Reader’s Forum

Will COPS grants be sacrificed?

To the editor: Thank you so very much for the great “Viewpoint” column in the June 2002 American City & County (“Local law enforcement is getting robbed”). You stated with detail and passion the case for local law enforcement and the need to support local government as we work to provide for hometown security. As the page 4, upfront message, it will get the attention it deserves.
— Karen Anderson
Mayor, Minnetonka, Minn.
President, National League of Cities

To the editor: I enjoyed your commentary on the pending demise of the COPS program. I was in Washington for a grants workshop recently, and our group had the opportunity to meet briefly with various lawmakers. I complained that many of my county’s bread-and-butter grants were going to be sacrificed in the name of homeland security, and I asked if they would consider proposing a tax increase to fund these new initiatives instead. Gee, you’d have thought I insulted their grandmothers.
— John Simsen
Grant Coordinator
Galveston County, Texas

Photo illustrates poor attention to safety

To the editor: The [June cover photo], attributed to the American Water Works Association, captures an OSHA nightmare. There doesn’t appear to be sufficient shoring. The spoils setback is not a minimum of two feet (look at the laborer’s shoe position). Likewise, the fitter in the hole has a blocked escape route (there is temporary shoring between him and the ladder).
— Dennis Minks
Environmental Engineer
Louisville (Ky.) Development Authority

Latex paint: Keep it out of landfills

To the editor: I would like to comment on “County keeps waste paint out of the HHW cycle” (May 2002).

I applaud evaluating means of reducing cost in Household Hazardous Waste programs, and I agree that latex paint is not hazardous. However, it is recyclable. Solidifying the paint and putting it into the landfill is not a good waste management practice and should not be encouraged.

I am on the board of directors for the Carolina Recycling Association and have chaired the Household Hazardous Waste Council. We encourage recycling of latex paint whenever possible.

Our HHW program, managed by the City of Greensboro for Guilford County, has been in operation for seven years. An average of 650 citizens use the program each month, and we collected over 580,000 pounds of HHW last year. We’re proud that we are able to recycle 76 percent of the waste collected.

Our latex paint is sent to a company where it is reprocessed and sent to Third World countries to be re-used. Paint collected in our county was used to paint a hospital in Africa.

Recycling options should be encouraged and recognized.
— Debbie Meurs
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Greensboro, N.C.

Letters can be mailed to 6151 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta GA 30339; faxed to (770) 618-0349; or e-mailed to Bill Wolpin at [email protected]business.com.

They may be edited for style, clarity and length.