Huntington Considers Bar Ban
Huntington Considers Bar Ban Save Email Print
Posted: 11:28 PM Oct 9, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:04 PM Oct 10, 2008
 Reporter: Amanda Goodman
Email Address: amanda.goodman@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington City Council will have a first reading Monday night of an ordinance that would ban new bars, taverns or nightclubs from opening inside city limits for a one-year period.

City leaders hope the ordinance helps them determine whether or not the amount of bars in downtown Huntington is contributing to higher crime.

"I just think that's a very harsh, rash view personally," Bethany Childers, a local bartender, said.

Childers says more options spread people out, which can avoid conflicts.

Huntington City Planner Don Kleppe says this ordinance came about because of concern in the community.

"There's concern about personal safety. There's concern about real property safety and personal property safety. People's cars are getting keyed and scratched. Bricks thrown through them," Don Kleppe said.

Kleppe said this is actually not a new concept. The planning department has been discussing this off and on for the last couple years.

The ordinance would not affect existing bars, but put a hold on new construction.

The ordinance needs a sponsor from city council before it can move on to a second reading. There would be a public comment period as well.

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Posted by: Rod on Dec 5, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Yeah, and while we're at it, why don't we not allow Marshall to admit any new students either. Face it, the bulk of the bar crowd is college students anyways, so maybe that's the route to take. Ha!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I don't think it is the bars that are a problem in Huntington . I do believe you will still have a major drug problem. And I do not go to the bars. We all before would come to Huntington to the resturaunts , but that is too scary anymore, at least Ashland has plenty of places to choose from now we do not have to put ourselvs in harms way. I realize Ashland is not perfect , but someone is not getting stabbed or shot every weekend
Posted by: CGS on Oct 13, 2008 at 03:53 PM
I lived in Huntington for a couple of years and left because of being broken in to about 10 times. That aside, why not try to put something other than a bar in Huntington. That's all there is to do there. Pullman square was a good start, but give younger folks something else to do rather than drink and get in to fights.
Posted by: To ashley on Oct 13, 2008 at 01:24 PM
You're an idiot. And JC is too, to a point. First of all,JC has a point and maybe they should have something like that. If the owners of the bar paid so much to the city they could hire more police officers to help protect the areas around the bars as well as the city. These bars are not the problem in this town people!!!!!! Its the drugs thats running this town!!!!!! That has NOTHING to do with bars. Ooohhh people never thought of that huh?
Posted by: Joe on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:32 PM
There were bars when I was younger and attended school but not the shootings, shell casings laying in the street. What went wrong? Too many 50 cent wanna bees.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
okay people read, it says new bars, not the ones that are already there
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 at 10:01 AM
CLOSE THEM ALL..YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BE 25 TO ENTER
Posted by: Concerned Citizen on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I agree with Ashley, Do Not Allow ANYONE in ANY bar under the age of 21. You can't "buy" alcohol if under 21 so why have them in a club anyway? I've never figured this out. (Could it be because bar owners know that the "over 21's" will buy the alcohol and give it to the "under 21's" therefore increasing their revenue?) Also, tax payers shouldn't have to pay for more police officers just because others want to drink, get rowdy, and break the law. As for some of you that don't realize how many bars open, maybe it's because it's usually the same location with a new name and they usually open and close with the active semesters at Marshall. For the most part, the "College Crowd" the the mainstay for the bars of Huntington. Perhaps these students and young adults should be spending more time studying than partying. For some strange reason in this Country, going to college is synonymous with partying, drinking, and getting falling down drunk. Ask yourselves, is the "tax revenue" worth it?
Posted by: JOBS on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:21 AM
HEY !!! WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH JOBS NOW,, WHY SHUT ONE DOWN THAT IS RUNNING,,, YOU DUM PEOPLE WHY SHOULD WE CARE WHAT THE CITY OR STATE THINKS, DO THEY SUPPORT US,, THIS IS THEIR WAY OF SAYING ITS OUR FAULT FOR CRIMES AND TO COVER UP WHY THEY DON'T DO ANY THING. LEAVE PEOPLE AND THIER BUSINESS ALONG.. THEY ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING..THAT IS WHY OUR KIDS ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OUR TOWN ARE SO DEAD... AND NO WORK..... U CAN RUN A BAR AND IT BE A NICE PLACE TO GO... U WILL FIND PEOPLE TRYING TO START TROUBLE ANY WHERE YOU GO INCLUDEING MCDONALDS LOL... LOOK AT SOME TOWN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A K-MARTS WHERE THEY SHUT DOWN.. KEEP IT UP PEOPLE AND YOU WILL LOOK AROUND AND SEE A GHOST TOWN....
