Subsidized housing won’t be an asset

I disagree with your editorial supporting “affordable housing” in the Seavey wetlands (“Seavey Meadows a worthwhile project,” April 28).

Echoing a letter from last year, please keep in mind that “affordable housing” actually means “subsidized housing.”

To help visualize this concept, say these words out loud: “HUD housing,” “The Projects” and “Section 8 housing.”

Many of us have lived in cities with those developments and the stereotype is based upon reality.

Another negative of this subsidized housing proposal is the location. Just because it was mistakenly approved for development in the past does not indicate that the mistake should be repeated.

We have a chance to retain significant wetlands in our midst. Is all the talk about “reducing our carbon footprint” just talk?

If this community wants to help citizens achieve decent and affordable housing, I encourage the support of Habitat for Humanity. This organization focuses its efforts on infill lots in existing neighborhoods, with the recipients participating fully in the process. The result is pride of ownership and quality neighbors.

Please, again, vote against the Seavey wetlands subsidized housing project.

Diana Sutherin, Corvallis

City could name park for Linus Pauling

The Gazette-Times reported that the city of Corvallis is looking for a new name for the old MLK Park.

I believe an appropriate name would be Linus Pauling Peace Park.

Eugene T. Wilson, Corvallis

Council should OK Seavey Meadows

I was surprised to read in the Gazette-Times that the Planning Commission turned down the application of Willamette Neighborhood Housing to construct low-income housing at the Seavey Meadows site because they disagreed with the housing designation which had already been approved by the City Council in 1998.

The land in the request for planned development has been churned up and compacted by the equipment which was used to put in streets, water lines and sewer lines in 1982 when the owner at that time had permission to develop a larger area.

The present proposed construction project will result in permanently filling 1.57 acres of wetlands. To compensate for the permanent impacts, 1.75 acres of previously manipulated land from the original Seavey Meadows development plan will be restored.

The city had obtained approval for this exchange from the Army Corps of Engineers and from the Division of State Lands.

The project will result in both low-income housing and also higher quality wetlands at Seavey Meadows.

The new housing will be adjacent to the existing units, which are on the bus line and within a half hour walk of major employment areas.

I hope that, on appeal, the City Council will approve these plans for low-income housing on this site.

Louise Ferrell, Board member, Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services

Clemenses wouldn’t like what’s going on

I am a 43-year resident of Philomath, have graduated two children and used the Clemens scholarship for both my children to go to college and graduate.

I personally knew Ethel and Rex Clemens, and I know in my heart that they would not let what has happened in the scholarship program be going on.

Yes, what happened in the assault on the National Guardsman was not properly handled by Oregon State University, but under the circumstances, and the student being a football player, it was shoved under the carpet like most things at OSU.

I believe the worst thing would be to turn the scholarship program over to the school district to run. Why not dissolve it and turn the money over to the Shriners hospital, an organization that was dear to Rex’s heart?

Gary Remington, Philomath

Schroff concerned about community

I am a next-door neighbor, friend and admirer of Rick Schroff, who is running for City Council, Ward 7.

Over our back fence, I see Rick working in his yard, raising his two young daughters, and interacting with other neighbors.

He is a very responsible person, a wonderful father, and genuinely concerned about our community.

His willingness to seek a position on the City Council demonstrates that concern.

He owns and operates a small business in Corvallis; and also has experience working in larger organizations.

He has the qualities of a good and practical decision maker, and would be fine replacement for the council position so unfortunately left open by the death of Scott Zimbrick.

I urge the residents of Ward 7 to vote for Rick Schroff for City Council.

Peter Barnhisel, Corvallis

Obama much more than great speaker

Nearly everyone agrees that Barack Obama is an excellent speaker, while some have expressed concern that he lacks experience and concrete plans. Both of these concerns can only survive in a vacuum.

Minimal research reveals Obama’s eight years of experience in the Illinois state Senate where he demonstrated uncommon political skill.

For example, when a bill to overhaul the Illinois death-penalty law was threatened by broad opposition to mandating video taping of interrogations in murder cases this provision was removed from the bill.

Sen. Obama took up this provision separately, worked across party lines, crafting a compromise with police associations, which was passed by the Senate unanimously, becoming law.

Similarly, within a few minutes of accessing the BarackObama.com Web site, anyone can read through the details of Obama’s 59-page “Blueprint for Change.”

Additional levels of detail support this document, so that the four pages on healthcare in the “Blueprint” have expanded detail in an additional 15-page healthcare plan. Each issue within the “Blueprint” is similarly supported by additional detail.

But why is he different? How can he change the petrified political landscape? By funding his campaign from small contributions from citizens he has avoided “strings,” and his inspiration of a new generation of voters will sweep in a tide of candidates that abhor the status quo.

In Barack Obama we have before us a candidate of uncommon brilliance, whose speeches treat the listener as an adult, and inspire us to believe in the promise of our America governed well.

Jay Sexton, Philomath

Health insurance should cover doulas

It has recently come to my attention that doula coverage is not included in many health insurance plans.

I am continually amazed at the short sightedness of our current health care system.

A doula is a trained, lay patient advocate. She/he is with a woman while she is in labor and offers encouragement, support and advocacy.

Many studies have been done on the effectiveness of doulas in decreasing rates of medical/surgical intervention in labor and delivery.

Having doulas partner with women through the birthing experience has helped to facilitate mother-baby bonding, increasing breastfeeding rates, lessened expensive medical interventions, and greatly improved women’s satisfaction rates with labor and delivery.

As a community, therefore, we need to understand what doulas do, the contributions they can make to the well-being of mother and child, and their overall cost-effectiveness.

There are doulas practicing in our community. These women need to be welcomed into the health care system, respected for the work they do and ought to have their services covered by insurance plans.

I strongly recommend, for anyone thinking about having children, to ask your insurance agents if doulas are covered by their plans, and if not, perhaps consider lobbying for such coverage with your insurance company.

If enough people advocate for change, we can make it happen.

Lisa Lee Rohm, Corvallis

Dropping gas tax a bad economic idea

We’re fighting our second war for oil. Across the world oil fields are declining and supplies are tight.

Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton have a solution: drop the gas tax that builds and maintains our roads, so we can afford to drive more.

I don’t suppose they gave much thought to what that will do to prices long term.

At least Sen. McCain admits he doesn’t know much about economics.

Don Peterson, Philomath