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Letters, 3/28: Praise for Event Center

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Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 - 12:06:51 am CST

At our recent Nebraska Horse Council horse expo, we had people here from about six states to view our expo.

People of Lancaster County should be very proud to have such a fine facility for agricultural events. This is an event center that is reasonably priced to hold these events in.

It would be a shame to let anything happen to this center and not allow an expansion to happen. It is not in any way competitive with any other facility in town and brings in lots of revenue for the city. All the other event centers in the state either are too small or we can’t afford them. Our expo has reached the point we can’t expand it until an addition is done.

People of Lancaster County are missing a golden opportunity to see some really nice events going on in their backyard. The Lancaster Event Center finally has turned the corner and is self-supporting. It sits in a ideal place for trailers, parking, easy to get in and out of, and all the other important aspects of an event center.

Just want to express my feelings for such a nice place.

Richard Newberg, Walton

President, Nebraska Horse Council

Staying out of downtown

The next to the last time I was downtown (about five years ago), I picked up a ticket and ended up paying a fine for my trouble. I vowed at the time not to go back until there was parking downtown like there is at every retail outlet and office in every other part of Lincoln. 

Unfortunately, I had to go downtown recently. I plugged the meter for 90 minutes, got back in about two hours and picked up another ticket. So I’m returning to my original plan, but I suppose five years from now I’ll probably get stuck again.

I almost had to go back just last week when I couldn’t get some sheet music I needed from The Violin Shop on 17th Street, and the owner said Dietze had it downtown, but fortunately he also gave me the name of a store in Omaha that could send it, and postage is less than $10 so …

See you all in five or 10 years. You really know how to make a guy feel welcome.

William R. Stone Jr., Lincoln

Sticking it to the poorest

Regarding the closing of the Star Ship 9 for more parking downtown: This is what Lincoln has always been about. Once again, low-income people take it in the shorts!

Sandra Lab, Lincoln

We must defend freedom

“Who is the enemy?” (letter, Hendrik Van den Berg, March 19). And Pogo replied, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

When my ancestors fought to remove the occupying British army from American soil, they had some specific ideas in mind about the kind of government they wanted. And, yes, eventually they had a civil war about the slavery and state-versus-federal supremacy aspects of their government.

But it became our country, our government, and those founding fathers were quite specific about two things — protecting the civil rights of all Americans and separating the secular government from any involvement in religion.

Just because they referred to God in their speeches does not imply that they wanted to eliminate the separation of church and state. Many of those men referring to God were deists and didn’t represent what most people see as a Christian point of view.

I believe that the best way to promote democracy around the world is not by imposing it through war or any other authoritarian means, and certainly not by weakening it here at home. It is by continuing to defend — especially from within — every aspect of our freedom as if our lives and that very freedom depended on it — because they do. Beware, Americans, because those difficult choices may soon no longer even be a choice if we don’t speak out, write out and act out now.

