June 1 Letters: On courthouse, ‘Taxinator’

Courthouse project provides opportunity

In the coming years, Modesto will see the rise of a new courthouse building downtown. When this new structure is in place the buildings on the existing Stanislaus County Courthouse site will be vacated. This provides us with an amazing opportunity to repurpose these buildings.

The existing courthouse on 11th Street and Hall of Records on I Street are fantastic and well-preserved examples of midcentury International Style architecture. I see great potential for a project converting these buildings into offices, housing, retail or other commercial uses.

Too often throughout the past century, our city has taken the wrong path in these situations. Over and over again we have seen our historic buildings torn down and as a result have lost much of our history and great architecture. We cannot afford to make the same mistake here. Buildings can live on well beyond their initial use. For an example, just look across the street at the former post office that has been beautifully restored and converted into private law offices.

Let’s take this opportunity to create something amazing and sustainable for the future of our downtown and preserve our history in the process.

No-taxinator offers criticism, but no solutions

Re “Give ‘The Taxinator’ a poll on his new sales pitch” (Letters, May 10): The writer of the letter must be president of the CAVE men: Citizens Against Virtually Everything. He has been railing against local MID board members, city council members and mayors, county supervisors, and StanCOG members for decades. The two things he has never done is run for office or offer realistic options to improve those bodies.

And he won’t. How do I know? After an MID board meeting a few years ago director Glen Wild asked the writer point blank, “If you’re so passionate about MID doing the right thing, why don’t you run for a director’s seat and really get involved in the decision making?” His reply: “No way, then I’d be one of you!”

There’s the leadership response I was looking for!

The writer doesn’t want more taxes or higher rates, and neither do I. However, true leaders have to make unpopular decisions for the betterment of the entity they serve. The writer wants better roads, water and electricity when needed, courts that lock up bad people, police and firefighters who respond when called, but it appears he is unwilling to help pay for it.

This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 4:52 PM with the headline "June 1 Letters: On courthouse, ‘Taxinator’."