Copyright 1999 The Baltimore Sun Company
THE
BALTIMORE SUN
May 1, 1999, Saturday ,FINAL
SECTION: EDITORIAL ,10A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LENGTH: 1338 words
BODY:
Year 2000 bill promotes readiness, balances interests
Having read
the April 12 letter from two past presidents of the Maryland Trial Lawyers
Association ("Year 2000 bills don't protect the public"), I am concerned that
there has been a misunderstanding of the purpose and effect of the Y2K
legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly: the Year 2000 Commerce
Protection Act.
Some have characterized this legislation as a "bankers"
or " big business" bill. That is inaccurate.
The bill began in a
Maryland Chamber of Commerce subcommittee that was composed of representatives
of a broad spectrum of large and small businesses, as well as private
individuals and local government officials seeking a remedy for the Y2K dilemma.
It seeks to protect individuals and businesses that have taken good
faith steps to become Y2K-ready and indeed will encourage businesses to take
such steps to qualify for its protection. In a lawsuit, for example, a defendant
must prove to the judge or jury that he implemented a coherent Y2K plan to
qualify for the defense the bill affords. A business that takes a cavalier or
slipshod approach to the problem will receive no protection.
What this
bill does not do is equally important: It does not provide immunity; it does not
apply to a product liability action against a manufacturer for wrongful death or
personal injury, and it does not apply to worker's compensation claims.
The bill protects consumers when a business has failed to meet the
standards of care the bill sets forth. It protects businesses if, and only if,
they have exercised appropriate care.
Maryland needs to ensure we become
Y2K- ready. This legislation provides incentives to make that happen.
Arthur D. Ebersberger, Annapolis
The writer is vice chairman of
the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
Concealed weapons make citizens safer
To see that it would be a good idea to have a law in Maryland allowing
citizens to carry concealed weapons, we need only look at the experience of the
31 states that have enacted concealed-carry laws.
Did crimes against
persons go down? Yes. Did those carrying guns legally go on rampages and shoot
innocents? No.
Would crimes against individuals go down if the liberals
in Annapolis passed a concealed carry law? You bet.
Barry R. Cohen,
Owings Mills
Oil industry needs time to produce cleaner fuels
The Sun's April 18 editorial "Cleaner gasoline, cleaner
air" said the oil industry "objects" to the production of a low-sulfur
gasoline. That is incorrect.
What the industry objects to is
any law or regulation that requires production of a
low-sulfur gasoline too quickly. Producing the sort of fuel
used in California requires not only a substantial investment, but major changes
in the refining process which take time to design and implement.
It took
California nearly 20 years to develop its low-sulfur fuel. Yet
the time frame being suggested to introduce such fuel in other parts of the
country is closer to four years.
Your editorial implied that the oil
industry is not willing to make investments for cleaner air. To the contrary,
the industry has, at substantial cost, removed lead from
gasoline and installed emissions-reduction equipment at our
refineries and retail locations. These investments have contributed
significantly to the major emissions reductions achieved since 1970.
The
oil industry has made great strides in protecting the environment, and it will
continue to do so if given appropriate consideration for time and cost.
J. Steven Wise, Baltimore
The writer is manager of government
relations for Crown Central Petroleum Co.
Baltimore needs a leader of
Kweisi Mfume's stature
I support the effort to draft Kweisi Mfume for
mayor because he commands the national and international recognition that can
help Baltimore and the metropolitan area move forward.
Mr. Mfume can
motivate citizens to work on the problems the city faces and be an inspiration
for our youth to be all they can be. Our neighborhoods need his leadership and
vision.
Mr. Mfume has a record of accomplishment as a Congressman and
NAACP president. When speaking for Baltimore, he would be heard throughout the
country. His stature would be an asset as the city seeks to attract businesses
and pursues other opportunities such as hosting the Olympic games.
No
one can revitalize the city by himself, but in times of need, Baltimore should
call upon its best to serve.
Pat Gorman, Baltimore
Mayor's race
should focus on issues, not individuals
In all the efforts to draft
Kweisi Mfume for mayor, including his endorsement by three former Baltimore
mayors -- Thomas D'Alessandro, Clarence Burns and William Donald Schaefer --
have you heard one word about what policies Mr. Mfume would pursue?
Shouldn't we be considering the policy agenda more than the possible
candidates?
What are the prospective mayoral candidates' positions on
the public schools, city taxes, vacant housing, public safety, racial tolerance,
economic development, gambling, city government and public transportation. How
would they strengthen our neighborhoods and keep our streets and alleys clean?
The purpose of primaries and general elections is to allow debate over
policies and priorities, which this city desperately needs.
It is
dangerous to suggest that any one person can be a savior for Baltimore and the
region. And it is foolish to anoint a single candidate before we know his or her
agenda.
David F. Tufaro, Baltimore
Balkan civil wars aren't
vital to U.S. interests
As a former U.S. Marine, I understand that we
must at times send our young men into combat to protect our country and way of
life. But this should be a last resort for the gravest situations that face our
nation.
Although Slobodan Milosevic's actions in the Balkans are
despicable, they are a sad part of what is basically a religious civil war in
Kosovo. Evil things happen regularly throughout the world. Stalin purged and
murdered millions in Russia. The Pol Pot regime did the same in Cambodia.
Several bloody civil wars taking place in Africa today.
The United
States cannot always militarily protect people's human rights. We have too many
problems that need to be addressed at home to get bogged down in someone else's
civil war.
I think it would be a tragic mistake to send ground troops to
Kosovo. I have two teen-age sons,and I would not want to see them killed in a
conflict that is not vital to our interests.
The Balkan conflict is a
European problem. Let the United Europe solve it.
Leon Atkins, Bel Air
Huge church doesn't belong in rural community
We appreciate the
fact that columnist Gregory Kane journeyed to our country community, attended
our meeting concerning the Bethel AME Church's plans to build here and reported
on it fairly in his April 21 column, "Wanted: Home for church, with friendly
neighbors." But, beyond the points Mr. Kane's column made, there is a deep sense
of betrayal shared by many in this community.
The decision to put this
church in Granite does not make sense in terms of land-use planning. This
community of slightly more than 1,000 households has been designated a resource
preservation area; land resources can't be preserved by constructing such a
large institutional complex.
We wonder why the county would encourage
this institution to move into a rural area with no public water or sewerage
systems, poor roads and inadequate fire protection.
When we oppose an
institution that threatens to overwhelm our water and road systems, we are
called "NIMBYs" and other unpleasant names. But the way county officials are
approving these large projects, every back yard will soon have its own mega-
complex.
We believe major developments should be limited to growth areas
the county has designated, where taxpayers have made the investments needed to
provide the appropriate infrastructure.
Bob Hocutt, Granite
The
writer is president of the Greater Patapsco Community Association.
LOAD-DATE: May 3, 1999
