I am writing regarding your May 9 issue and the story, “Tourism outlets ink tentative deal to move offices to Depot.” The story spoke of the deliberation going on regarding the Chamber of Commerce and its “dream deal” with the city. I have no problem with the Chamber. What I do have a problem with is the mayor again wanting to double-dip us with our taxpayers’ money. He says they are looking at a proposal to buy the Chamber of Commerce building and turn it into the headquarters for the city’s new emergency management department.

Why spend that money for a department that is already in place in the county, that we, the taxpayers, are paying for — especially since the Warren County Emergency Management Agency is the only service that will be recognized by the state in a time of crisis? Why should the Chamber pay rent at another building when it is rent-free at its current location?

The new emergency management department will be a never-ending expense. Why not use that $300,000 effectively by allocating it to the hardworking city employees as part of a pay raise instead of continuing to try to disrupt the county emergency management department?

Mayor, the city is not Burger King and you cannot have it your way at the expense of the city. You should also remember that toward the end of an administration, you cannot compromise the next administration with indebtedness.

Let the next administration, come July 1, decide whether it is feasible to double tax its citizens.

Gertrude Young

Vicksburg

Each vote will matter

I urge everyone living in the city of Vicksburg to please get out and vote in the upcoming election which will be held on June 2.  Don’t think that one vote won’t matter. Every vote counts!

M. Renaud

Vicksburg

Street talk had it wrong

As a nervous parent of a school-aged child, I was terrified to send my one and only child to Sherman Avenue Elementary. After moving to Vicksburg in April 2006, I asked everyone I met where I should send my son to kindergarten. All replied, “Anywhere but Sherman Avenue.” People said Sherman was like a prison, with no windows and lots of school violence. I had nightmares for months and literally made myself sick with worries about where to send my baby.

I tried to get him in Bowmar and also asked for a zone transfer to Beechwood to no avail. Finally, after spending money on private schools for pre-k and kindergarten, I met a proud parent of a Sherman Avenue student. She was very encouraging and even offered to give me an escorted tour. After countless sleepless nights of praying to God that He would steer us in the right direction, I made the decision to take the tour.

I have never felt more welcomed. My child is on the principal’s and all A’s list and excelling in every subject. I am very active with the PTA and know what is going on with my son on a day-to-day basis. I absolutely love the teachers, staff and all the parents I have been blessed to come into contact with. My only regret is not sending him to kindergarten at Sherman Avenue because I listened to the gossip of Vicksburg.

I am very confident that Sherman Avenue has the most dedicated, loving and qualified teachers and staff in Vicksburg, if not the whole state of Mississippi.

Missy Montpelier

Vicksburg

Leyens has lost the vision

It is true! The mayoral election is rapidly approaching. The editorial comments made in last Sunday’s paper were particularly cogent. This election will hinge upon the number of eligible voters who actually do fulfill their civic duty and cast their votes. I encourage everyone to do so.

Although I consider myself to be an independent centrist and have voted for Mayor Leyens in the past two elections, I will not be doing so for a third term. In my opinion, the mayor has lost the vision of whom he should be serving. That is; the citizens of Vicksburg at large.

I believe that he has demonstrated an acute interest in the downtown area to the exclusion (almost) of the other parts of our community. He has made citizen access to the city board meetings and subsequent questioning of city officials cumbersome at best.

He has failed to provide the leadership and resources to drive down the rise in crime. He has not brought new industrial jobs to the city and has not improved city-county relations to any large degree. He speaks of his “abrasive” management style with a perverse sense of pride and it has made him, in my opinion, a divider and not a consensus builder.

For me at least, the time has come for a fresh perspective for the future of Vicksburg and its citizens. Let us all join together and give ourselves that opportunity by voting on June 2.

Joseph Carter

Vicksburg

Winfield for law and order

I would like to express my congratulations to Paul Winfield for winning the Democratic nomination for mayor.

I ran for office several years ago and expressed the need for someone in office who could relate to the many troubled youth in your city and offer redirection for their lives.

Vicksburg has to get away from the fact of voting for people based on race. It is time for a true change. I emphasized that if we didn’t have someone in office who would deal with our future generation we would see terrible consequences. I believe that Paul will dedicate himself to the citizens of Vicksburg and give of himself to the youth in the community.

I look at the crime section in the City of Vicksburg and I’m almost afraid even to visit. The crime rate there is higher than the town of Cedar Hill, where I live, outside of Dallas. Come on Vicksburg, get your town back in order.

Pamela Johnson

Cedar Hill, Texas