Reader’s Forum
Cost of software upgrades should be included
Dear Editor: Hardware financing is only half the story (Financing computer upgrades, February 2001). Software upgrades for application programs, operating systems and network equipment can occur at a higher frequency than the typical three- to four-year lifespan of PC hardware.
The cost of acquisition, installation and license tracking of software upgrades should be included in any financing plan. Many of the larger software vendors have heavily discounted software upgrade agreements with the states that cities and counties can participate in to level out the spikes in software upgrade costs.
— Paul Thorn
Manager
Office of Management Information Technology
Annapolis, Md.
The Sopranos: Thumbs down, thumbs up
Dear Editor: I take exception to your recent editorial mocking the decision by the Essex County executive and county sheriff not to issue a production permit for The Sopranos (“County tells hot TV show to fuhgeddaboudit,” February 2001). Although I am not Italian, it bothers me that the male leads (thugs) in this show are portrayed largely in a sympathetic light. These characters are extremely violent and sexist, and they are lousy fathers. I am surprised more Italian-Americans have not complained.
Public servants are routinely criticized for lacking conviction and ethics. Yet, here you are, mocking Mr. Treffinger and Mr. Armando for exhibiting just such traits. The fact that the production would have brought money into Essex County is undeniable. But these two men have determined that the production is not appropriate for their community. They are offended by the show and have acted accordingly.
If you like the show, fine. Invite the crew to film in your neighborhood. If HBO decides to create a dramatic series about those lovable guys who run child prostitution rings, maybe you can invite them in. And if they ever get around to developing a comedy series about the wacky antics of the Crips and Bloods, you can invite them in, too. Anything for a buck, right?
— Charles Ball Gadsden, Ala.
Dear Editor: I agree with your February viewpoint about the overly sensitive county executive. As a native of “North Joisey” who lived in Essex County during the ’60s and ’70s, as well as someone who went to high school with the offspring of known members of organized crime, who just happened to be in waste management, my sense is that the portrayal strikes too close to home. Badda bing, badda boom.
— Jay Gsell
County Manager
Genesee County, N.Y.
Swallows and bats can help combat mosquitos
Dear Editor: While your comments in “Mosquito control: Trench warfare and beyond,” February 2001, were interesting and enlightening, I was disappointed that you neglected to mention anything about natural predators of the mosquito and how municipalities could, at low cost and with no fear of pollution, control some of the little devils’ invasion.
I refer specifically to swallows and bats. I believe the public — and perhaps the media — have been poorly informed as to the benefits of these natural predators.
Every day, each swallow will eat hundreds of mosquitos. When the swallow clocks out at dusk, the bat, the night shift, takes over and eats more than the swallow did.
The problem is that most humans are afraid of bats because of bogus stories over the years, and, except for bird watchers, few people know much about swallows. I must admit that I have made no progress here in Ravenna with either bird or bat, but I continue to struggle and hope that, this year, we can at least encourage the swallow with some appropriate building sites and materials. Parks and Recreation and the Health Department are coming around slowly.
I would appreciate anything you could do to encourage at least small municipalities to educate their citizens about the benefits of welcoming the swallow and the bat to their cities.
— Richard Leonard
Councilman
Ravenna, Ohio
Heavy equipment motor pool can be beneficial
I enjoyed Lindsay Isaacs motor pool article (“The wheel deal,” March 2001). The pool concept can be expanded, and serious money saved, by the establishment of a heavy equipment motor pool.
A heavy equipment pool can increase use, and decrease the inventory of heavy equipment significantly reducing the investment in equipment necessitating a high capital outlay. By supplementing the pool with a contractual arrangement with outside suppliers, temporary instances of heavier needs are met by the outside contractor.
— Bob Stanton
Director, Polk County
Fleet Management
President, Florida Association of Fleet Administrators
Letters may be mailed to 6151 Powers Ferry Rd., N.W., Atlanta GA 30339; faxed to (770) 618-0349; or e-mailed to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for purposes of style, clarity and length.