Double standard for city of Salisbury and county?
Why is there a double standard for Salisbury and the county? The city started Fibrant, against warnings about competition, has not broken even since 2010, lost $4.1 million last year, borrowed from the city’s water and sewer capital reserve $7.6 million, caused the city’s bond rating to be reduced and possibly a higher interest rate, not paying anything on the principal and just started on the interest. Where is the opposition?
But there is so much over the purchase of the West End Plaza at a cost of $3.4 million, even establishing an organization to unseat several of the commissioners, and we should all know what the reason is.
The commissioners did not go along with the school board request for another $7 million-plus for a new office on South Main Street on contaminated soil and very little parking once the other corner was used by Integro. They were offered a number of alternatives including the mall with ample parking and space but that was not what the city wanted. Even the First Bank Building on West Innes seems to be a reasonable facility.
I assume you think by replacing opposition, you will get your way and increase the debt for Rowan County as Salisbury is in Rowan County also. But a tax increase of any kind will be blamed on the commissioners and the purchase of the old mall. Commission Chairman Jim Sides has stated over and over that he is not in favor of any tax increase.
Do the math, people. Who is spending millions without any chance of being in the black? According to County Manager Gary Page, the mall is expecting a contingency of $75,000; with some cooperation, possibly better than that.
Maybe we need more unaffiliated candidates. If all who switched to unaffiliated voted that way, there might be a different outcome.
— Barbara Earley
Salisbury

A welcome change
This letter is to thank the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education for its decision to revise the policy that prevented student-formed and student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs (“GSAs”) from meeting in our schools.
In 1984, Congress passed the Equal Access Act, requiring public secondary schools to provide equal access for extracurricular clubs. The legislation was initiated to protect religious clubs. The Act requires schools to treat all student-initiated groups equally, regardless of the religious, political, philosophical beliefs, or other subject matters discussed at their meetings. If public schools allow some student-formed and student-led extracurricular clubs, such as the Latin Club or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, then they must allow all extracurricular clubs.
Harassment and bullying are serious problems in our schools today. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are the targets of a disproportionate share of these problems. High levels of harassment and bullying correlate with poorer educational outcomes, lower future aspirations, frequent school absenteeism, and lower grade-point averages. Recent tragedies involving LGBT students (and students perceived to be LGBT) underscore the need for safer schools.
GSAs can, and do, play an important role in promoting safer schools and creating more welcoming learning environments for all students. Although the efforts of GSAs might focus primarily on providing support for LGBT students, students with LGBT family members and friends, and students perceived to be LGBT, their overwhelming message of respect, tolerance and inclusion benefit all our students. By encouraging dialogue and providing supportive resources, GSAs can help make schools safe and affirming environments for everyone.
Our school board deserves great credit for coming together unanimously to make our schools a little more welcoming, as well as coming into compliance with the law, by permitting GSAs in our schools. Our community should continue to combat bullying by increasing all students’ sense of belonging in their schools.
— Michael Clawson
Salisbury
Clawson is president of Salisbury-Rowan Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

Instead of medians
Instead of causing more inconvenience to the business and customers in Salisbury as they have on Highway 70, why doesn’t the city spend some money to repair or resurface some of the streets that you almost have to use an ATV to travel on? You won’t have to go far to find some. Lee Street and Church Street at the court house just to mention two. I have not heard one positive comment on medians and four way stop intersections.
— Ernest Cowan
Salisbury

Good Samaritans
Recently I was in my yard removing two political signs. In the process of doing so, I fell on my already-broken arm, which was in a sling. I was unable to get up. After a few minutes, a car passed by and I literally screamed, “Somebody please help me.” The driver of the car did not see me lying in the yard; however, she heard my cry for help.
She and her daughter jumped out of their car and carefully helped me to get on my feet, and with both of their arms around me walked me to my back door. I said, “God bless both of you,” and thanked them many times before they left. They stayed with me until they were sure that I was OK. When my daughter, Kim Walton, principal at Hurley Elementary School, came to visit me that same day, she called and thanked them for rescuing her mom.
I told them that they were angels, Good Samaritans. I had them write their names down for me, because I was going to send a letter to the editor. I got their permission to use their names. These angels are Eller Alston and her daughter KeKe Richardson. It is so comforting to know that there are still angels and Good Samaritans among us.
— Susan Tutterow Morgan
Spencer

Food drive successful
The National Association of Letter Carriers of Salisbury, Branch 934, is pleased to announce our food drive was a success! We collected over 34,000 pounds of donated goods, which we gave to the Salvation Army, Main Street Mission in China Grove and Rowan Helping Ministries.
It took hard work and dedication from many people, businesses and organizations. We hope everyone who participated realizes they have our gratitude.
Thanks to our sponsors, including the U.S. Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. Publix donated shopping bags, Campbell’s Soup donated mailing cards, Food Lion provided a truck and trailer and Store No. 416 handled recycling. Mayor Paul Woodson declared May 10, 2014, Official Letter Carriers’ Food Drive Day in Salisbury.
Postmaster Ellen Hebert, United Way’s Jackie Harris and Dennis Simms, Salvation Army’s Josh Morse, Main Street Mission’s Anne Corriher and Rowan Helping Ministries’ Nate Valentine helped organize, advertise and run the event, including providing volunteers to unload, sort and reload donations. A special shout out to Wells Fargo Bank and Taylor Clay Product crews. Thanks to the Postal Service clerks and rural carriers who cleared docks and handled donations.
Publicity kudos are due to Tammy Lilly, Michael Thomas, Ellen Hebert, David Whisenant, Susan Hancock WBTV, the Salisbury Post, WSOC, WFAE, WSTP and others.
Our gratitude is greatest to all the kind people in Salisbury and Rowan who stepped up and helped us “Stamp Out Hunger.”
— Kim Lane
China Grove
Lane coordinated “Stamp Out Hunger.”