European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 a 1. I 1 a. A a �1 j letters to the editor Friday december 9,1994 european edition col Steven s. Hoffman Usan. Commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski. A editor a a. News and editorial Deborah aether nows editor Blit Walver european editor Bob Wicker sports editor George Manaa City editor to write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 or Postrach 1114 37 64278 Darmstadt Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 348-q plus Extension As follows news ext. 237. 255,282, 226,326. Sports ext. 225,269, 263,332,321,221. Features ext. 230,245.341. Letters to editor ext. 208,400. Education a cml Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326. News bureaus Heidelberg Germany Effla Baleen room 117, Rome rate. 104, 69115 Heidelberg Telephone Dan 370 7010or civilian 06221-23421 Tel fax 0622110554. Kaiserslautern Germany Kevin Dougherty and Doyle Tillman. 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The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts Jar supplements does not constr Ute endorsement by the department of of mensa or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised Stop picking on Prez i done to understand what people who hate the idea of Gays and lesbians in the military want the president or government to do. Should Gays and lesbians be killed or put on an Island somewhere Why Are we upset at the president he did not invent Gays or lesbians and they have can in the military already. Staff sgt. Javier e. Solozano Riyadh saudi Arabia c to our readers forgotten victims in response to the letter writer who wrote that Black americans deserve an apology for being falsely accused As possible perpetrators in the disappearance of Michael and Alex Smith in Union ., my aues Tiomi is Why does this terrible tragedy in which these two children were drowned by their own Mother now have to be turned into a racial Issue it is difficult for me to believe that Susan Smith could be thinking clearly enough after drowning her own children to want to purposefully single out and damage demean or falsely persecute the Black members of her  us know what you think we encourage our readers a especially those who have never submitted a letter a to write to us. Letters expressing readers viewpoints or. Opinions Are published Dally on this Page. All tetters must be signed and include address and Telephone number. A Send to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Or fax country code 49 06155601-395, Dan 348-8395. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. The writer seemed to imply that the Media and police Are somehow out to destroy the a a image of the Black american through the scenarios of false accusations. Does he honestly believe that Black americans Are the Only people who Are Ever falsely accused the fact is that the military update . Rental costs it. By Tom Philpott military people who expect to live off base when they return to the United states Likely will draw More in variable housing allowances after Jan. 1 but not enough to keep Pace with rising rental costs. Average via rates will climb 2.7 percent next month. The size of the adjustment will vary widely among individuals depending upon pay Grade and assignment area. Via will jump sharply in some areas and fall so steeply in others As to wipe out anticipated increases in take Home pay from the Jan. I military a raise. A �1.a. A. The Pentagon adjusts via each january based on its annual Survey of rents paid by service members in More than 350 military housing areas throughout the country. The 1994 Survey conducted last summer showed rents climbed an average of 4 percent. But current Law Caps the growth of the $1.2 billion via program to no More than the percentage Rise in housing costs nationwide As reported by the Bureau of labor statistics. Bus data support Only a 2.7. Percent increase in 1995. Even with via funding capped said a Pentagon official the Survey is critical for adjusting the allowance each year. A the results allow us to spread the 2.7 percent growth to places that need it the most. Via increases will not match housing Cost growth so everyone a out of pocket costs will be a Little higher. But everybody shares equally in that shortfalls we re not asking places with the highest Cost growth to Bear a disproportionate share of the Burden. Well end up giving much More than 2.7 percent to people in san Diego or Colorado Springs because they need it More. Well take Money away from places that  in mid november defense Secretary William Perry unveiled a package of a of life initiatives including a series of special pay increases to narrow the Gap Between military housing allowances and what service members actually pay in rent. But those initiatives wont begin until 1996. Meanwhile the Gap grows. Last january combined housing allowances a via and Basic allowance for quarters a failed to cover 20.5 percent of average rental costs for stateside members. Next month even after increases in via and bad the Gap will reach 21.6 Tom Philpott percent. Here a Why according to the latest data average rental costs for . Service a members Are $773 a month up $30 from last year. Average bad which varies by pay Grade but not assignment area will Rise Jan. 1 by 2.6 percent to $453 per month an $11 increase. Average via will climb by $4 a month to $153. That Means average out of pocket costs will hit $167 a month to $15 from 1994. Service members reported their highest ._rental costs in Honolulu $1,273 a month up 3 percent from last year Anchorage Alaska $1,154, up 1.6 percent and san Francisco $1,139, up 4.8 percent. Colorado Springs colo., reported a 12.8 percent hike one of the sharpest in the country to reach a monthly average of $770. Some of the lowest rents Are reported near fort Knox by. $601 a month up 4 percen Columbus air Force base miss. $605, up 4.3 percent and fort Mcclellan ala., $606 a month up 3.6 percent. Rents Are so Low around Mcclellan that Only a few investigation surrounding the Smith children should never have become a racial Issue. Incidentally the family of Susan Smith did make a forma apology to the Community and More specifically the Black Community of Union  However there Are really Only two people in this horrible event who truly deserve an apology Michael and Alex Smith. Dawn Custer Raf Lakenheath England show sortie initiative in response to a recent letter if life is so stressful and depressing for those aliens at the . Naval base at Guantanamo Bay they could head for Home and look for their a economic dreams by building their own country a future. They could Start by doing what the . Troops  be doing clean up their own garbage on their streets. Those who Lack comprehension of printed matter take words out of context and Label others so they can further their own dissenting views  write twaddle to newspapers. A a a a. A i a. Niess Catania Sicily warrant officers and less than $1 a month at Columbus fab Only the top two enlisted grades a senior and chief master sergeants a will receive via in �?T95, although military rental costs there Rose an average of 4.3 percent. Rental costs fell in some areas in Newport r.i., service members paid 3 percent less during 1994, an average of $910. Rents also slipped 3 percent in Hartford conn., to reach a $902 average service members in these areas can expect to their via fall next month. Persons overseas Are unaffected by changes in via. Along with bad they receive an overseas housing allowance if they live off base. _. A after months of internal debate Deputy defense Secretary John Deutch has agreed with the joint chiefs on details of Trice the military a new health maintenance organization. Until last week Deutch had wanted to charge enrolled retirees a user fee for each visit to a service Hospital. Military leaders and Stephen c. Joseph assistant Secretary of defense for health affairs opposed the idea. Key features of Tricase to be announced soon a no enrolment fee for Active duty families. A no enrolment Opportunity for medicare eligible dependents and retirees age 65 and older. A individual enrolment fees of $230 a year for under-65 retirees eligible Retiree families will pay $460. A Junior unlisted families will pay $6 per visit to participating civilian providers other enrollees $12. A civilian cafe inpatient charges will be $10.80 a Day for All enrollees. Readers comments and suggestions Are welcomed. Write to military update co editor the stars and stripes unit 29400, Apo a 09211.