The tragedy in North Carolina, where seven students died, and many others were injured, while partying at a home owned by one of their parents, must serve as a wake up call to the city of Corvallis and to Oregon State University.

With greater and greater frequency, families from out of town are purchasing homes in Corvallis for their under-age students. They do this as an investment, and are rapidly changing the nature of every neighborhood in our community.

The amazing amount of drinking and partying any time of day or night, mid-week or week-end, is a health danger to the students, a destructive force in the lives of their neighbors, and a safety risk to all involved. Lives are being destroyed by alcoholism, but at any time we could see a similar tragedy to the one in North Carolina.

Two things must be done immediately: The City Council should adopt an ordinance forbidding more than two adults from different families in any single-family dwelling. Second, OSU must require that all undergraduates live on campus until their senior year.

The adolescents living in these homes are not ready to take responsibility for themselves, much less for home ownership. Their parents live far away and are using our neighborhoods for profit. It is up to our local leaders to step in and protect our community and the students at Oregon State. Why wait for a major tragedy?

Mark J. Weiss

Corvallis

Sometimes, drivers can be too polite

I want to thank Brad Upton for his Oct. 30 letter clarifying just what a pedestrian crosswalk is. I had assumed a crosswalk was clearly marked, usually in big white stripes.

Now I do have to disagree with Brad's comment that "many Corvallis drivers do not understand Oregon's crosswalk laws." As a pedestrian, I have been frustrated with Corvallis drivers who stopped when I was standing at a corner with my dogs, waiting for an opening in traffic.

I have gone so far as to wave at the cars to continue on. I have turned away from the intersection. I have even complained loudly that these drivers are too polite; these drivers create dangerous situations by stopping, and I have called these drivers idiots.

Oops, look who's the idiot. Thanks again to Brad and my apologies to all those Corvallis drivers who have stopped for me.

Bob Hazleton

Corvallis

Feds' spin over fire response is galling

I extend sympathy to those who have lost their homes and possessions in the California fires, however I am a bit miffed (being polite and putting it mildly) that the Bush team is spinning this as if they have now become competent and worthy of our trust in the case of catastrophes. They are spinning, "We know we made mistakes with Katrina but look how quickly and thoroughly and safe and comfortable we made the victims of the fires!"

Lets compare the California wildfires to Gulf of Mexico Hurricanes. Check the statistics:

Homes destroyed in California: 1,875. Homes destroyed by Katrina: 300,00.

Acres burned in California: 475,000. Acreage flooded, ruined by Katrina: 53 million.

High-level communication during fires: Yes. High-level communication during Katrina: No.

Roads intact in California: Yes. Roads intact in Katrina: No.

Power on during fires: Yes. Power on during Katrina: No.

Insurance for fire victims: Yes. Insurance for Katrina victims: No.

Ethnicity of California victims: Mostly white. Ethnicity of Katrina victims: Mostly black.

Economic status of most California victims: Affluent. Economic status of most Katrina victims: Disadvantaged.

California: Paper cut. Katrina: Evisceration.

Do not let politicians give you the false impression that they are now prepared to rescue citizens in the case of disaster. It depends on your socioeconomic status and the true magnitude of the disaster.

Kurt Gustafson

Corvallis

Why not a tax on junk food as well?

As usual, I was disheartened to see that people are still justifying the taxation of a minority by using a product and the health risks as their excuse. I am referring to the two Oct. 31 letters in support of Measure 50.

One person even suggested that maybe more smokers would quit, but then where would the money come from to pay for the kids? After all, more people quit every year.

Seventy-five percent of Americans are overweight or obese. More and more children and adults are developing Type 2 diabetes. Along with this they are also suffering from other long- term health issues due to their weight.

If we are going to punish people for their bad choices, why don't we tax junk food and fast food? At least then the majority of Oregonians would be contributing to the health care of the kids instead of just a minority.

It is so easy to pass a financial responsibility onto a few than it is for everyone to stand up and take it on. I am not really suggesting we tax junk food, but it does seem to be fairer, and bad eating habits and the health effects tend to affect more of us than smoking does.

I do not have any children born of me, but I do think it is all of our responsibility to look after the kids, not just the people we consider pariahs.

Melanie Lomoro

Albany

M50 would make children healthier

You need to identify a problem in order to find a solution. If you don't think 100,000 children not having health care is a problem, then you will never find a solution. I think there is a problem, and Measure 50 is a good solution.

Marolyn Tarrant

Corvallis

Vote soon, and vote yes on county levy

If you have not completed your ballot for the Nov. 6 election, I encourage you to find it, mark your choices and drop the ballot in the drop boxes or in the mail soon. The results of the election are important to the citizens of Benton County and Oregon.

The League of Women Voters of Corvallis supports the Benton County Tax Levy, Measure 02-64.

The league has observed that the state Legislature has underfunded community corrections, addictions treatment and mental health services for the last two years and the next two years.

The county gets left holding the depleted bag while dealing with greater demand for public safety and health services. The commissioners have chosen to request a levy to restore the capacity for county services.

The levy will fund local public safety for sheriff deputies, adult jail bed rental, juvenile detention bed space, two district attorneys, treatment for drug court clients and for mental health and children's services.

The board of LWV Corvallis encourages you to give your financial support to the local public safety and health agencies. Vote for Measure 02-64.

Karen Nibler

Board member

League of Women

Voters of Corvallis

Some bought land due to protections

Property owners who wish to develop their land under Measure 37 often state that when they purchased their land, current land- use planning laws were not in affect, and therefore they should not be hindered from developing their land today. Their complaint is that the land-use laws were changed after they purchased their property, and therefore should not impact them.

We would like to point out that many Oregonians such as ourselves, who purchased property after land use laws were enacted, selected our land specifically because of the land use laws limiting development. We knew that adjacent parcels zoned exclusive farm use or rural residential wouldn't someday be turned into subdivisions. What about our land rights? Measure 37 developments were not part of the picture when we purchased our land and built our homes.

Certainly, there should be some mechanism to compensate land owners who lost value due to land use laws. Measure 49 is a good compromise. It provides landowners who purchased land prior to land use planning the ability to subdivide their land and build a small number of homes. Measure 49 regulations will maintain the rural feel and make it very difficult to develop high-density subdivisions in rural areas. It will also keep high-value farm and forest land in production. Measure 49 manages the difficult task of not penalizing long term landowners while maintaining the livability and planned growth that makes Oregon such a wonderful place to live. Please vote yes on 49.

Jeff and Beth Peterman

Corvallis