Real purpose of bag tax is to raise revenue Re: “Nickel tax on bags coming to MontCo,” May 4
The Montgomery County Council just passed a 5-cent bag tax. Well, they won’t get my nickel. I stopped shopping in D.C. when it passed a similar tax, and I will be now making all my retail purchases in Frederick County or Virginia.
We do not need a bag tax, especially in the current economic climate, where the price of everything is going up. I also don’t believe it will have a significant impact in reducing pollution. I believe the real intent is to raise additional revenue for Montgomery County.
What we do need is a leaner, more efficient county government.
Richard Rogers
North Potomac
Abortion bill should not pose ‘dilemma’ for real pro-lifer
Re: “Daniels faces dilemma in Planned Parenthood bill,” April 28
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is being touted as a possible Republican presidential nominee, is certainly not pro-life if it he faced a “dilemma” over whether to sign a bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks gestation, when doctors say the baby feels pain more intensely than adults. The bill also requires that women seeking an abortion be told that life begins at conception, and that abortionists have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
Perhaps Daniels’ real “dilemma” was over whether to cut funding for Planned Parenthood, which performs over 332,000 abortions a year — or one baby killed every 95 seconds.
Francois L. Quinson
Gaithersburg
Metro elevator problems are inexcusable
Despite a medical procedure that requires me to limit physical activity, I recently had to walk up eight flights of steps to reach my car parked in the New Carrollton Metro Station garage. I had no choice. All the elevators were out of service, as has been routine of late. Walking with me was a gentleman who recently had heart problems; his cell phone was out and he was ready to dial 911 at the first sign of palpitations.
Most troubling was the lack of concern expressed by Metro employees, who repeatedly told me that the garage is run by the state of Maryland, not Metro. They laughed when I asked if Metro could provide the disabled with a shuttle service to the top levels.
Thousands of people are charged $8.50 per day to park in this facility before continuing their journey on Metro, so it baffles me how Metro can claim that the inoperable garage elevators are not their concern. Not only is this irresponsible behavior by all parties involved, I suspect accessibility laws are being violated and no one is being held accountable.
It is only a matter of time before someone who is not physically able to navigate the stairs is injured or suffers a fatal heart attack.
Donna Drelick
Annapolis
