Bee Heard

(Editor's note: Call The Bee at 632-0390 and record a one-minute comment on our Bee Heard line. It gives readers an opportunity to comment quickly and candidly on items of local or regional interest. Callers do not have to identify themselves and no callers' names will be used. In the interest of fairness and good taste, The Bee will not publish derogatory or insulting comments. All comments are by our readers and are subject to editing.

.My taxes have gone up approximately $300, and my school taxes have gone up the equivalent. You can't afford to live in a decent house in Amherst and retire unless two things happen: you are wealthy and you inherit a lot of money. It's unfortunate that only people can live in Amherst who are working with an excellent job or who have extreme wealth from pensions, inheritance, etc., but the normal person can't seem to retire and live in a nice house in Amherst.

.In response to Dan Ward announcing that once again he is running for another political office, Dan, the only "myriad problems" the people in this community have are politicians like you with your agendas. Why don't you try getting a job in the real world instead of running for one seat after another in local government? Maybe then you'll figure out that the people really just need you politicians to stay out of our lives.

.There I was sitting in the restaurant, eating my spaghetti and really enjoying it, when along came a big fat rat and sat down beside me. (Well, not really, it was outside the window.) What are these restaurants going to do about cleaning up their act using their totes, etc? And, close the gate to the garbage disposal. The rats are really enjoying it. Don't expect us residents to do it all; we don't want any restaurants to have seating quarters for rats.

.The IDA tax breaks to companies moving to Amherst is a scam, with resident taxpayers the victims. There are no real economic benefits to the town. All this means is added services, more traffic and residents paying more taxes to cover what these companies moving here should pay. It's corporate welfare at taxpayer expense.

.I have a child who plays Amherst Youth Hockey at the Pepsi Center. Amherst residents are fortunate to have such a wonderful facility in our town, but there is a problem. It's filthy; I don't even like to sit down and watch his games. Patrons leave their trash everywhere, and the Pepsi Center should have someone to clean locker rooms. It smells really bad. We recently attended a tournament in Ontario and had the opportunity to be hosted at two different rinks that are much older than the Pepsi Center. Their rinks are immaculate. We hear all the news about MRSA and staff infections; let's get this once-beautiful facility cleaned up.

.When is the Amherst Town Board going to wake up and support projects that will benefit the entire town? Maple Road is not a residential area, unless one considers a shooting club a residence. It always amazes me to hear those who do not own property tell those who do what they can or cannot do with it.

.To the caller who reported a decrease in their tax bill, you are one of the fortunate ones. Friends from Willow Ridge, Eggertsville and Williamsville all report to me an increase in the past two years. One friend from Snyder reported a $6 decrease for this year.

.I am so sick of the high taxes in Amherst. I can't readily recall what Supervisor Mohan said in his campaign promises about taxes, but whatever he said, I am completely fed up, and I am so disappointed in Amherst residents who just shrug their shoulders and say, "That's the way it is."

.It seems crime is drastically increasing in the Town of Amherst. If the town justices spent more time in court, instead of worrying about their own law practices, things might improve.

.I'm sure Dr. Mohan, as well as most people in the real world, know how unions work. The slackers are protected and get the same wage benefits as do the hard workers, and then it's gimme, gimme, gimme at the bargaining table.

.It seems like one in every five cars that comes down our street either has a loud muffler or loud pipes. I wish the Amherst Police would start cracking down on it, like Buffalo has. It comes under the quality of life issue.

.I wonder if you checked with the Amherst IDA to determine why there have been problems in the past two years collecting the payments in lieu of taxes. Did the town fail to bill accurately for special district tax during the time Satish Mohan has been supervisor?

.Councilman Guy Marlette is looking for fresh ideas from fresh voices. This will only happen if the council passes Councilman Ward's bill to limit the term of office of members of town committees.