tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906751063718382074.post5449548910409476643..comments2008-10-08T09:52:24.622-04:00Sherlock Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05544974476059063187Woparsb@aol.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906751063718382074.post-80517946338635964402008-10-06T22:19:00.000-04:002008-10-06T22:19:00.000-04:00RLM,<BR/><BR/>you got wrong url address.<BR/><BR/>it is argusleader.com and it is a leading newspaper in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.<BR/><BR/>Back to the issue, <BR/><BR/>Better still tell the state to restore the funds because the 911 centers will need the $$ for Videophone services plus training costs comes Dec 31.W. David Samuelsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15936613739966936559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906751063718382074.post-47074804517996065682008-10-06T17:50:00.000-04:002008-10-06T17:50:00.000-04:00Raid the Relay Service money for other needs during the economy problem is sad. Like you said, if people aren't using it, why bother putting money there. Still no matter what their reason is, it is clearly an ADA violation for equal access for any deaf people who don't have Video relay and still needs relay service for any needs incliding emergency. It is tough time, I think the State should contact the deaf people and have them contact a video company to install the Video like Sorenson and so on. That way the deaf will have a way to communicate when needed.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03967222412687875337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906751063718382074.post-15756884702977389942008-10-06T13:03:00.000-04:002008-10-06T13:03:00.000-04:00Deaf Sherlock, <BR/><BR/> Many thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. I truly appreciate it very much. <BR/><BR/> My one question for you - <BR/><BR/> Is the Argulus.com an independent reporting website or affilated with any news reporting enterprise in any way? <BR/><BR/> Who is Jonathan Argulus? Is Jonathan deaf himself or what? <BR/><BR/> If not, we should appreciate his viligant news reportings to keep tabs on anyone hearing in authority what they are doing to our deaf community. <BR/><BR/> Thanks again, Steve!<BR/><BR/>Robert L. Mason (RLM)RLMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944804788920891331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-906751063718382074.post-62641583048848306182008-10-06T03:10:00.000-04:002008-10-06T03:10:00.000-04:00This is outrageous. Not only will future relay expenses not be covered, this sets up a precedent that the funds can be raided again and again. The intended purpose of this tax becomes an emergency slush fund.<BR/><BR/>This tax could be used to expand relay services to include special needs such as children, aphasic, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing; to relieve the lower income Deaf of the high cable fees that are necessary for relay services, and to improve the portability of the relaly equipment so that all deaf people have the same ability to be reached as people with their cell phones.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we need to get involved. But we need to KNOW. Do we have state watchdog committees that focus on deaf issues? Are they doing their job of informing us?Dianrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07077219189139398901noreply@blogger.com