The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 10, 1996 Page: 4 of 52
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Page 4A - The Alien American - Saturday, August 10, 1996
"Where there is much desire to learn, there of
necessity will be much arguing, much writing,
many opinions: for opinion in good men is but
knowledge in the making."
- John Milton
-------------a— An Editorial-----------------
City poised for growth
We’ll be among the first to congratulate city
leaders in Allen for trimming the property tax
rate.
The move is further evidence that efforts
to expand the city’s tax base are paying off. A
robust economy in Allen, fueled by major cor-
porations coming to the area and booming
. entrepreneurism, is certainly a major factor.
The city is poised for even more explosive
growth, with the $42 million expansion of
Central Expressway literally paving the way.
The three-year project creating a six-lane
superhighway is scheduled to begin this fall.
An upgrade in the city’s bond rating by two
investor services likewise bodes well for the
future.
These are heady days indeed.
But, not to rain on the parade, the job is
never finished.
For while the tax rate might be trimmed
from 66.5 cents per $100 valuation to 64.8
cents, owners of homes and other property
can attest that such a reduction does not nec-
essarily mean more money in the wallet.
Gaining a reputation for being a wonderful
place to live acts as a magnet. More people
want to live here, more companies want to do
business here.
As a result, property and homes become
even more attractive, and subsequently are
upgraded in appraised value.
If the estimated worth of your home is
increased for tax purposes, you won’t see a
substantial amount of savings in your proper-
ty tax bill. Quite conceivably you could even
see an increase.
City officials are spending this weekend at
Lake Texoma to plan for the coming year and
beyond.
We have confidence that they will demon-
strate good judgment.
Allen’s growth is creating new needs —
better roads, expanding water and sewer ser-
vices, increased police and fire protection,
added infrastructure — among others.
The future of Allen is bright, but that
promise cannot be fully realized without careful
planning in the both the short and long term.
Let’s ride this wave of prosperity, realizing
all the while that only through fiscal restraint
and visionary thinking can we bequeath to
our grandchildren a similar enviable lifestyle.
Letter To the Editor
Vendor goes above, times as many African-
1 j - . Americans. In case you are won-
beyond for customer dering, here is how I know how
Maybe all Allen vendors are a many African-Americans are in
; cut above in service. One of them Allen. Well, my grandparents
certainly proved his service to be (both sets) have a total of 23 chil-
well above what could be expect- dren; each of them has two or
ed recently. more children and their children
Even experienced techni- have two or more children and
cian/repairmen run across prob- more than half of all of them live
lems that leave them puzzled now in Allen. Therefore, my family
and again. When they do, how alone makes up 85 percent of the
often do they come back as many African-American population,
times as necessary at consider- Of course, I could get a satel-
able inconvenience and expense lite like my neighbor down the
to be sure the customer is fully street who doesn’t work so she
satisfied? At what point do they gets a lot of usage from the satel-
start blaming someone else and life. I work 10 hours a day, so I
stop, ask for more money or ... don’t think in this lifetime I could
Our problem was with our air actually watch 195 plus channels,
conditioning unit one year after I don’t think I’m asking for a lot,
installation. The problem just more ethnic and variety pro-
recurred 10 times before special gramming within the cable sys-
test equipment and factory engi- tern — “something for every-
neers helped the vendor bring body!” What happened to MTV in
the final fix. Trips were made to Allen? I heard that it was taken
: our home just to help us through off because of a certain segment
the situation even when the ven- on MTV. Well, I grew up watch-
dor knew he was short of the ing MTV, and I think there
: final solution. should be a federal law against
Thanks, Johnny Caplinger, for any and every cable company
stretching yourself to minimize that doesn’t air it on their cable
the stress on your customer. We system,
were happy with the start and
now happy with the follow
through.
Patricia Jones
Allen
Terry S. Clark Story about lawsuit
Parker . * .
full of inaccuracy
TCI programming Michelle Mitchell’s July 13
1article about the City of Parker’s
lacks variety lawsuit against Allen, Murphy
I’m sitting at my desk, writing and Wylie to reclaim land
out a check payable to TCI annexed by those cities from
Cablevision ($46), and I get a Parker’s extra-territorial jurisdic-
phone call from my friend Lisa tion contained a number of inac-
who lives in Plano. Lisa also has curacies and represented only
cable; however, she pays $14 less one viewpoint in the Parker com-
than I do. So I decide to question munity.
her about this low cost. Quoting Barbara
Well, I found out she also uses Edmundson’s opinion that the
TCI Cablevision. My next ques- lawsuit is a waste of tax dollars,
tion was if it is the same company, Mitchell cited Edmundson as a
then why do we not get the same Parker resident. Edmundson
channels as Plano and why are resides in Richardson and owns
we paying more for less? First, I property in Parker’s extra-territo-
think TCI should get rid of the rial jurisdiction.
useless channels such as CNBC Mitchell incorrectly stated the
and PSP. I mean, how many current tax rate of 0.3114 cents,
sports and news channels must adding that the tax rate cannot be
we have? These channels should raised more than 10 percent with-
be replaced with something out a special election. The cur-
worthwhile such as AMC and rent tax rate is 0.322 cents and
BET. Oh, I forgot. All of you who may be raised without a special
are not familiar with BET — it election, although tax rate
means Black Entertainment increases of 8 percent or above
Television. Yes, there are black are subject to a special election
people in Allen. Quite a few to be through a tax roll back petition,
exact. Which has me wondering Parker has not spent over
why there are two Hispanic chan- $200,000 for attorney’s fees
nels in Allen and only 10 attributable solely to the litiga-
Hispanics living in Allen; and not tion. That sum was paid for by
one African-American channel legal services provided to Parker,
though we have more than 10 Turn to LETTERS, Page 5A
The Alien American
IONS
Your thoughts and views are welcome
in The Alien American.
