Solve shelter problem today

The lack of an emergency cold weather shelter in Ashland can be solved. The City's Homeless Steering Committee has facilitated dialogue in the faith-based communities to address this need.

The Presbyterians and Trinity Episcopal have stepped up to provide one night each of cold weather shelter. This leaves five nights to go. The Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Temple Emek Shalom want to help. They propose partnering with the city of Ashland to improve this situation.

If the city of Ashland provides either The Community Center, Pioneer Hall, or The Grove, RVUUF and Temple Emek Shalom will provide trained volunteers and resources. In the spirit of this season, the time of year when gifts are exchanged and we celebrate peace and warmth of community, I ask the Ashland City Council members to consider partnering with the Interfaith Community by providing a facility where our most vulnerable citizens can find protection from the cold at least one more night a week.

Please place this on this evening's study session, and move it to the full council on Tuesday. Those who need shelter should not have to wait in the cold until you meet in January. — John Wieczorek, Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland, Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Double standard

So riddle me this: One football player kills himself and his wife, and there is a huge "take-away-all-our-guns" debate. Then the next week another football player kills his friend in a drunk driving wreck.

So why are they not trying to take away our automobiles? It's a double standard, that's why. — Pete Updike, Shady Cove

CP police: Watch traffic

Over the months I have witnessed near-collisions between First and Second streets on East Pine between pedestrians and cars, students, elderly and motor chairs. I have seen this between 8 and 9 a.m.

The past month there were nearly 10 near-collisions with a few around 3 to 5 p.m. I have saved at least three by honking my horn before they were hit.

Our police officers are busy patrolling the neighborhood instead of watching traffic on East Pine.

Students gun their cars toward the high school, and I've witnessed several misses.

I know that it will take a fatality before our upgraded patrol will take action. They have two new unmarked cars to watch traffic. They need to do a sting operation like Medford. — W. Mortensen, Central Point