To The Telegram:
Where would our city be without such organizations as CASDA? I am thoroughly disappointed with our mayor and city councilors once again. With all their wisdom along with the Superior Housing Authority, they were not able to find a way to put a light at the end of the tunnel for CASDA's future housing.
How important is it to keep other groups like Boys and Girls Club or Harbor House in our town? It seems every time our taxes can be put to good use by giving to those in need, projects like ripping the foundations out from under the Palace Theater, End Zone and Odyssey are better ways of spending our taxes. The money wasted on that demolition project could have assisted CASDA housing for 10 years!
If we were in the military, the leadership of this city would face a court marshal for leaving personnel behind. Being a veteran myself, it is not in my vocabulary to leave anyone behind. CASDA plays a very critical part in the safety of our community by bridging a gap between what law enforcement can't do and preventing crimes from occurring. It may be difficult for our leadership to understand something many of us have experienced and they have not.
There is a lot of unreported crime in our town with people living in fear of retaliation if they report it to law enforcement. We still have a duty to protect our citizens and assist in their pursuit of happiness.
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If everyone in Superior could donate $2 a year for CASDA, there would be no problem of assisting them with office space. I believe it to be a necessary expense, and it should be worked into our budget. There are other organizations that could share the facility to help with expenses and work in harmony. The minimal expense to the taxpayer would be worth every cent. It helps those who have nowhere else to turn and possibly preventing a homicide or other crimes.
Even as I write this article, there are people being turned away. They need our help before the situation gets worse. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Last October, State Sen. Bob Jauch and I presented CASDA with "The Organization of the Year Award" on behalf of the Douglas County Democratic Party. This organization represented the very roots of what our country represents.
An organization with the excellent reputation that CASDA has in the community should never have to turn people away. I feel there will be few objectors to the small price we pay for the 20 staff and 20 volunteers of CASDA. Taking $2 a year of our taxes from each of us will not kill us, and it might very well prevent someone from being killed. Merry Christmas.
-- Dan Watland,
Superior
