TO THE EDITOR:

I was interested to read that NetJets is planning to expand its operations in Ohio to 1,000 employees. I would assume that means more flights in and out of Lunken.

So, we are going to give NetJets a tax break to do business in Cincinnati, where their noisy jets will decrease property values and therefore residential property tax revenues in some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Cincinnati.

Now, I can't imagine why the mayor and the other whiz kids down at City Hall wouldn't want to get behind a brilliant plan like that. Besides, we all know how poor old Warren Buffet, whose company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns NetJets, needs a tax break. Why he can barely scrape a couple of billion together any more.

Mark Krumme, Mount Lookout

Dems have nerve pointing any fingers

Between Clinton's tolerant handling of al-Qaida and the failing economy he left for President Bush, and the left's refusal to let Republicans put a cap on the pain and suffering part of the frivolous lawsuits wrecking the health-care system, I find it ironic that Democrats are pointing fingers.

Robert Moon, Colerain Township

Zoo membership offers good value

This is in reference to the letter ("Families can't afford multiple museum fees," June 5), about not being able to afford a pass for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and museums. On looking into what I could afford this year, I decided the zoo provided the best price and most activities for families. The price for one adult admission is $11.50 and each child is $6. I have a family of five (two adults), so right away I was looking at spending $41, not including parking at $6.50.

I looked into a zoo membership pass, and a two-adult family pass would only cost $55 for a whole year, including a coupon book for the zoo, two Monday through Thursday free admission for guest passes (or discounted for the weekend), and one free guest pass for the Festival of Lights. If your family goes once during the "regular" season, and once during Festival of Lights, then you have paid more than you would have for a pass. Now through the end of June, the zoo has the zoo babies and other activities planned for the summer through November, including a sneak preview for member cardholders during the Festival of Lights.

I highly recommend for anyone looking for a cheap family pass to get one from the Zoo. This offer ends for the discount membership package at the end of June.

Stephanie Feldman, Colerain Township

Raising admission fee not good for zoo

As a long-time Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden member, I would like to take exception to the article in the May 30 Enquirer stating that the zoo is a bargain.

There is no way the zoo can be compared to the other attractions listed, because the zoo is the only attraction that receives a third of its budget from real estate taxes. Also, the zoo has much shorter hours than the Newport Aquarium, Kings Island or The Beach Waterpark. Zoo members cannot have access the zoo after 6 p.m. during the summer, even though there are patrons inside the park who don't have to leave until dusk.

King's Island and The Beach close down during the winter months because they have nothing to offer the paying public. Did you ever go to the zoo in the winter? You can walk the entire zoo and not see half a dozen animals. Yet, the admission price remains the same.

My guess is that A. T. Hudson & Co. didn't consider the possibility that the rising price of admission could have anything to do with the falling attendance. In my opinion, raising admission prices would sound the death knell for the Zoo.

Carolyn Kerley, Delhi Township

Sosa is probably telling the truth

Cincinnatians are holding Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa up to the harsh light of scrutiny? Who better, right? Yes, it is sad, but if I were a betting man, the odds of whether Sammy is telling the truth about the incident are in Sammy's favor.

That is far more than we can say for Western Hills High School alumni Pete Rose, isn't it? How does the saying go, "People who live in glass houses shouldn't through stones."

G. David Yaros, Western Hills

Cubs should forfeit corked-bat game

Sammy Sosa's recent use of cork in a bat tarnishes his accomplishments. I would like to see the rule changed so that if a batter is found using an illegal bat his team forfeits that game.

That way his teammates would assist in his choosing the correct bat. The Cubs went on to win the game. I suspect if they had to forfeit that game the Cubs organization would use more scrutiny in the equipment their players utilize.

Pete Rose may have bet on baseball, but I do not think he was ever accused of fixing a game with illegal equipment Go figure.

Dave Thomas, White Oak

Tearing down city's skywalk a good start

Regarding the issue of the skywalk, replacing the skywalk is only one of the solutions that, according to much of the urban planning research, Cincinnati should enact to revitalize downtown. This research indicates that dating back to the early 1960s, almost every one of the urban-planning decisions the city enacted had damaging consequences.