Posted by: charles carroll on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:24 AM
This could help in time , like to see an interlocking video surveilance network like they use in london . Think I saw where the U.S.Justice Dept. had a program with grant money a while back .I heard a rumor some time ago that homeland security adm wanted to put a chip in license plates and sensors burried in the roadways to track movements of citizens , thats scary but if its been thought of its probably exists .Good video surveilance inside and out side of bars could reduce some of the crime I dont know how the laws would govern this but people behave differently when they know they are being watched .
Posted by: Consider this on Oct 13, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Bricks through windshields, violent crime, etc....How about laying the blame for the increase in crime at the feet of those truly responsible, crackheads and pill addicts. There is a direct relationship between the rise in property crimes and violent crimes in our city to the increase in drug trafficking and abuse(addiction). Drugs and crime go together like gin and tonic. Although I am sure it has happened, I haven't read any reports of someone leaving a bar, picking up a brick and tossing it through a windshield to grab the coins out of someone's ashtray to go buy beer. But, this is a common story with crackheads and pill addicts.
Posted by: Hmmm on Oct 12, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Just don't let the 16th street crackheads in and there won't be a problem. they bring the guns in duh. Just take a match to 16th street and the surrounding blocks and crime will go down. keep new bars from opening is just a way to distract us from the bigger issue!!!
Posted by: Emily on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I guess Huntington don't have enough older people living to tell them what it was like during prohobition. If they did they would'nt be talking about bar closing. But of course there is'nt enough crime in Huntington to keep the police busy there so why not close a few bars and over crowd the other bars to give the officers something to do.And besides Huntington is'nt growing at all.
Posted by: M on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Well, Just Me, I think that is a rude and inaccurate description of those in college who partake in the bar scene. I frequently visited these places as an undergrad and grad student, and I had a great GPA and plenty of positive educational experiences. I may be the exception more than the rule, but I still believe that any business to Huntington at this point is good business.
Posted by: Sue on Oct 12, 2008 at 11:42 AM
In my opinion, they should cose them all down!!! It has gotten so bad that there are constant fights, and shootings!!!! Who wants to go if you take a chance on getting shot?????
Posted by: Ashley on Oct 11, 2008 at 10:27 PM
JC>> I'm pretty sure your idea is considered bribing and very illegal... To Just me: I'm a drinker, I went class, I graduated with a good GPA, I volunteered frquently while an undergrad, and my parents, and grandparents are very happy. What is your point? Are you saying that drinkers are bored or lazy? Or what? I'm confused, what is your point?
Posted by: JC on Oct 11, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Make bar owners pay a certain amount of money to the City for a license that would include having so many officers per amount of patrons per bar. That way, the City can hire more cops and there would be more police patrolling instead of leaving it in the hands of bad bouncers with a chip on their shoulders. You will get more businesses when everyone feels safe to go to a location. Why is this such a problem to figure out...the bar owners don't want to pay, that is why.
Posted by: Just Me on Oct 11, 2008 at 06:58 PM
If all the "drinkers" here would actually think about this situation and try to have a positive additude towards Huntington it would be a better place for all. How about attending classes and graduating college with a GPA you can be proud of...volunteering your services to the homeless shelter or perhaps helping a parent or relative? A bored person is a lazy person!
Posted by: Ashley on Oct 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
First and foremost: Some of you are complete and total morons! Prohibition didn't work then, it wont work now. Secondly, I fail to see how putting a ban on new bars opening would do anything but hurt reputable establishment like The Union, Club Luna, and Holderby's Landing. Most of us are well aware that most Huntington bars/clubs only have a 6-month life span. Why? Because they get too many violations and attract questionable patrons. To me, preventing new clubs from opening would send these people to the better establishments. Why not do the most logical, effective thing? Raise the entry age to all bars to 21. Increase the number of police officers. Allow these officers to moonlight as bouncers.
Posted by: Better Plan on Oct 11, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Curfew 9PM for everyone anybody caught on the streets are locked up until 6AM the next morning at which time they are handed a broom and made to work for the city until 6PM no exceptions just think we could be the cleanest city in the state and the money we would save from not running the street sweepers and garbage trucks would be huge.Shut all businesses down at 8PM except the doughnut shops cops have to be somewhere.GUESS WERE HALF WAY TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM
Posted by: laborer on Oct 11, 2008 at 07:54 AM
