thus relieve overcrowding at public schools. According to Buttars, whose bill proposes a $2,132 tax credit, public schools would then be able to spend more money per pupil. Unfortunately, Buttars needs a refresher course on how the state's Uniform School Fund works. Taxpayer dollars are collected col-lected from every property taxpayer in the state and put into a collective pot. They are then evenly divided and redistributed to individual school districts based on enrollment. When a student leaves the public school system, so does his Weighted Pupil Unit. Voucher advocates also claim that making private schools more attainable financially will force public schools to be more competitive. Well, that might be true if public schools could pick and choose their students, if they were not obligated by federal law to serve students with disabilities, with behavior problems, with language barriers, etc. and if they could arbitrarily raise tuition fees when state funding was trimmed. While it is unclear whether Buttar's $2,132 tax credit would be subtracted from the Uniform School Fund or from some other beleaguered part of the state budget, it is perfectly clear that the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR tax break would only benefit families already able to afford at least $5,000 in private school tuition. Private school tuition rates in Park City average $7,700 so it is unlikely that the proposed tuition tax credit would be the deciding factor in whether or not most families opt for a private school. According to Betsy Bacon, who once taught in Park City's public schools and now teaches at the Colby School in Park City (where tuition is about $10,000 per year), tuition tax credits would attract a more diverse student body, one that more closely close-ly mirrors the community. That would only be true, though, if every local family could afford to cough up $8,000 and their children chil-dren did not have any special needs. Steve Diehl, headmaster of the Park City Academy supports tuition tax credits, saying that parents should have more say in where their education dollars are spent. He suggests that parents who send their children to private schools deserve some relief. If that is true, so do senior citizens who no longer have children in the school system and the same goes for taxpayers who have no children. Wealthy families have plenty of choices with regard to their children's education - many other families do not. The Park City School District, in its resolution opposing Buttar's measure, says states that do offer tuition tax credits show a decline in public education funds and no significant benefits. The resolution also points out that private schools are not held to the same standards of accountability as public schools. The Utah Education Association has taken a similar stand. The quality of our community is largely dependant on the quality of education it can offer its children - all of its children - and the public schools depend on taxpayers and legislators to support them. The Legislature would do well to give tuition tax credits a swift kick off the Senate floor and then get down to the real business busi-ness of finding ways to increase funding for education. I'M SURE YOU ARE EXCELLENT COMPANY SIR I JUST DONT THINK YOU WOULD BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR OUR CLIENTELE! JOHN KILBOURNfiARK RECORD A day for ski buddies Editor: On Dec. 17 afternoon I saw some of the biggest smiles I have ever seen! Sixty-five children from the Park City School District received an incredible opportunity, thanks to The Timberland Company and the Big BrothersBig Sisters organization. The two groups worked together over the past several sev-eral months to put together a ski day for children who have never skied before or have done very little and probably would not had other opportunity. The children were picked up in the morning morn-ing and taken to The Canyons Resort. Employees from the Timberland Company were partnered with children and served as a buddy for the child throughout the day. The children were fitted with ski equipment. equip-ment. They were also presented with new jackets, socks, gloves, goggles that they were able to take home at the end of the day and use to keep warm throughout this winter. The children enjoyed playing team-building team-building games and then shared a lunch with their buddies. After lunch the children and their buddies headed out to a ski lesson on the slopes. After skiing the children got new boots to go home. As the children from McPolin were returned to school late in the afternoon, I greeted them as they stepped off of the bus. They were smiling and talking excitedly about their adventure on the slopes. When I asked them what their favorite part was during the day, the most common answer was, "It was like spending time with my buddy." They would then hold up a picture that was taken of them with their buddy. Both the Timberland Company and the Big BrothersBig Sisters organization worked together to organize a unique opportunity for children in Park City. On behalf of all of the children that participated participat-ed in the event, I would