PAGe 50
I was stunned that the broad-
cast that evening did not include any of what I said...
Time for the truth to be told In response to the town of Laurel’s yetagain PR campaign on behalf of developers, I must throw the truth out there to see if it sticks these days. Mr. Fasano’s assertion that the court declared that S.C.O.L.D.M. “did not have standing to challenge the action in the first place” is simply false. In fact, the court ruled that we did have standing to challenge the zoning issues and that we were correct in that challenge. The court declared that the zonings are invalid and ineffective which means there is no zoning applied to the lands. There can be no development without zoning and we will continue to monitor the town in this regard now that we have “standing.” Mr. Fasano invited WBOC to help him with his PR campaign last week. I was contacted by the TV station and explained the “split decision” which is an accurate description of the court’s rulings. I was stunned that the broadcast that evening did not include any of what I said and implied that the court ruled entirely in the town’s favor, which is simply not the case. It validates my distrust of much of the media these days. We will be addressing the issue with the so-called “reporter.” Now some BF (before Fasano) news. We are credited (and blamed by a few) for Discovery’s demise. Our intention from day one was to preserve the property values of those living in that area. The stadiums (Tony Windsor’s article only understated the seating capacity by 12,000 seats, but the truth is hard sometimes), amusement park, etc. would have destroyed the property values of “those people out there,” as Ms. Wright calls us. We also asserted that the whole project could only succeed with some sort of gambling (casino) and we were acused of fearmongering. Well lookee here! The same Preston Schell who was backing Discovery is now planning the Del Pointe Racino in Millsboro. What a coincidence. He’s even offered the state of Delaware $20 million for a casino permit. The bottom line is that we insist that annexations and zonings be done in accordance with the law. That means in compliance with zoning codes, comp plans, state law and town charters. That’s not too much to ask. We’re still here and we’ll remain until...Frank Calio is seen sporting an NRA cap! WD Whaley
S.C.O.L.D.M
MORNING STAR • JuNe 18 - 24, 2009
Letters to the Editor
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Atkins resorts to a personal attack
Recently, Rep. John Atkins posted some distasteful remarks about me on a well read local Internet information network. The remarks were picked up and read on the air by a local radio talk show host and treated as fact. By doing this, Rep. Atkins has proven my point that he is continuing his slide into Liberalism. He has lowered the Del Pointe debate from the academic level to the personal attack, used solely by the radical left wing. I, however, will continue on the high road but will take a moment to respond to his personal attack even though it seems wrong that I must divulge publicly my career with Bodie’s Dairy Markets to do so. The Bodie’s Dairy Markets chain of six stores was established, owned, operated and sold by my father, Bodie. I was his employee for 30 years. He alone established the product line and ignored my requests to remove any products, including the lottery tickets that Rep. Atkins wrote were “polluting our community.” For example, when in 1997, WAWA (the regional leader in the industry) removed lottery sales from all of its stores, I wanted Bodie’s Dairy Markets to follow suit but was admonished for the thought. I plead guilty to the sin of working hard, for many years, behind the counters of my father’s convenience stores. Using Rep. Atkins’ logic, I am guilty of “polluting our community.” Likewise, in Rep. Atkins eyes, there are loads of other cashiers in convenience stores, drug stores, supermarkets and liquor stores just as guilty. During the many years I sold lottery tickets, I personally saw the horrible effects that gambling has on innocent peoples’ lives. Our state government is as guilty as I am for having placed the sinful stumbling block of lottery sales before them
in the first place. For this reason and for the reason of my faith, I am against any expansion of gambling in Delaware and therefore Del Pointe. In personally attacking me, Rep. Atkins has won my argument for me. He wrote that “Bodie’s stores were polluting our community” by selling lottery tickets. Yet he is in favor of the new Del Pointe gambling casino that would further the “polluting (of) our community.” Will he condemn the builders and employees of Del Pointe as people “polluting our community” as well someday? How have we gotten to a point where an elected official publicly attacks, on a personal level, a private citizen for that citizen’s personal stance on an issue? This is being played out on a national level every day. No wonder no one wants to speak out against government’s wrongdoings. We elected these officials to lead us, not attack us and they should lead us down a good and moral path, not a path of sin, no matter how much we beg them for it. Just because the majority of people want something does not make it the correct and moral thing to do. If, for instance, a vote was taken back in the 1840’s whether or not to abolish slavery, the majority of people would have voted in favor of keeping it. Would that have made slavery the correct and moral thing to do? The majority of the people of Germany thought Hitler was right; did that make the Nazis correct and moral? Leaders should do the right thing, not the politically expedient thing. How many of our leaders are only concerned about getting re-elected and worship a God that looks just like a dollar bill? God gave these leaders their authority to lead us and they will answer to God someday for the abuses they have rendered upon us. Please pray for our state and our nation. Eric Bodenweiser
Georgetown
Cutting spending shows strength
This budget process is separating the weak legislators from the strong. Senator Schwartzkopf stated in a committee meeting this week that the body was elected to make tough decisions if taxes need to be raised. I strongly believe that any senator or representative who reacts by trying to raise taxes instead of stepping on toes to trim back spending is weak. It is easier to impose new taxes than to demand thrift from the government they were elected to control. Every vote to raise taxes, whether by imposing fees or by increasing the costs to Delaware businesses, shows that legislator’s inability to do their job. They give in to the system which protects their own territory. They give in to the political cronies who look out for their own best interests instead of the people’s interests. They give in to the Delaware
Way, and every citizen will be forced to pay for their weaknesses. Where are those who speak for their constituents? Who in Legislative Hall has the courage to stand up against the bloated state of Delaware? Why are we standing by while the process of self protective government steamrolls over us? Brian Shields
Sussex County Chair Libertarian Party of Delaware
School consolidation a great idea
One rarely hears a Democrat say anything that makes common sense anymore, but I’ve got to give kudos to Frank Calio in his column in the June 11th edition. I disagree with him about 99.9% on everything else he espouses in his weekly column, but I thought he wrote an excellent column about school consolidation. The one thing I would like to see added to this idea is a school voucher program for parents who would like to have a choice as to where their children are educated. This would also save the State of Delaware a chunk of money and provide some competition within the educational system. Imagine! Saving money and improving education. What a novel idea! Larry Calhoun
Laurel
Legislator shocked by mistake
Recently, I was incorrectly listed as a sponsor of a bill that would allow beer and wine to be sold in Delaware supermarkets. I do not support the legislation and I was astonished that my name had been placed on House Bill 193. After questioning the sponsor of the legislation, I was told my name had been inadvertently added to bill due to a clerical error. That mistake has since been corrected. In fact, as a supermarket owner, the legislation presents a perceived conflict-ofinterest for me. Should HB 193 come to the floor of the House of Representatives, I will not engage in the debate, nor will I cast a vote on the measure. Personally, I believe alcoholic beverages are already easily available in Delaware and I do not see any need to change the way in which these products are retailed. However, should HB 193 be enacted, I would be forced to carry beer and wine in my stores. I would rather not do this, but the nature of the business requires that I offer the same convenience as other markets. Failing to do so would give competitors an edge and place the people employed at my stores at risk. House Bill 193 is currently in the House Revenue & Finance Committee. State Rep. Gerald Hocker
38th District
Editor’s note
Frank Calio will be taking the summer off from writing his column.