Dear editor:
In the paper the other day, Walley Post was asking for volunteers to help with the parade. He was also looking for float and various other entries. Then he mentioned the parade would originate in the Conewango Ave. area.
I also read in the paper the other day that the police chief had asked city council to move the parade route to avoid three bars. Evidently the council satisfied his request. I have heard that other unfavorable actions have been implemented against these bars. I don't know but, I think a good newspaper would be right on top of this, it smells of "social engineering" to me. There's another name for it, I won't use it here. I frequent one of these establishments, what i find there is "blue collar" people on their way home from a day of productive labor, you know creating wealth. Something 80% of our work force has never experienced. What happens later in the day, i have no idea. However, whomever is there, has to be somewhere. Then comes the question. If we are all up-graded to the desired standards, wouldn't we all be on the bottom? There certainly wouldn't be anyone to look down on. Please note these establishments are "stand alone" operations. They weren't incubated, they weren't built with grants and they employ my neighbors.
Back to the volunteers. In the 1994-1998 era I worked with volunteer groups that cleaned and saved the steps and bricks on the riverbank. They also rebuilt and cleaned up Washington Park all in co-operation and co-ordination with the all inclusive city council and Ken Dupont. The dollar value of these projects, you wouldn't believe if I told you. I'll keep it to myself. As a committee member of the Warren County Republican Committee, I have assisted in the construction of twelve floats. Eleven of the twelve floats won trophies. From "Grand Marshall", first place, second place, sometimes two trophies. The work would start in May or June and run to parade day. The hours spent, the fun, and the dollars, you wouldn't believe.
It was just two weeks ago, I had breakfast with Congressman Glenn Thompson. He will be here for the parade. I promised him there would be a Republican float in the parade. I am not the person to break a promise but, if my leadership decides to arbitrarily omit a particular segment of MY community from the celebration, there is no way I can participate.
Dave White
Warren