Sadness has overtaken many with the closing of the Varsity (CHN June 28). Owner Bruce Stone noted that downtown Chapel Hill no longer seems to draw the older crowd that enjoys Varsity-type offerings. Mayor Kevin Foy was quoted as saying "like a lot of downtown properties, it could use some sprucing up."

The mayor's words remind me of the kettle calling the pot black. Over his four terms, Mayor Foy has not appreciably eliminated the major cause of the non-collegiate crowd shunning downtown, which is the vagrancy problem, a problem exacerbated by the persisting presence of the IFC's homeless shelter and soup kitchen in the old town hall. Like a receding horizon, the supposed move-out date for these deadbeat magnets keeps getting pushed further into the future. In response to a query about this on Friday, June 26th, Chris Moran of IFC said the move-out date is now 2012!

Nine years ago, I took on the challenge issued by one of the IFC's supporters and volunteered at the shelter/kitchen. For more than seven months I helped out twice a week, and one of my tasks involved filling out questionnaires about the "guests." I learned upwards of 95 percent of the male "guests" had come from other places, all up and down the East Coast. I'm sure the fame of Chapel Hill's hospitality to the homeless has only spread further since.

The IFC's shelter/kitchen may be great for the homeless of our nation, but what about the rest of us? How many businesses have closed in our downtown, and how many new businesses have taken a look and decided against locating there, because of the vagrancy-related lack of "older crowd" foot traffic? It's time for a real change in town government, one that will foster downtown businesses by promptly removing the prime magnet for vagrants.

Adrián R. Halpern

Chapel Hill

Daily bus rider has only good experience

The CHN recently published a letter from Ms. Courtney Parker describing "abusive behavior" from panhandlers while riding local transit buses (CHN June 28). I feel compelled to write to dispel the perception that such experiences are typical.

I, too, use Triangle Transit for my daily commute to Raleigh and wait at the same stop where Parker experienced her encounters. In years of making this commute, I have never experienced similar encounters. It is true that clients of the nearby IFC shelter do frequent the Franklin/North Columbia bus stop area. They do not, however, routinely (if ever) accost transit users or create "disturbances."

Furthermore, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Once, as I exited a bus in downtown Raleigh, the driver told me she was going to wait until I was safely on my way after gathering my bicycle and bags; she noticed a man near the stop who was behaving erratically. As a frequent transit user, I can attest to the commitment on the part of Triangle Transit drivers to the personal safety and security of their customers.

As for the unsocial behavior Parker reports on board a bus, this is perhaps more likely to occur on a local, fare-free system than on a regional, premium-fare route such as a Triangle Transit express route. Certainly any such incidents should be immediately reported to the operator and followed up by an e-mail or ordinary letter to transit management.

It would be unfortunate if overblown fears deterred citizens from using our safe and secure local and regional bus systems.

Ann Hartell

Carrboro

Thanks to all for saving the libraries

I would like to thank all those who recently helped save the Carrboro and Cedar Grove Branch Libraries from extinction. The outpouring of local support was truly wonderful as was the final decision of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Nerys Levy

Member of the 2000, 2004, 2007 Orange County Library Task Forces

Friend of the Carrboro Branch Library

Shameful more don't know of Rogers Road

Wow, only one out of five people in your recent Voices From The Hill (CHN June 28) knew where Rogers Road is and why it is in the news! I hope that is not indicative of the general population in these parts.

Collectively, we owe the residents of Rogers Road a debt of gratitude for having to put up with our landfill all these years. As for the four out of five who did not know where and why, this speaks to another issue -- that sense of community that seems to be a bit lacking these days. Come on folks, where is your sense of curiosity and caring?

George Livanos

Orange County

U.S. taking wrong path in Middle East

Before any further negotiations take place between the Arabs and Israel, President Obama must demand the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas for the past three years.

Government bureaucrats like Secretary Hillary Clinton, Middle East Envoy George Mitchell and Sen. Dianne Feinstein continue to pressure our true friend Israel to make concessions, while Obama shows his inexperience in dealing with terrorists.

Secretary Clinton says Israel must make concessions. "For Israel to get the support it's looking for visa-a-vis Iran, it can't stand on the sidelines with respect to the Palestinians and the peace efforts, and should halt settlement activity now -- they go hand in hand." They do not.

Many of the settlements in question consist of mobile homes on barren hilltops, which is no threat to peace; Iran launching ballistic missiles while enriching uranium most certainly is.

Continued expansion will show the Palestinian leadership that Israel will no longer cave into false promises of peace.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is not about land, it's about legitimacy, and the Arabs have never accepted another religious entity in the region. If territorial compromise had been the key, peace would have been achieved 62 years ago.

I trust that the Obama Administration can differentiate between myth and fact and start by applying pressure on the real perpetrators in this conflict. Those of us who value life will continue to fight for Israel, for there is no more room for lies and deception and appeasement.

Rene' de la Varre

Chapel Hill

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Chapel Hill News welcomes letters and columns from readers. Letters are limited to 250 words, columns to 550. Writers are limited to one letter a month and one column every three months. All submissions become property of The Chapel Hill News and McClatchy Newspapers.

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