Carol Lee Doeden, Cook


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John wrote on March 28, 2006 5:57 am:
" "I plugged the meter for 90 minutes, got back in about two hours and picked up another ticket." Mr. Stone, let's read that again: I plugged the meter for 90 minutes, got back in about two hours and picked up another ticket. --------------- I made some cookies today. I set the timer for 20 minutes, came back to the kitchen in about an hour later and they were burned. This is how things work. "
Michele wrote on March 28, 2006 6:21 am:
" I agree with William. Downtown parking is rediculous. And if you get to your meter one minute after it expires...there's a ticket. The parking ticket people act so jobless. Isn't there other things they could be doing besides watching meters every second of the day? "
Lindsay wrote on March 28, 2006 6:24 am:
" Great letter Carol...I think many people forget that the Founding Father's definition of God greatly differs from that of mainstream christianity. Also, I have my doubts with how compatable democracy is with Islam. "
janie wrote on March 28, 2006 7:53 am:
" Mr. Stone, with all due respect...90 minutes is kind of less than 2 hours, so technically your meter had run out...thereby meaning you were in violation of the meter, thereby earning you a ticket. I guess I'm just not sure what you're so mad about-getting a ticket for being parked at a meter for longer than you'd paid to be there? That parking laws aren't enforced? That meters can't be plugged for longer than 90 minutes? I can't find logic here, help me out. "
Annie wrote on March 28, 2006 8:29 am:
" Hey William- How 'bout not staying past your meter time, then you won't have to worry about those pesky tickets. "
Josh wrote on March 28, 2006 8:51 am:
" How sad that Mr. Stone would pay $10 in postage because he is too lazy to keep his parking meter current. How sad that he would support a business in another city because he is too lazy to keep his parking meter current. "
Carrie wrote on March 28, 2006 8:58 am:
" Mr. Stone, I would think that if you park in a 90 minute meter, and then do not return to your vehicle until 30 minutes after that 90 minutes expires, you would expect to receive a ticket...after all you broke the law. "
Mark J. wrote on March 28, 2006 9:01 am:
" To William: so if you have 90 minutes on a meter, you don't expect to pick up a ticket after 120 minutes? 120 is greater than 90. There are these things called garages down there also. Heaven forbid you might have to walk a couple of blocks! "
Outrageous wrote on March 28, 2006 10:16 am:
" I think downtown's IQ may be a point or two higher for the next five years. Parking meters work the same everywhere, not just downtown Lincoln. Better crawl in a hole and never go anywhere. "
donna wrote on March 28, 2006 10:49 am:
" Staying out of downtown sounds like a spoiled brat! In all my years of going "downtown" I have never had a parking problem - not even on game days. But then again I use a meter for short time errands so other people can do business in a busy environment - or - if my business is going to be extended dahhhh Parking garages work great! And as far as parking tickets I think they don't stand and wait for the meter to be expired - but when it's expired - TIMES UP! Ticket time! "
Carrie wrote on March 28, 2006 10:59 am:
" To Michelle: The people who monitor the meters and issue tickets do that day in and day out all the time because it IS their job, they are Parking Enforcement. If you don't want a ticket park in a garage or keep your meter current. "
Allen T. wrote on March 28, 2006 11:25 am:
" Carol Lee Doeden: Many of the founding fathers were not deists. In fact, the only known deist among the founding fathers was Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Jefferson is a second, suspected deist, though many of his writings suggest otherwise. At least 52 of the 54 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Trinitarian Christians, and at least 50 of the 55 signers of the Constitution were Orthodox Christians. At the time when the concept of religious freedom was written into the Constitution (separation of church and state is found no where in the Constitution, but rather, comes from letters written by Thomas Jefferson, who did not draft the Constitution, but rather the Declaration of Independence) there was specifically a Church of Virginia. Early public education, at the time the Constitution was written, was specifically developed to instruct children in the reading of scripture. The public school teacher was also, often, the town’s clergy. The establishment clause was only supposed to be applicable to the Federal government…never to the individual states. It was not until the early 1900’s that the Supreme Court began to use the 14th Amendment to make the Bill of Rights applicable against the individual states. I am not calling for the teaching of religion in schools; however, I can not allow this revisionist history to stand uncorrected. "
Erik wrote on March 28, 2006 11:34 am:
" Regarding Sandra Lamb's little blurb: Lincoln desperately needs the parking especially when it comes to the football season. Also, have you ever gone downtown on a Friday or Saturday night and can't find a spot? All the parking spots are takened. This move was bound to happen. Lincoln is a growing community. "
Steve wrote on March 28, 2006 11:53 am:
" Michele wrote: "The parking ticket people act so jobless. Isn't there other things they could be doing besides watching meters every second of the day?" Uh, they could be reading the fishwrap, getting a haircut, watching a movie... Wouldn't want city employees to be less lazy than you, now would we? "
Kris wrote on March 28, 2006 12:17 pm:
" I'm downtown nearly everyday and rarely have a problem with parking. And I'm pretty sure that if you miss your meter by 30 minutes you're going to get a ticket - I usually expect one. If you don't want a ticket, park in a garage. I'm at the University everyday also - for business not as a student or an employee - and there's the parking problem...not downtown. Downtown is a fun, lively and unique place to shop and eat. If you don't like the parking situation...go somewhere else but don't complain about getting a ticket that was clearly your doing. "
Jodi wrote on March 28, 2006 12:48 pm:
" If remembering to plug a meter is too difficult, just park in a garage. Then there is no fine and if you want to meander a little more, you can. It bothers me when I have to park in a garage to run into a restaurant for takeout or to go pay my electric bill because people have plugged the meter for 90 minutes (and some are even away for two hours). Leave meters for people who are in and out and on their way. "
cam wrote on March 28, 2006 1:25 pm:
" okay...did you all miss the point. parking is crappy downtown. i don't think he has a problem with the ticket in general. the problem is he doens't have the option for long term cheap (free) parking. i'm i the only one who got that? "
Jennifer wrote on March 28, 2006 1:52 pm:
" I think Mr Stone is making a point that parking is inconvenent; remember, it is illegal to re-plug your meter as well. I work downtown and fortunately we're one of the few establishments that provides parking. However, before I worked downtown, I would NOT frequent downtown. I'd rather drive and park in a parking lot for free than to plug a meter and hope I made it back before the meter ran out and I don't necesssarily like parking in the parking garages. Door dings make me angry...that's an all new editorial in itself. But I as inconvenient as it is and as much as I don't like it, I don't think there is a viable solution either. I'm just fortunate enough to be close to the downtown community to enjoy the restaurants and entertainment. "
janie wrote on March 28, 2006 2:16 pm:
" No, Cam, you weren't the only one who got that. Jeez. The point the rest of us were trying to make was that one shouldn't get one's nose out of joint if one has to pay the consequences for breaking the rules. His argument kind of made him sound whiny, and while he did have an initially good point (parking downtown being crappy) it was kind of nullified by the ridiculous example he gave of WHY it's crappy ("I got a ticket for parking for 2 hours at a 90-minute meter"). And another thing...Erik: "takened"? Seriously? "
Katie wrote on March 28, 2006 2:30 pm:
" Cam, have you ever heard the expression "There's no such thing as a free lunch"? I think to request free parking in a downtown area is ridiculous. Think this city has money problems? Wait until you replace all the metered parking spots with free parking. Any city with a downtown area is going to have parking with meters - that's just how it is. If you don't want to pay and if you can't keep your meter plugged for the correct amount of time, don't park downtown. "
cam wrote on March 28, 2006 2:57 pm:
" no i don't think there should be free parking. i said long term, too. the garages get full. you can't park at a meter all day long. i'm saying there should be more options, that are reasonable in price, and not 8 miles away from where you want to go. there should be a better use of space. put all the businesses together (good for everybody) get ample area that has vacant buildings, knock em down and put a parking lot. it's a win win. more businesses are located together for customer's benefit and nobody that's running profitable business is pushed out and instead of a bunch of closed up buildings scattered we have a nice parking lot and the businesses get more business because of convenience. "
Josh wrote on March 28, 2006 4:36 pm:
" Allen T is a technically misleading when he talks about the "church of Virginia". According to the Christ Church website, "The Church of England was the established church of Virginia, part of and protected by the government. The colony was divided into defined geographical areas of church administration known as parishes. All residents were members of the parish and required to pay taxes for its support. In return, the parish provided religious services and the colonial equivalent of modern social and welfare services." NOTE that this was when Virginia was a colony of England and the Anglican Church was the established church for that couuntry. The Christ Church website continues, "The American War for Independence, which commenced shortly after the completion of the church [building], required the organization of the American Episcopal Church, an autonomous province of the Anglican communion. In Virginia this change meant the end of government support and protection for the Church." NOTE: When Virginia was no longer a colony, there was no state church. "
Gerry wrote on March 28, 2006 9:51 pm:
" Okay, Mr. Stone has no reason to complain if he got a parking ticket after being gone for two hours when he knew the meter would expire in 90 minutes. He complained about not feeling welcome because the parking laws were enforced and he happened to get caught. Sounds like sour grapes on Mr. Stone's part, pure and simple. The ample parking available (as Mr. Stone says) "at every retail outlet and office in every other part of Lincoln" is available because those locations aren't downtown and thus have the space for said parking. Granted, if Lincoln wants movies to be an anchor/draw for downtown, then more 2-hour and 5-hour meters should be installed and/or perhaps shorter meter enforcement hours on weekends. Other than that, perhaps Mr. Stone should consider buying a watch and picking up a book on how to tell time from the children's literature section from a local bookstore before indulging downtown Lincoln with his presence in the not-so-near future. "
Jim wrote on March 29, 2006 10:12 pm:
" 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' If you're having trouble understanding that perhaps you could sit in on a middle school civics class sometime. "
Allen T. wrote on March 31, 2006 1:34 am:
" Jim: What does your comment mean? I consider being allowed to pray in class a religious freedom; however, some people would say that allowing me to do so would be "respecting an establishment of religion." What makes this such a difficult issue is that the two "religion" clauses have the potential to conflict with each other. Middle school civics isn't going to cut it. Heck, 3 years of law school doesn't. "
peb wrote on March 31, 2006 12:53 pm:
" Allen T: I get it. The majority of schools are public-funded organizations. If you are praying in a private school, fine. Not every citizen of the United States believes in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, etc. What religion would the government establish if it was to establish a religion? Keep yukking about this and the government may start to remove the tax exemption status from religions. "
Allen T. wrote on April 1, 2006 10:01 pm:
" Peb: I think that I mistyped in my comment. I think that we all agree that a person should be able to pray over their own meal at school, without being punished or discriminated against. However, such attacks on personal freedom of religion are happening every day. I did not mean to suggest a teacher led prayer in class. That would be inappropriate in a public school. My comment was intended to point out that balancing freedom of religious practice and maintaining proper levels of state/church separation is not an easy thing to do sometimes. Jim's suggestion that a simple civics class suffices is not really accurate, considering the differences of opinion held by many Constitutional law experts. "

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