like to say a heartfelt heart-felt thank you for your dedication to children. chil-dren. You helped to keep our children warm and you warmed the hearts of all of us. Sincerely Lori E. O'Connor, principal McPolin Elementary Toward Mid-East understanding Editor: KUED and Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land invite you to a free public screening of the documentary film "Palestine," Jan. 21, 7 p.m., KUED studio, (Eccles Broadcast Center), 101 Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Panel members include: Bonner Ritchie, a retired BYU professor who also taught at the LDS Jerusalem Center in Israel and BirZeit University in the West Bank, Occupied Territories of Palestine; Norm Mazer, a Jewish-American, Senior Medical Research Fellow at Watson Laboratories and adjunct professor of pharmaceutics phar-maceutics at the University of Utah; Salem Ajluni, a Palestinian-American who served as chief economist for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories of Palestine; and Peter von Sievers, a professor of Middle East History in the Department of History at the University of Utah. Sincerely, Evelyn M. Richards Objectivity questioned Editor: I, as were many Parkites, was initially duped into believing The Park Record's account of recent INS actions in Heber City. I did not know at the time that The Park Record was merely reprinting disinformation disin-formation from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Attorney, and the Heber City Council and mayor. The Park Record's refusal to even acknowledge recent credible assertions that it got the story wrong is understandable. We share your pain of what must certainly be professional profes-sional embarrassment. Park Record staff writer, Patrick Parkinson - in a follow-up, front page story dated Jan. 11, 2003 unfortunately now moves the debate from The Park Record's inability to accurately report the facts to its apparent intention to prejudice readers of the news. Parkinson's story cites elected officials in Heber City... Mark Anderson, Heber City manager... Heber City Councilor Vaun Shelton... Heber City Mayor Lynn Adams... Heber City Councilor Mike Thurber... Park City Police Chief Lloyd Evans... impressive sounding job descriptions intended to convey a sense of authority, legitimacy and credibility to those sources' comments. Parkinson's story also mentions Robert Bussen, of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park City. For the record, that is Monsignor Robert Bussen, Pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park City (known unassumingly to his parishioners as simply Fr. Bussen or Fr. Bob). Fr. Bussen's position in our community as pastor of one of our largest religious congregations entitles enti-tles him to be accorded by Parkinson the same respect as Parkinson accords the other persons of community renown in his story. In coverage of the same news events in the Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 2, 2003, reporter Christopher Smart refers to Rev. Robert Bussen. I take issue with Parkinson's failure to demonstrate respect for Fr. Bussen's position posi-tion in the community while Mark Anderson, Vaun Shelton, Lynn Adams, and Mike Thurber of Heber City are, in fact, accorded such respect in the same news report. Parkinson's omission conceals, from The Park Record's readers, the material mate-rial fact that criticism of the Hispanic community's com-munity's mistreatment by the INS and its Heber City confederates has been voiced by a religious and community leader, not just someone associated with a church. It is a sad day in Park City history when Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down Thumbs up to the Summit County Sheriffs Department and the Park City Police Department for responding to community concerns about drugs at the high school. Officers conducted a very professional search of students' lockers and cars which helped to reinforce the school's goal of maintaining a drug-free campus. Thumbs down to anyone who glues, staples or nails movie flyers, party invitations or any other self-promotional literature to anything other than the designated kiosks during the film festival. During previous film festivals local merchants and city workers have spent hundreds of hours scraping unwanted unwant-ed posters off of windows and lampposts. Whether you are a starving independent film artist or a street gang member, defacing private property is vandalism and it is a crime. The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidellnes:They must Include the address and telephone number of author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. They must not contain libelous material. Writers are limited to one letter every 26 days, Letters must not be longer than 350 words (guest editorials, 550 words) and should if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters If they are too long or if they contain statements we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. In addition, thank you letters may be limited In length with regard to businesses and event sponsors. INS's David Ward is the de facto editor of The Park Record. And, it is a