6-OPINION
6 The Sentinel
February 6, 2014
opinions / yours and ours
Answering a 50-year question The issue of calling a “time-out” on the proposed 50-year contract to manage and collect toll fees on the expanded U.S. 36 HOV/HOT lanes is gaining traction. A green energy advocacy group had started a petition drive to seek a 60-day review of the proposed agreement with CDOT. Last week 14 state legislators responded by asking for the requested review. There are a lot of aspects to the proposed agreement which warrant a careful review. Plus, 50 years for a contract seems an inordinate period of time for such a contract. To protect the interests of residents, drivers who will use the HOV/HOT lanes and pay the fees and the local governments along the U.S. 36 corridor, taking the time to fully review and evaluate the proposed agreement is a prudent step to take. Let’s hope the CDOT commissioners will hold off accordingly.
More smoke rising
I previously wrote about New Jersey
be launched without appropriate “clearances” within the administration. Christie had to know this scheme was in the mill. If Christie’s knowledge of the vindictive plan is confirmed, he is a “dead duck” for any presidential campaign consideration.
NFL tax exemption is a laughter Gov. Chris Christie and the outlandish plot to snarl traffic over the George Washington Bridge. The intent was to get even with the Fort Lee mayor who did not support his re-election campaign. I stated that “where there is smoke there is fire,” and it seems to be playing out that way. A former transportation authority staff person has come forward and stated that Christie lied when he said that he knew nothing about the scheme to cause traffic jams over the bridge. Let me tell you that such a high visibility scheme would not
It has once again been raised in Congress that the professional sports organizations such as the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League and others should not enjoy tax exempt status under the federal income tax code. Currently, they enjoy Section 501(c)(6) status under the tax code which exempts any organization whose primary purpose is to “further the industry or profession it represents.” The league office represents the 32 NFL teams. Those teams pay taxes on the TV revenue, ticket sales etc. However, the league office is exempt and does not pay taxes on the membership dues charged to the various NFL teams including the Bron-
cos. These dues payments amount to over $250 million per year. Now, that is a real money folks!
Time to pay up
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn from Oklahoma is pushing legislation to take away the tax exempt status on organizations which pertain to professional sports. It would produce a projected $10 million per year if the legislation were to be enacted. The NFL and other related organizations have had it too good for too long. The justification to remain a tax exempt organization simply isn’t there. The NFL has done very well over the years and their organization has benefited from its huge fan base popularity. They don’t need protection under the tax code “to further the profession” they represent. Coburn - move your legislation forward in the name of fairness. Bill Christopher is a former Westminster city manager and RTD board member.
question of the week
What’s your favorite treat? With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we asked folks at Mountain Man in the Northglenn Marketplace in Northglenn what is their favorite sweet treat indulgence?
Chocolate. I grew up with it. Robert Aragon Keenesburg
Dark chocolate — I just love the way it tastes. Linda Aragon Keenesburg
I like the red licorice. I like nibbling on them at night while I watch TV. Kary Halbach Brighton
Yogurt-covered pretzels. I’m not that big on chocolate, and they’re sweet and salty at the same time. Curtis Halbach Denver
What we say with sayings THE sEnTinEl 8703 Yates Drive Suite 210., Westminster, CO 80031
gerard heaLey MikkeL keLLy gLeNN WaLLace TaMMy kraNz Vic VeLa eriN addeNBrOOke audrey BrOOks scOTT aNdreWs saNdra areLLaNO
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Do you sometimes wonder how a certain word or saying came into being? A few weeks ago my nephew sent me a letter with sayings and how they came into use. I thought you would enjoy seeing how some sayings came into use. Here are some of them from long ago. Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water. Then all the other sons and men then the women and finally the children. Last of all were the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” Houses had thatched roofs-thick strawpiled high with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the
winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence, a threshold. In those old days they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.” Sometimes they could obtain pork which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “Bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “Chew the fat.” Stay well, stay involved and stay tuned…. GO BRONCOS! Vi June is past Democratic state representative for House District 35. She is a former mayor of Westminster and a former newspaper publisher. A Westminster resident for more than four decades, she and her husband, Bob, have five grown children and eight grandchildren.