Editor,
In the August 4-7 issue of your paper you published an article under the headline: "Illegal immigrants irk neighbors." The accompanying photo shows a home on Highland Drive with several parked vehicles for sale in the front yard.
I understand why neighbors are irked by this. I drive that road at least twice each day, and the "used car lot" pictured in the paper is quite an eyesore. I also understand why neighbors would be concerned about the effect this lot may have on their property values.
These are perfectly legitimate gripes. However, what’s up with the illegal immigrant spin? The article offers ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE that the homeowners in question are in fact illegal immigrants. The only reference is in the form of a quote from a neighbor who states: "We strongly believe, as neighbors, that these people are illegal aliens."
The fact is, neither the neighbor nor The Park Record knows if the people in question are illegal immigrants. The writer offers no proof to support the irked neighbor’s "belief," yet the headline indicates certainty. Does this mean that if I’m ever interviewed by one of your reporters and I tell them I believe The Park Record is a narrow-minded irresponsible publication that blatantly shirks its responsibilities to this diverse community, will you print that as fact?
Jon Green
Let us be buried at home
Editor:
I recently had a friend, Connie Streets Mair, pass away. She and I were both born and raised in Park City. However, when her husband was making funeral arrangements, he was told that Connie could not be buried in the Park City Cemetery because she was not a resident. I think there is something very wrong with this picture.
It seems to me the people who were born and raised in Park City and pushed out by the rich transplants should be able to come home and, if the only way that can happen is to be buried with the rest of your family, then so be it. We should be able to be buried there.
There is plenty of room up the hill for the cemetery to expand, but of course that can’t be part of the cemetery because a hell of a lot more money can be made if it is developed into houses, condos and businesses.
It should be first-come, first-serve. If I die before Joe Blow from Park City, I should have the right to be buried in my home, Park City, until the cemetery is full. If the city thinks they can bury all those people without opening another cemetery on their precious property then they flunked math.
Let us go home.
Carilou Watkins
Mt. View, Wyoming
ASC put so many at risk
Editor:
Given the recent problems with ASC’s sale of The Canyons, and taking into consideration all the problems encompassing ASC (The American Ski Company), it is absolutely time for the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) to step in and investigate the corporate practices that have lead to the demise of ASC. This should include their filings as well as all recent sales of their resorts.
Much consideration should also be given to the foreclosure in their sales and filings of ‘minority shareholder rights of appraisal’ in all of this.
Les Otten, B.J. Fair and company, as well as those majority holders within ASC, have done much to tarnish the luster of the ski industry not only presently but in the future as well.
It is truly a shame that they have been allowed to put so many at risk by their business practices and were allowed to continue.
Phil Mayo
Bomoseen, Vt.
Let’s start a ‘Bond of the Month Club’
Editor:
This is about the so-called "walkability bond." If there is a serious safety concern, then it is the responsibility of the City Council to take appropriate action to correct the problem. If it is a matter of something that some group would like to see done, then that group should take the matter up with the Council. The Council could then display some leadership and give the project an up or a down on the merits and not dodge the issue by putting it on the next ballot. If the Council is going to cave in every time someone comes up with a hot idea I suggest that perhaps the Council start a "Bond of the Month Club." I’ve got some nifty ideas myself. And, of course, the next step would be for the Council to abdicate all responsibility and put the entire city budget up for a vote.
Sincerely,
Thomas Hurd
Park City
Reckless mountain bikers
Editor:
Two days in a row, two of my neighbors’ dogs have been hit by reckless mountain bikers screaming off the trail system on Daly Ave. What if these had been children? For many of us in Bark City, our dogs are our kids!
In the case I was personally involved in as the first responder, the biker took off! I know as a biker that I’m obligated to follow the rules of the road just as when I’m behind the wheel of my car. I believe it is called a "hit and run." I’m also not certain, but I believe this is a felony here in the state of Utah. Regardless, it is reckless and wrong!