MAKE IT SO THAT
PEOPLE WL UKE ME...
2020 OLYMPIC GAMES
REPLACING soT PUT
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EMA
Commentary
I DO
MAKE NEP©,
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MIRACLES!!
REPLAci& POL VAuurial
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Modern Games must be downsized
======= Rmm"
(1996), the Atlanta Olympic Games were too 3 The IOC must bite the bullet and do what it is most reluctant
big. to do: Slowly, gradually, inexorably get rid of (drop from future
. Every nation on earth — 197 countries — was represented here Olympic Games) those sports thatare old-fashioned and archaic,
by young men and women. Not a single nation was unrepresented, and those sports that are excessively expensive and not accessible
====== psissss
double dream: To have every the IOC must resist the nearly almighty power of television and
entrepreneurialism (business powerhouses) to thrust into the pro-
gram those sports that are — for the moment — of great populari-
ty with the host nation’s television audience. Expediency has never
been a hallmark of the IOC and that body of men and women must
resist all temptation to fall under the hypnotic and false spell that
says forever
a and always,
■S "Bigger is bet-
A M e As an
• ELEE • Olympic
watcher for
nearly 40
nation on earth come
together in a single
Olympic city, and for d
the immense 40
Olympic family to 4
live together in
peace, harmo- i I
ny, nonvio- ■
lence, joy and
amidst a pletho-
ra of Olympic
and world
records, drug
years, I’m con-
fident that the IOC can and will begin the painful but necessary
process of downsizing the Olympic Games program so that for the
summer games of 2000, 2004,2008 and beyond, we will see athletes
from 197 countries compete in a program of sports significantly
more manageable than the program we live with today.
The Olympic Games are one of the most important and precious
gifts to be offered every member of the human race. It is a unique.
For the realization of both dimensions of Coubertin’s passionate peaceful happening, and while it is highly unlikely that these modern
hope for humankind, the Summer Olympic Games must gradually games will last as long as the ancient Greek Olympic Games (1,100
be reduced in size. Several orderly ways to do this come to my years), it would be a tragedy if the spectre of gigantism, an exces-
mind. All these changes/reductions in size must be initiated by the sively swollen Olympic Games in the 21st century, contributed to the
106 male and female, nonsalaried, co-opted members of the premature demise of today’s and tomorrow’s versions.
International Olympic Committee:John A. Lucas is a professor emeritus of sport science at the Pennsylvania
1. The IOC must continue its recent success in bringing to the State University. He is also the official IOC lecturer and the recipient of the
Olympic city young men and women from 197 nations. IOC's Olympic Order.
free. e t
Here in Atlanta, a
few days after the
Olympic closing cere- H
monies, the first dream item
has been realized. The second has missed the mark, but only by
small margin.
A Harte-Hanks
Community Newspaper
Lynn Dickerson
Publisher
Tim Watterson Beth Roddy
Editor VP Sales and Marketing
Bill Lindemann Linda Franks
Financial Director Circulation Director
Doug Layton, Director Graphics/Design
Leslie Mascari, Marketing Services Director
Tim Pareti, News Editor
Valerie Barna Delker, Opinions Editor
Ian Halperin, Photo Editor
Rick Mann, Sports Editor
Debbie Tackett, General Manager
Public deserves to know Gramm’s future
Editorial Board
All editorials are opinions of The Allen American
editorial board, which includes:
•Lynn Dickerson, Publisher
•Tim Watterson, Editor • Valerie Barna Delker, Opinions Editor
•Debbie Tackett, General Manager • DeeAnn Pitts, Admin. Assistant
Victor Morales wants Phil
Gramm to promise Texans to give
it 100 percent if he’s re-elected to
the U.S. Senate.
Gramm and his supporters say
he already is.
Earlier this month, a newspa-
STEVE
RAY
Capital Comments
more concerned about their own wants.”
careers than about the people But so far Gramm won’t say if
they represent,” Morales said. “If he wants to run again for presi-
Sen. Gramm wants to seek the dent.
presidency as a private citizen, Larry Neal, Gramm’s
that’s a decision for him. ... But if Washington spokesman, says
he wants the people of Texas to Gramm expects to be working for
per quoted sources close to who wants to replace Gramm and give him another six years in the Bob Dole’s re-election in the year
Gramm as saying he is already thinks the incumbent senator’s Senate, that’s a decision for them. 2000. Of course Dole would be 77
planning another run for presi- presidential campaign hurt the Unfortunately his record during in the year 2000, and isn’t expect-
dent. state and Gramm’s ability to rep- the last presidential campaign ed to run again.
That was easy fodder for resent it. proved he won’t do both jobs. He And he also questioned
Democratic candidate Morales, “So many politicians seem to be needs to tell Texans which one he Turn to RAY, Page 5A
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Watterson, Tim. The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 10, 1996, newspaper, August 10, 1996; Allen, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1688490/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Allen Public Library.