They should not limit any new businesses that want to open in this town. I am a 26 year old and i don't like pullman square at all. this was a stupid idea. So if you limit the new bars from opening, then you should have to limit ALL businesses and that would be discrimination by my standards
Posted by: billy on Oct 11, 2008 at 05:37 AM
yea shut down the bars and open more crack houses that will keep crime down yea
Posted by: spellchecker on Oct 11, 2008 at 01:02 AM
thank you for listening
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Nothing good ever comes out of bars anyway. Huntington could do without all the violence and murders that come from these wastes of space. And Marshall student if you can't find anything better to do with your time other than go to clubs to find your disease carrying drunken one night stand then yeah maybe you don't need to be in college.
Posted by: M on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:51 PM
I think this is absurd. If the Huntington police department and city council would wake up, they would realize that the majority of the crime in town does not result from the Marshall University students who are faithful patrons to the downtown bar scene. I guess it is easier to cite underage drinkers and drunk drivers than taking care of the drug dealing and prostitution that's causing majority of the problems. We're already a suitcase campus, so go ahead and take away the main source of entertainment for students who do stay.
Posted by: me on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:51 PM
I'm sure if there was more funding for the police dept. they would hire more officers
Posted by: d on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:48 PM
I think it is a wonderful idea. How many bars does one town need? For all the people who party.... this isn't taking away what you have, it just makes it easier for you making desions where too go. Too many choices can be confusing to a drunk.
Posted by: Janet on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:26 PM
I like to go out and have fun, but the number of bars along 4th Avenue is just nuts. Especially when they turn out thousands of drunk people into the street at 3AM. I make sure I'm long gone before then. Don't wanna get shot. And that is not a sarcastic remark. It happens. I think trying to limit the number of bars is a great idea.
Posted by: Penny on Oct 10, 2008 at 06:32 PM
LMAO@Jack..Wooohoooo!!!!
Posted by: marshall student on Oct 10, 2008 at 06:24 PM
I personally believe that Huntington is doing the wrong thing when it comes to this issue. What the counicl memebers and towns people are forgetting is that without these nightclubs and bars, there will be less money coming in. From a Marshall University students stand point, I don't see a thing wrong with the clubs, its who and what they let in. They need to hire more police officers for the town. But every nightclub i've been too has been packed and without them they are going to be losing more money, vistors, and students to the area. Have any of you realized how boring Huntington really is for people 21 years of age without any bars to dance clubs to go too? Huntington may be a city, but that city is boring. Come on town, don't take more things away from us just because you are too old to go out and dance with your friends!
Posted by: Ty on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:48 PM
I love how WSAZ posts only the comments they want to post. Why not represent ALL opinions?
Posted by: Mitch on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:45 PM
nancy would have been a great spokeswoman in the time of Prohibition. Good for us that the country wised up and realized it is quite absurd to legislate your own morality. Drunk driving is not the same as drinking at a bar. Maybe Marshall should do what WVU does and have a "drunk bus" to safely take students back home after a night out on the town. You just have to show them your student ID.
Posted by: elvis on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:37 PM
First,the drunks that are in the streets dont go in to bars.they buy there booze from the stores.Now if bar wants to open in town and serve drinks and food will they have to wait for a year to serve drinks?
Posted by: Amy on Oct 10, 2008 at 04:45 PM
I say close them all. Let the drunks stay at home and drink. They are all a nuisance anyway.
Posted by: Heather on Oct 10, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Jack- I don't know if it's our city government (I read a lot of news) but one city is requiring city workers (and/or state can't remember) to pay extra healthcare if they are overweight or smoke.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:50 PM
I WOULD SAY SHUT DOWN ALL THE BARS..IT WOULD KEEP MORE DRUNKS HOME AND OFF THE ROAD.SO MAYBE IT WOULD CUT DOWN ON THE INNOCENT PPL GETTING KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVERS.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I do agree with this idea..but to blaim the drunks is a whole nother matter. The drunks are not the ones doing this, its the homeless who have no where to go..There is not enough resources for them...no more sleeping on the river...instead of banning these people from places and snarrling your noses, reach out and help those of us who are trying to help these people..you know sometime or another they could have been like you!!!!!!!!!! next time it could be you homeless and someone snarrling their nose..
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:13 PM