sad day in Park City journalism when a reporter thinks that reporting is merely repeating sound bites from backwater government officials in denial. Is it too much to expect The Park Record to investigate, or at least respond to, credible assertions that the INS lied to the public that drug dealers were busted and drugs were seized and that The Park Record printed the lies as facts? Steven Onysko Marathon to fight leukemia Editor: It's so easy for us to take our healthy bodies bod-ies for granted. Caught up in the hustle and the bustle of the everyday, we seldom take the time to realize how truly lucky we all are. So, just last month, I decided that the time had come for me to find a way to use my healthy body to make a difference. Along came a flyer in the mail about a program pro-gram called "Team in Training" or "TNT." TNT is a wonderful program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - a national non-profit organization. TNT makes a difference by training runners, walkers and bicyclists for marathons and century-rides around the world. In return, these dedicated athletes raise money for the society's fight against diseases of the blood forming tissues-leukemia, lymphoma, lym-phoma, myeloma and Hodgkin's disease. Here is my chance to make a difference! My teammates and I are out to accomplish two goals: First, to train together for the Vancouver Marathon. Second, to raise $3,500 through contributions contri-butions from people like you. Did you know that leukemia kills more children than any other disease in the United States? Frighteningly, though, it afflicts 10 times as many adults. This year alone, it is estimated that 56,210 will not survive. That's the bad news. The good news is that research is working! work-ing! Twenty-five years ago, only five percent per-cent of children diagnosed with leukemia survived. Today, a whopping 73 percent of children with leukemia and 76 percent of those with Hodgkin's disease will survive to enjoy the kind of health that we take for granted. I will be running for children like Jack, an awesome little boy and a survivor of leukemia. I am asking for your help to ensure the happiness of more young children chil-dren like Jack. I promise to do all the running run-ning - in return, I ask you to support my teammates and I in our financial commitment. commit-ment. Any amount helps, whether it is $5 or $500. Please make checks payable to "The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society" and return them directly to me at 1261 East Parkway Ave., Sugarhouse, Utah 84106 before Feb. 28, 2003. If you need a receipt, let me know and I will send you one. Otherwise your returned check will as proof of your contribution. Remember, all contributions are tax deductible. Thank you for you generosity and support. sup-port. I'll keep you updated as training progresses pro-gresses and race day draws near! Fondly, April White Sugarhouse, Utah Taxpayers funding Israeli occupation Editor: The Israeli-Palestinian War in the Middle East is usually presented in the U. S. media as a war between equals. There they go again, killing each other. But this is far from the truth. One fourth of all U. S. foreign aid goes to Israel. Why does so much money go to Israel which is not an underdeveloped country but a country with an economy equivalent to that of Spain? The fact is that it is the money that Israel receives from U. S. taxpayers enable it to continually occupy the Palestinian Territory. Back in the 1950s, President Eisenhower withheld financial aid to Israel until they retreated to within their own borders. bor-ders. Since that time a powerful Israeli lobby in this country has pressured our elected representatives to give Israel whatever what-ever it asks for. With the money from the U.S. the Israelis purchase jet planes, helicopters, missiles and bombs with which to bomb Palestinian cities, and tractors and back-hoes back-hoes with which to demolish Palestinian homes and orchards and build super highways high-ways for Israeli use only in this occupied country. Do you think the occupying forces would allow the subjugated population to also purchase jet planes, helicopters, missiles and bombs with which to attack Israeli cities even if they had the funds? Hardly! The single weapon the Palestinian people have come up with is the horrible suicide bombers, which at least call attention to their plight. Jean M. Thorson Spanish signage Editor: I am student at Treasure Mountain Middle School and I am also a Boy Scout working on my Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge and completing it this week. I have realized that more and more Spanish-speaking people are coming to our city. Since our community signs are in English, I think it would be a good idea for the community to set up signs in Spanish also. This would help the city become a more positive place for everyone. Thank you for all the things that The Park Record does for us in our community. I feel very happy to be a part of this community. com-munity. Alan Youngberg Press should do a better job Editor: Most press takes the easy way out and reports what people SAY rather than what they DO. I could care less