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L E T T E R S   T O   T H E   E D I T O R

MAY 8, 2008

Opinions on Courthouse relocation still needed
 
In response to the mayor’s article, the Courthouse will definitely remain on the Public Square. No one would think of any other solution.
However, the economic impact of the employees will never make or break the city. Looking at the downtown at present will enforce the fact that the employees do not have much economic bearing on locating business prospects around The Square.
By the way, has anyone realized the economic loss of the Department of Education moving out of the Courthouse?
County Council must sort out all options in making a final decision on renovations and/or construction of facilities. The citizens can rest assured the tax dollars will be spent wisely, not neglecting the real issues at hand--security and safety for citizens and prisoners, parking solutions, cost of land and facilities, cost of fuel, cost of manpower, and mandates.
Council must be responsible for debt obligations and expenditures. Elected by the taxpayers and citizens, the council is accorded the power to represent the whole county in settling the questions of the Courthouse.
I have asked for opinions and feedback and the interesting fact is that most response has come from well-respected citizens from the Darlington area. Their response has been very positive toward removing the “prisoner element” from sight and The Square. Safety and parking were the two top concerns. Below are the options suggested for consideration.
Leave the Judicial System in the present Courthouse building on The Square and move all other departments to a central location in the county for the convenience of the citizens.
Construct a totally new building designed after the previous Courthouse, including the dome and adding more space.
The Mayor’s suggestion in the paper, leaving departments in the Courthouse and purchasing the North Square for a Judicial Center Annex.
Leave all departments in the present Courthouse with renovations and build a needed Judicial Annex at the Detention Center on county owned property, connecting to the Detention Center, eliminating large safety issues.
Do nothing! Wait and see what the future brings!
Is the Mayor afraid of failure with downtown revitalization and wants to be sure all empty spaces on the Square are taken up in a Judicial Center sprawl on expensive land the county would purchase?
Please continue to speak out. Your concerns and opinions are valued and important. I would invite you to Council meetings on the first and third Monday of each month. Have you ever been to a council meeting?

Anne Warr, Darlington County Council

Contact information for County Council.

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Is Senator McCain insulting women?
 
After the Senate recently failed to get the 60 votes necessary to force an up-or-down vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Senator John McCain said that widespread gender-based pay inequity isn’t due to discrimination. In his view, women just need more “education and training” to close the wage gap.
We think women need equal rights under the law.
Lilly Ledbetter worked 19 years at Goodyear before she learned the men at her level were earning far more. Eventually she sued, and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court where five male justices ruled her claim invalid because she filed it more than 180 days after the date when the discrimination first started.
Now, Senator McCain wants to stop legislation to correct this injustice — and in the process, roll back 50 years of women’s rights.
Lilly Ledbetter and women across the country are not only paid less when they have the same education and same training, but also for doing the exact same job as men. The only difference between men and women in the workplace is women bring home less money to take care of their families.
Senator McCain should know better. Tell him to take back his sexist statement and stop blocking an up or down vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Kimberly Linow

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