I didn't realize Huntington actually had that many NEW bars opening. I don't see how that would cut down on crime. I think more police officers might do the trick though.
Posted by: Stephen on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:11 PM
If City Council halts new owner/operators from opening and current bars inevitably close, there will be fewer bars. This is the underlining goal - to have fewer bars in Huntington, which City Council thinks will stop crime. However, that also means less tax revenue and jobs. I would suggest that Council look at other cities as a model: 1. Close the bars earlier. Make it a mandate that all bars in city limits close a 1am. 2. Increase the presence of police. Don’t let people stand outside of these locations – this is called loitering. 3. Increase the wattage of the street lights – crimes are less likely to happen is brightly lit areas. 4. Give tax benefits to bars that have drink maximums and close early. 5. Work with the taxi company to get more taxis downtown during closing time – this can help get more people off the street and less drinking and driving.
Posted by: Josh on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:08 PM
So much for Capitalism! Let's stop potential business from opeining up and creating possible income for the city? This is a reactive approach.... its time to start being proactive! I bet if I wanted to open a sports bar at Kinetic Park the city would jump at the opportunity. The city needs to find ways to generate more revenue to increase the police force. Nothing will change until this happens! There are still pleanty of places for people to party and abuse drugs in Huntington. Do you think keeping a couple bars from opening helps the drug problem? Its just another bandaid.
Posted by: James in Chas on Oct 10, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I was in Huntington last week and it is a dying city with most of the mfg. jobs being lost, I would think that any revenue generated thru B&O taxes, sales taxes would be welcomed. It was just a couple of years ago they could not afford to pay police dept. wages.
Posted by: nancy on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Great idea. Let the drunks stay home.
Posted by: Chris on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Mike we should hire more police? Wouldnt the way to save money be just no new bars! Bars are nothing but trouble anyways.
Posted by: Lindsey on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Hey mike, the logical thing is to shut down the bars! People need to start going to church instead of these stupid places anyways! If you look at what this world is coming to,you will see that the end of times are drawing near!!
Posted by: not the answer on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:48 PM
i think part of the problem is the lighting in the city. You have dimly lit sections all throughout the town and very little police patroling the area. I dont know that limiting new businesses will solve the lighting problem, the drug problem, etc. Dont get me wrong, alcohol and the whole barscene attract rednecks/thugs so its only part of the problem. If huntington goes through with this ban, they need to also improve lighting, put more cops in the high crime/high foot traffic areas, and possibly allow off-duty cops to become bouncers at clubs in order to deter criminals from doing what they do in these areas.
Posted by: Charlie on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Now at a time when we are extremely lucky if any type of business wants to begin new business & contribute tax dollars to the county & city I don't think it is wise to deny anyone. The bars don't have much to do with the vandalism & crime I think its the people themselves who commit crimes it won't matter if there is a bar around or not. As far as bricks & things being thrown & scratching cars that is juveniles & juves are not allowed in bars.
Posted by: Jack on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:20 AM
From a smoker who has been treated like a crimminal: HEH! HEH! HEH! Knew it was comin' Fat people's next.
Posted by: cin on Oct 10, 2008 at 10:44 AM
o.k let me see if i understand this right. they are concerned with the relationship between the (EXSISTING) bars and crime. But the "ordinance would not affect exsisting bars.."??? i just don't get it.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I think it is a good idea. Personally.
Posted by: Duh on Oct 10, 2008 at 10:24 AM
First off I am not a bar fly and very seldom go but this is not the smartest move i've ever heard of.With the econmy the way it is any new business should be welcome,use the tax income for police protection.Secondly if street crime is the concern just think of all the extra people on the street instead of in the clubs until closing time just more opportunity best bet would be just close the whole town at dark and arrest anyone on the streets that will solve the crime problem easier than anything else course businesses will suffer some but all the good people wont have to worry about being robbed on the streets if they are home
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Im not sure i this will be the answer, but SOMETHING has to change in this town w/ the bars & clubs. I used to go out but am now afaid to go anywhere downtown after 12am.
Posted by: lisa on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:58 AM
it doesnt matter if itsa new club or an old club banning new clubs is justa way of keeping old club owners happy people are going to act a mess wereever alcohol is involved.
Posted by: Resposible individual on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:41 AM