what Trent Lott said at a party or what was said at Senator Wellstone's memorial. I watched the Senate debate and vote on the Department of Homeland Security. The Republicans, late the night before the vote, added nine special interest provisions including one to allow off-shore U.S. companies com-panies that evade paying U.S. taxes to receive homeland security contracts, and another that made Texas A&M the sole homeland security research university. The day of the vote, the Democrat's amendment amend-ment to remove the nine provisions was quickly defeated. The Utah newspaper did not even mention men-tion the nine special interest provisions and reported, "the Democrat's amendment to delay the Department of Homeland Security" was defeated. Not true. In fact, prior to the November election, the Republicans had voted to block the Department of Homeland Security from being voted on in the Senate, and then during dur-ing their campaigns implied that the Homeland Security bill had not passed due to the Democrat's majority in the Senate. Two out of three "experts" interviewed on TV news, and most radio talk show hosts, are Republican. Why is the U.S. media news primarily Republican? The media is the biggest benefactor of the current cur-rent campaign system that Republicans support. The top 10 percent of biggest corporations corpora-tions have used their influence on government govern-ment to destabilize the economy in their favor, to the detriment of the smaller businesses busi-nesses that sustain the economy and make it flexible to changing conditions. The major press gets the huge campaign advertising adver-tising dollars. I watched Congressional hearings and learned that GW's budget will not preserve Social Security and Medicare (pre-911 and even less likely now), that GW put a spending spend-ing freeze on all military spending increases for the entire year of 2001, that GW's ener gy policy cuts alternative energy programs, and that GW has reduced and held up funding fund-ing to improve U.S. Security that Congress has tried to allocate and appropriate. Yet GW SAYS he supports the military, is preserving pre-serving Social Security and Medicare, is preserving our economic and environmental environmen-tal future, and is strong on U.S. Security. Not True. GW is throwing our money at war with Iraq, a hit-a-flying-bullet-with-a-flying-bullet illogical missile defense program, pro-gram, massive government reshuffling that is counterproductive to security, tax cuts for the very wealthy, and on interest costs for the huge debt his budget causes. Are the press too lazy to cover the facts or are they too Republican? Why does the press not cover the fact that Republicans spend more, run up bigger deficits and cause more economic downturns, despite , Republican rhetoric? Perhaps we should give the Press and Congress tests in basic arithmetic because, given the looming economic eco-nomic disaster, my guess is that there aren't many who understand that current demographics demo-graphics do not facilitate economic recovery recov-ery from the huge debts planned by this, round of tax-cut-and-spend budgets like under the Reagan years of huge govern-1 ment spending and long period of negative GDP. Even the media and the very wealthy will be soon hurt by these short-sighted policies. Tip: Watch C-Span, not network or cable news, to learn what is happening in America. Sincerely, Kathy Dopp The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Editor Staff writers Contributing writers Editor's assistant Classified advertising Office manager Circulation manager Accounting manager Advertising director Advertising sales Editorial production Photographers Production director Production Distribution Cartoonist Andy Bernhard Nan Chalat-Noaker Jay Hamburger Jana McQuay Pat Parkinson Monika Guendner Eric Walden Sarah Wilcox Tom Clyde Rick Brough Teri Orr Gary Weiss Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Silvia Leavitt Courtney-Herzinger Inkarna Black Shawn Much Patti Christensen Michael Duffy Stephanie Borders Valerie Doming Gayle Seaman Anne Cummings Wendy Halliday Ian McNeil Shanelle Russell Wade N. Hall Cathy Vandeweghe Christy Wilson Kat James Scott Sine Grayson West Matt Gordon Kristi Ruppert Michael Ascani Sarah Walker Scott Schlenker Katie Perhai Jason Plawecki Kyle Burress Sydney Thiede Karen Yetter John Kilbourn Contents of the The Park Record are copyright 2002, Diversified Suburban Newspapers. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing manag-ing editor or publisher. The Park Record (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 0745-9483) 0745-9483) is published twice weekly by Diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza Dr., Park City, Utah. Periodicals Postage paid al Park City, Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Park Record, Box 3688, Park City, Utah 84060. Entered as second class matter. May 25, 1977 at the post office in Park City, Utah 84060, under the Act of March 3, 1897. Subscription rates arc $32 inside Summit County, $60 outside Summit County, Utah. Subscriptions are transferable; $5 cancellation fee. 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