Letters to the Editor: Not against fiber idea, but the tax behind it

The Holland Sentinel
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Not against fiber idea, but the tax behind it

I'm OK with city owned fiber network. I'm not OK with a property tax to pay for it.

  1. Holland BPW fiber has been around for 30 years and after numerous costly studies for decades, they still have not found a way to manage it efficiently enough to be a sustainable utility. It remains subsidized by the electric, water and sewer utilities.

  2. The existing BPW fiber network spans several townships now. The CITY property tax will support the entire fiber enterprise currently installed. Township customers will be offered the same monthly price if it happens to be next to your home/ business but they aren't paying the property tax. So city residents will be subsidizing township customers unless (not likely) city residents will get a reduced rate.

  3. Estimates are based on 2021 figures before 10-12 percent inflation and material and contractor shortages. This will cost more than their rose-colored glasses and outdated figures say. Their monthly rates will soon be unsustainable without increases year over year. Those same optimists are basing this all on 51 percent take rate — betting most people will sign up and pay for service and never cancel, even if something better comes along in the next 25 years. Not realistic!

  4. 25 years is a long time to saddle a property owner for technology that matures and needs replacement. Sure the glass strands may last that long, but switches, computers and network drivers will last maybe 10. BPW will quickly fall behind wireless 5G or 6G or satellite offerings that are likely better options in the future than running fiber to service every single property in the city limits.

  5. With a yes vote, the city will be required to install the fiber to serve every property in the city limits, even if that property never intends to use the service. This is wasteful. Not even every property in the city limits has a public water main.

Dan Sorek

Holland

Holland is learning to become more inclusive

Columnist Kristen Slater may speak for many more current “newbies” to Holland. I appreciate that she did not appear to be “throwing stones.”

However, the headline seemed to say it all: Holland is learning. I hope some of the new people are learning some positive things from the Holland natives, too.

More: Kristin Slater: Change is hard, but Holland is learning.

I speak from the perspective of someone who moved here in the 1970s from the East side of Michigan. There was definitely the attitude amongst many that, “If yer not Dutch, yer not much!” Now, back in the area after decades being gone (although still in West Michigan) I appreciate the locally bred more than ever.

Sure, they have mellowed in good ways, but most were sincerely good and God-fearing people back then and maybe I just “fell” into a great neighborhood, but I don’t know where one could find more sincere, caring and loving people. I feel blessed and it’s a gift to be here. During these same few decades, the world around us has only become more Godless and frightening.

So ... when in Rome ... as the saying goes. If people would like quiet one day of the week, whatever the reason, one might do well to respect their views and enjoy the quiet.

Sorry for this low blow, but maybe some would rather go back to where week-ends mean flying bullets.

God bless America and God bless Holland, newbies and natives alike. Hopefully we can do more than just tolerate each other and actually learn from and appreciate one another.

Linda Kienitz Molitor

Holland

Whitmer delivers on her promises, deserves re-election

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is a special asset to Michigan and the state’s biggest advocate. A lifelong Michigander, Whitmer proudly exerts passion and dedication to moving our state forward.

Gretchen Whitmer’s accomplishments are extensive. The following examples are just a few items to highlight:

  • Whitmer made the largest dollar commitment in history to K-12 education, equalizing funding among districts without raising taxes.

  • 170,000 Michiganders are receiving career training and steps to higher wages due to her Michigan Reconnect and Future for Frontliners programs. Other participants will follow as Whitmer seeks to increase the number of working age adults with a college degree or skill certificate with a goal of 60 percent of the population by 2030.

  • The governor is aggressively upgrading and paving roads and rebuilding bridges as part of a $5 billion investment.

  • Whitmer’s insistence on eliminating lead pipes in Michigan cities is allowing residents to enjoy clean drinking water.

  • Gretchen Whitmer secured a $7 billion investment from General Motors for new factories in order to guarantee automotive manufacturing in the future and thousands of good-paying jobs.

Gretchen Whitmer serves the people of Michigan every day. Her grit and determination to “Get It Done” for Michigan has earned Whitmer re-election as governor in November.

Bob Bird

Holland

We need to continue quality employer-provided insurance

As a nurse by trade, I have seen how health and financial outcomes can vary depending on health insurance coverage. However, things became personal when my youngest was diagnosed with autism. Because of the care and attention my child needed, we decided it would be best for me to stay at home as a family.

None of this would have been an option without employer-provided healthcare.

We were able to adjust our lives as a now-single-income family, and be present for our children because my husband's workplace provided quality health insurance. Not just insurance for himself, but coverage that extended to all his loved ones.

With costs rising all around us, from gas to groceries, knowing that my family has quality health care through my spouse's job has given us priceless personal and financial peace of mind. We do not have to choose between caring for our children’s health and putting food on the table.

That makes a big difference.

Employer-provided coverage remains one of the best ways Americans receive health coverage. In Michigan alone, this program currently has 5.1 million people insured. We are proud to say our family is one of those benefiting and thriving under employer-provided coverage.

Jennifer Selleck

Holland

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Not against fiber idea, but the tax behind it