This has to be one of the most absurd ideas I have heard that has come out of the city council. Here's an idea, get more police on the street to deter crime. When there are only 7 police officers on shift any any point in time to patrol the city, of course there is going to be crime rates up.
Posted by: FUBAR on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:15 AM
This is one of the stuoidest ideas for crime control I think I have ever heard, whats the next option limit the number of resturants or maybe limit the number of people on the streets after 10 oclock at night.Heres a novel idea for Huntington and mayor felington put the cops back on the streets,he laid off 30some police and hired back 15 or so now hire 30 some more you will be about even. Then put them on 3rd ave. let them do thier jobs and crime will drop. Put you cannot take a couple of officiers and spread them out thin and expect crime to drop no matter how many businesses you stop from going into Huntington. Newsflash: when you limit these businesses from your city you lose money something your fair city really needs----MONEY. Just my .02 worth
Posted by: Scott on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:14 AM
What the heck is going on with this town?? Trying to impose a moratorium before they even know if it contributes to the problem? That is just shoddy leadership and research on the city's part. Just another reason why Felington needs to go. I'm a Democrat and I can't stand the guy. Wolfe all the way.
Posted by: Is that the answer though? on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:49 AM
What about all the CURRENT ones that are THE ONES contributing to the violence and chaos? The ones where there ALWAYS seems to be problems, attacks, killings? Lets address THOSE first because THEY are already here & a huge part of the problem! Also bars are not just bars anymore or at least a LOT of them aren't. A lot of these newer bars/clubs are nothing BUT hangouts for druggies & thugs & innocent people end up getting hurt inside them as well as outside. Those are the ones that need to be shut down or at least cleaned out so that innocent people including those who go there strictly for fun and not drugs or trouble as well as their staff will be safe as well as the surrounding area. I sure don't know the solution. A lot of young people especially in college towns have always gone to bars & whether I agree or not it's not up to me as an adult to stop them & its not up to all of you either UNLESS they're in danger JMHO. Something DOES need to be done though
Posted by: Laura on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:36 AM
So what's the big deal? Ok, don't build any new bars for a year...how many do we need?
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:28 AM
i don't believe that this would stop theives and vandilism. the majority of the people committing those crimes are not hanging at the bars anyways. but everytime you turn around someone at a bar is being shot or stabbed. i used to love bar hopping in huntington, but not anymore. i'm honestly scared to go out in huntington on the weekends.
Posted by: Beth on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Great idea
Posted by: not a drunk on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:44 AM
good idea
Posted by: Mom on Oct 10, 2008 at 06:40 AM
I think this is a great idea.Alcohol is just as bad as other drugs.Lets close all the bars.If people want to drink let them go back to bootlegging.Love this!!
Posted by: gene on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:28 AM
this does not make sense. huntington needs all the money it needs after all the business left or were outsourced. plus all the businesses marshall put out of business buying their property and loosing property taxes.
Posted by: Ty on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:04 AM
Oh, yes! By all means...make sure new jobs are sent elsewhere...Huntington doesn't need them, right?! The problem isn't that there are too many bars in Huntington...it's that the HPD is inadequate - either in number or skill - to handle the "car keying and flying brick" calls. They are too busy pulling over skinny, blonde Marshall girls or speeding around town burning up gasoline.
Posted by: Heather on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:49 AM
I like to drink and I personally don't see a problem with this. It would allow for less hole in the walls and more businesses that could employ more people (hopefully). They also need to make a law not allowing churches to buy historic homes and tear them down for no reason!!! That home was beautiful on 3rd avenue and that church tore it down to build a parking lot they said.... I have NEVER seen their existing HUGE parking lot filled. :(
Posted by: kevin on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:36 AM
what ? are you people crazy Huntington wont be Huntington itll be say like ahhhhh hard to say the name ahhh catlettsburg i wont capatiolize thier name,,,,,
Posted by: mike on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:22 AM
why doesn't the city do the logical thing and hire more police.
Posted by: Amanda on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:50 PM
They need to ban all new bars from opening up, Probably even need to close some down maybe it would cut down on the crimes that takes place in them area's and keep drunks off the street's!
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  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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