When we are skiing at the resorts, we are responsible to be in control and the ski patrol does a good job of insuring this rule is followed. It would be nice to see that the mountain bikers follow rules of the road. Along with that, use common sense so when they come off the trails onto our tight and crowded streets of our neighborhoods that they are in control.
The biker involved was going so fast that he did not have time to react. Even though his partner had to dodge the dogs as well, he only had a few seconds ahead of him. It is common for me to observe groups of reckless bikers tearing down our road at blazing speeds all day long.
I know I may take some heat for the off-leash dog, but the real violation is not a dog off leash at the end of a dead-end road, but that of reckless bikers doing twice the speed limit screaming down our neighborhood as if they were in the world-champion race. Leave the speed on the trails and use some common sense, please!
As a side note, pet owners, please call your vets. Let them know you would like to see all the vets in town create an after-hours on-call team. For such a critical situation, the drive to Salt Lake can be too far and take too long to get the help needed for our pets. With 7 vets in town, each one would only have to be on call once a week. With our growing population, the need is rising for this service. Suggest that we need this service so that in a critical situation we can have an emergency stabilized prior to transport to the 24/7 animal hospital.
Sincerely,
Robert Dickson
Get behind Mountain Trails Foundation
On Saturday, August 11, Mountain Trails Foundation sponsored the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase, the first leg of the Triple Trail Challenge, now in it’s second year, and a premier running series. As a participant, I presume to speak for all the runners in thanking MTF for all their efforts throughout Park City. We have such a good time, meet so many wonderful people, and challenge ourselves physically and mentally, all as the beneficiaries of the tremendous planning and dedication of MTF and the volunteers necessary for these successful events. Special thanks to Dawn and Steve Bowling.
The trails we all enjoy do not occur by accident, and have become one of the hallmarks of Park City’s varied culture. I encourage everyone to support this wonderful organization at www.mountaintrails.org. I wish I could run as hard as they work to protect our trails.
Ed "Fasteddie" Knapp
Jeremy Ranch
More like Iraq than mountain tranquility
Editor:
While enjoying one of our treasured summer days in my yard recently, I noticed a great deal of helicopter activity coming and going from the direction of The Canyons ski resort. Initially, I thought someone must be lost or injured? The following three days … the same activity. I placed a call to The Canyons inquiring about the helicopters, at which point they informed me it was a company operating at the base of The Canyons three days per week Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from Heber, flying over this area throughout the rest of the week. At this time it is unclear how many other private helicopter operators are also flying in this area.
I clearly understand Park City is a year-round tourist destination, with many wonderful things to offer. But please, let’s not forget about the people who live and work in Park City and Summit County all year long. This noise pollution over the mountains is atrocious, environmentally unconscious, inconsiderate of the residents who live in this area, and creates many safety concerns as well. If you want to see the mountains, get out and hike or take a balloon ride.
If Park City’s agenda is to encourage summer outdoor hiking, mountain biking, etc. etc. I think they just shot themselves in the foot. Who wants to be in the great outdoors "enjoying nature" in a helicopter flight path that sounds more like Iraq than mountain tranquility? I find it unsettling that an entire community and the animals that dwell in our mountains must be exposed to this noise so that two or three people can have a fifteen minute ride over the mountains.
A helicopter takeoff and landing several times per day and the echo this creates throughout the canyon is, in my view, a violation of the Summit County Noise Ordinance approved by the Summit County Board of Commissioners in February of 2006. Airports were created for the takeoff and landing of flight craft, not residential neighborhoods. Imagine, if we all decided to allow private operators to land and take off in our backyards? I encourage everyone to contact the Summit County Sheriff’s Department and file a noise disturbance complaint, and the Summit County Board of Commissioners. Let’s not forget this is an election year and it is the job of the City Council members to protect the citizens of this area.
Cheryl Fine-Whitteron Park City