For example, placing Columbia Parkway as it is separated the riverfront from downtown, which hurt development. Likewise, it has been found that what revitalizes a downtown is activity, including people on the street. By building the skywalk, Cincinnati accomplished exactly the opposite. Also, it has been found that a downtown attracts people when the city buildings have street-level facades where people may sit (like cafes) and that the best type of parking seems to be diagonal where, again, people on the sidewalk are not cut off from street traffic (like parts of Court Street). Downtown vitality is also stimulated by storefronts, where people can browse and window shop (almost entirely absent in Cincinnati). Finally, it was found that the greatest predictor of park use is the ability of park users to see the street and the goings on in the neighborhood.

Getting rid of the skywalk and opening up the street to interested pedestrians would be a good start.

Richard Lufig, Oxford

Forget jocks; focus on CCM role models

In the May 25 editorial "Tarnish is hard to clean," the Enquirer itself has done a disservice to thousands of hard-working, gifted students at the University of Cincinnati. Rather than focus on one basketball player and a handful of punks for the Cinco de Mayo debacle, why not for example share with your readers an editorial feature on the hundreds of College-Conservatory of Music students representing nearly a dozen countries preparing this season's final orchestral concert of Schumann's Spring symphony and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring? Or perhaps a follow-up to Janelle Gelfand's rave review on May 18 of our production of Debussy's operatic masterwork, Pelleas et Melisande?

Do not let the misdeeds of a few overshadow the remarkable accomplishments of many who make the University of Cincinnati and CCM, in particular, one of the most important destinations in the world for young artists and musicians. UC has many more colleges of note (DAAP, Colleges of Law, Business, Medicine and Engineering, to name a few) that certainly merit more press than the occasional and inevitable screw-ups of half a dozen kids.

The best of Cincinnati is on view daily at CCM, in our rehearsals, classes and at more than 900 performances featuring more than 1,200 students and faculty annually. Beneath your so-called tarnish are their sterling dreams, talents and efforts. That is a story worth telling and reading about.

Mark Gibson, Professor of Ensembles and Conducting Director of Orchestral Activities

Police are afraid to arrest UC students

The May 25 editorial on the UC riots did not stress enough that problems are due to lack of enforcement of ordinances that already exist.

My husband and I frequently witness and report vandalism, property damage, brawls, open containers and public urination by young people attending noisy parties. Many passing our house are so drunk that they stagger into traffic. I shudder to think what happens when they get into their vehicles.

At a recent meeting attended by a member of District 5 police, I asked if officers checked identification or made arrests for underage drinking when called to shut down parties. He replied that they did not because it was too dangerous. Something is wrong with this picture. When the police find it too intimidating to make arrests, we need to examine what needs to be done to support them. If it's too dangerous for them, how dangerous is it for those of us who live here?

Diane Hotz-Blevins, Clifton Heights

Trampling the flag offended many of us

The front-page picture of the opening of the new Contemporary Arts Center is disgusting and certainly offensive to most patriotic Americans. A small segment of our population hates the flag and defiles it in many ways. Hopefully, there will not be a trend that those in charge will pursue in the future on other displays. An apology should be issued by the CAC's management for this particular use of the American flag as a carpet to walk on by actors.

James L. Collins Sr., Delhi Township

Soldiers recently died defending flag's ideals

What could have motivated the Enquirer to print that insulting desecration of the American flag, which the article states is a "utilization of the American flag" by Chinese performance artist Zhang Huan?

If that were not insulting enough, there is a Doberman standing on the flag as well. I hope the dog was potty trained. It is pathetic to me that the city of Cincinnati tries so hard to be "hip" and "chic." Therefore, garbage like Huan's flag desecration is embraced as though this were something new, and worthy of front-page attention.

Have you already forgotten a war has just been fought with the death of American soldiers who died defending the meaning behind the American flag? Our freedom has been and continues to be hard won. Freedom is not frivolous. It is not to be mocked by so-called artists who have not a breath of originality.

Todd Holmes, Norwood