Tuesday’s Letters to the Editor

• Five Points employees need safe place to park

Where in the world do the dissenters about the Five Points project expect the hundreds of area employees to park on any given day or night in Five Points? (I did an informal count of the 700 Saluda Ave. block employees, excluding Wachovia, and came up with approximately 200.)

Many now park in the neighborhoods, clogging the streets and causing one-way traffic. Others risk having their vehicle broken into (just ask some of those working the night shift at Harpers). Has anyone bothered to poll these people and ask where they park? Would they not rather have a safe and central place to park while working?

Do those opposed realize that the developers, Stan Harpe and Ron Swinson, can still choose to go with multi-stories, even if the city backs out of the project? Do we want a city-sanctioned garage or one that is privately contracted?

I have worked in Five Points for the better part of the past 30 years, and parking has always been an issue. We now have the chance to change this, and I hope City Council stands by its original commitment and moves on with this project.

DEBBIE McDANIEL

Revente, Sid & Nancy

Columbia

• Garage may attract crime, but no admirers

The proposed parking garage in Five Points is a disaster looking for a home. It is completely out of architectural character for the area. It will harbor dangerous predators, and it hasn’t even been proved that it is needed.

The certain facts are that once this eyesore is built, it will define the ambience of Five Points for many years to come, and it won’t come down easily.

I am opposed to the parking meters also, but since we have already made that revocable mistake, let’s let it play out for eight or 10 years before doing anything more permanent.

That’s exactly what we did with the ludicrous “no right turn on red” policy placed, in effect (despite official denials), to appease the Thurmond family following the death of their daughter, Nancy, in an unfortunate accident in 1993.

It was a failed homage from day one, wasting time and gasoline and altering the pedestrian patterns not one iota. Fortunately, the city planners took the opportunity to correct this blunder during the recent renovations, and Five Points traffic flows again in a logical manner. Correcting an architectural mistake of major proportions will not be as easy as taking down a few signs.

ED BUDDIN

Columbia

• Don’t stick Obama with Wright’s beliefs

I am supporting Sen. John McCain as the best candidate for the White House.

That said, the point should be made that Democrats should not tar Sen. Barack Obama with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s brush of gigantic, intemperate, ill-judged statements.

The senator should be judged on his own ideas, not by how his effort has been (I hope unwanted on Wright’s part) nearly sabotaged.

Be fair to Barack Obama. I do wish, for curiosity, that his views on our national security and the effort to stem terrorism would be made known.

DANNY HOUSE

West Columbia

• Ban smoking and protect our workers

Fred Ingram’s column Sunday, “The sound of clean air,” was great! I applaud Ingram on his very difficult stand on this matter but agree with him 110 percent.

This is beyond personal rights; this is approaching criminal to allow smoking in contained areas such as bars and music venues.

The documentation on the dangers of secondhand smoke is conclusive, and we need to work to protect all workers from its harmful effects.

Not only do musicians deserve the right to work in a safe environment, but bartenders, wait staff and others deserve those protections. All workers should be protected under our laws. Columbia and all of South Carolina need to make the right choice and support efforts to give this protection to all workers.

Chris Conner would have been 38 years old on May 14. What better way to honor him and his wonderful music legacy than to pass protective legislation for all workers, including musicians and service industry workers, from the intense exposure and documented dangers of secondhand smoke in their workplace?

VICKI WHITEHEAD

Musicians & Songwriters Guild of S.C.

Lexington

• Teachers appear to make enough money

I take issue with Kelly Vadney’s article, “Teachers take 2nd jobs to help make ends meet.”

The article states that in Beaufort County, average teacher pay is $47,184 per year.

When you consider teachers work only nine months and get at least two weeks off at Christmas and another week or so for Easter break, I think they are more than compensated for their days at work.

Also, the article mentioned the teacher who had to work at night as a waitress, and yet her husband owned his own restaurant. Maybe they live in a $600,000 house that was not mentioned (something does not quite sound right).

I always say: If you think you are worth more than you are getting paid, then get another job.

J.H. GREEN

Columbia