West Newsmagazine 10-17-18

4 I OPINION I
October 17, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Affordable health care
To the Editor:
Politicians are not wrong in wanting a
better health care system for our country.
Democrats’ first opportunity at addressing
our system has obviously failed with the
Affordable Care Act. Premiums have spiked,
and there is no certainty for consumers in the
individual marketplace. In true form, those
on the left are taking this opportunity to place
blame on Republicans.
With election efforts in full swing, discussions
are beginning to heat up around
what was once viewed as an extreme, leftist
policy: single-payer health care. Led by the
likes of Sen. Bernie Sanders, more politicians
are beginning to embrace the idea of
a “Medicare for all” government-run health
care system. While they focus on the idea
that government control of the health care
system is simpler for everyone, they fail to
mention the heightened price tag.
Allowing our government to take over our
health care system is a very expensive process.
Recent studies have estimated government
spending would increase by over $32
trillion – a stifling number to be felt by all
taxpayers. This tax burden will likely most
negatively impact our working-class families.
These are people who are currently protected
by the tax breaks afforded to those insured
through their employer.
Do we need to make our health care system
better? Yes, absolutely. But completely disrupting
and eliminating the employer market
that serves almost 200 million people today
is not the solution. Our elected officials must
work to ensure we do not join in the inequities
and inefficiencies of a universal health
care system.
Rep. Jean Evans
Prop 2 key to parks’ preservation
To the Editor:
Proposition 2 on the Nov. 6 ballot would
give the public the opportunity to vote on any
“sale, lease, disposal, gift, structure or commercial
use not customarily associated with a
park’s use.” It does not ban all development,
nor does it require any type of tax or fee
increase. On the contrary, people are encouraged
to continue bringing their creative ideas
In this Issue
11
Growing Eureka
With new businesses and housing
on the horizon, Eureka is enjoying
an economic boom.
about our parks forward for public consideration
as they have since the county parks
system was first established in the 1960s.
Back then, generous and civic-minded
families began donating their beautiful
properties to the county for preservation
and public enjoyment. The county then
purchased additional park lands and grew
the system into the 71 different parks we all
enjoy today.
Today, we are seeing county parks being
used for cellphone tower sites, storage areas
for other county departments and some commercial
uses not intended by the original
donors.
The future of the county park system is
outlined in its recently completed Vision
2030 community survey and master plan,
which identifies new and improved trails,
playgrounds, athletic fields, shelters, historic/
cultural places and dog parks as the most
desired amenities and uses. Proposition 2 is a
reasonable next step in protecting our parks
for these and other intended uses. It is backed
by the St. Louis County Parks Foundation,
the St. Louis County Council and a broad
consortium of community organizations
devoted to improving the quality of life for
all parts of our diverse community. Similar
laws are already in place in St. Louis City and
in some municipalities in St. Louis County.
Proposition 2 will ensure that the people
– not politicians, lobbyists and developers –
decide how our parks are used and preserved
for future generations.
Gene McNary
Regarding ‘It’s time to move on’
To the Editor:
I am driven to write in response to Councilman
Ray Manton’s understanding of the
current situation involving my husband,
Tony Salvatore. In his letter to the editor
[“It’s time to move on,” West Newsmagazine,
Sept. 19], Mr. Manton states that Tony Salvatore
“continues to complain that a primary
reason for his election loss was because of
the support my campaign allegedly received
from Mayor Jim Bowlin.” Mr. Manton, you
miss the whole point of my husband’s quest
for justice. He has never complained about
the election outcome! Let me refresh your
memory.
Submit your letter to: editor@newsmagazinenetwork.com • 636.591.0010
12
On the Ballot
The ballot language of eight
St. Louis County charter
amendments, plus Prop P.
17
Women in Business
West Newsmagazine
salutes the enterprising
women of our community.
As reported in the Oct. 10 issue of West
Newsmagazine [“Attorney general’s office
investigates Sunshine Law complaints in
Wildwood”], my husband, Tony Salvatore,
ran for City Council Ward 2, against incumbent
Ray Manton, this last election.
As reported, an email from you, Ray, began
the systemic, coordinated abuse my husband
endured regularly throughout his campaign
and beyond.
At least six times, my husband was
approached by uniformed policemen, and
ordered to leave the area where he was stationed
[with signs and waving at motorists].
Please be aware, Tony was not breaking any
laws. The police were relying on ordinances
that did not apply. My husband even asked to
be cited, but the police refused!
My husband contacted legal advice and
was assured that his actions were completely
legal and well within campaign law and his
First Amendment rights.
It even went as far as the city of Wildwood
trying to obtain a warrant for my husband’s
arrest, as evidenced by employing prosecutor
Molly Proost to pursue a warrant application,
which was subsequently refused by her
office!
These antics by city hall went on and on
throughout his campaign. There was never
a dull moment, including an episode of one
of my husband’s signs being riddled with 17
gunshots.
So, Ray, I think that you are confused as to
why my husband is pursuing this. It has nothing
to do with the outcome of the election.
You are right: the people have spoken, and
you are the elected official. Where you are
wrong is that you, along with Mayor Bowlin,
city administrator Ryan Thomas and Wildwood
Precinct Police Capt. Tanner, worked
together to violate the city charter [11.3], city
ordinances [115.160], and The First Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution.
Cheryl Salvatore
CORRECTION: In the Oct. 10 article
“Entrepreneurship Week Returns Oct. 17-18,”
the Duree Center for Entrepreneurship in The
Hammond Institute at Lindenwood University
was inadvertently referred to as the Dupree
Center. West Newsmagazine regrets this error.
30
Battle on the Ballot
West Newsmagazine reporter
Jim Erickson examines both
sides of ‘Clean Missouri’
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