Letters to the editor, August 23, 2010
Questions for Barstow’s leadership
Being a long-time Barstow resident, I have to ponder some of the things that occur here now, and especially some of the actions of our City Council.
This is Barstow. When I relocated my family here in 1968, the population of Barstow was 24,000, and when taking in the surrounding areas (Hinkley, Daggett, Newberry Springs, etc.) the total was 40,000.
My questions are: Why do we have a salary structure here that would pay the city manager up to $236,988 per year, and at least seven other Barstow officials in excess of $100,000 per year when after 42 years Barstow is at or below the population of 1968? Why have we lost many major businesses, such as Sears, K-Mart, H&E, and a number of others? Why do we have to go “down the hill” for the simplest of medical procedures? Why are my tax dollars being spent to aid the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce when for many years Barstow has had a Chamber of Commerce? Doesn’t this just tend to divide the community? Why is the city constantly paying our tax dollars for studies? With the salaries we are paying city officials I would think someone would be smart enough to arrive at logical conclusions locally.
Why does councilman Willie Hailey miss so many meetings? (It’s understandable during the period he had a family loss.) Why is Burrtec making a point of giving residents a 12 cent rate decrease, and then 30 days later raising the rates by two dollars? Why hasn’t work started on our “new” hospital? Why is it our city fathers have no influence in prohibiting Nursery Products from establishing an “open” sludge (human waste) operation down-wind from our city? They obviously know the strong winds we have here. I guess our marvelous county leader, Brad Mitzelfelt has had an influence. One more question: What ever happened to America?
Anyone with logical answers to the above may e-mail me at moorebarstow@yahoo.com. I love this “old coyote” town and would like to see us prosper 42 years from now!
Charlie Moore, Barstow
