Comments by Due_Process
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Posted on December 15 at 8 p.m.
The Problems we are having in Emporia and Lyon County are affecting the credibility of our community and our leaders. While the local residents have public meetings to complain about legal and illegal immigrants in our community, there remains an absence of safe housing that is affordable to the average family. Our city has yet to agree on a housing code to address this.
Violence and violent crimes continue to be perpetrated equally by whites and non-whites, though notably not often Somalis. Domestic violence in particular continues unabated among the good people of our town.
Property crimes affect more Emporians in terms of dollars lost than a few unlicensed drivers who cannot obtain insurance because they are not permitted a drivers license. Vehicle and residential burglaries typically rise at this time of year. The monetary loss from damage and theft often reaches over $20,000 for each break-in. The people most often responsible are neither illegal immigrants nor Somalis.
It is not accidental that the same discriminatory and erroneous debate continues across our state and our nation. It is no mistake that substantive issues are ignored while the public is inflamed over a non-issue that is more a creature of political rhetoric.
An informed electorate is the necessary underpinning of an effective democracy. But compassion is what holds the community together. This holiday season, please take some time to be compassionate to your neighbors and do a little reading on the issues.
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Posted on December 22 at 5:53 a.m.
Emporia and Lyon County share retail sales tax revenues with the State, whereas manufacturing and production produces income for the area that stays in the community. Retail stores create a few dozen minimum wage jobs. Manufacturing creates many times more jobs at living wages. It is time to look at basic economic principles that say controlling the means of production is more powerful and effective than simply controlling distribution (retail). While I would greatly enjoy more retail options, the long-term economic sustainability of Emporia requires more businesses that manufacture or assemble products and generate income. Retail is just another way of handing our money to entities outside of Emporia.
On City buys retail study proposal