Share
In response to “‘Complete panic’ in Brazil fire” (Jan. 28):
Avoid needless tragedies with effective fire code enforcement
The writer is senior fire inspector for the Charlotte Fire Department.
While the use of pyrotechnic devices in this tragedy is partly to blame, there are two other factors that contributed to the losses of life: the improper use (illegal use in most model fire codes) of combustible wall and ceiling covering, and insufficient or improperly arranged or modified exits. An effective fire code enforcement program is the key to preventing such a needless tragedy, as well as educating club owners on the importance of fire code compliance. Charlotte is fortunate to have such a program. If you have sons, daughters or other loved ones who frequent facilities where people gather, emphasize to them to always be familiar with the location of and access to all exits, particularly in nightclubs and similar establishments. And if they do not feel safe, leave.
Calvin Wright
Charlotte
GOP plans ‘reward’ us with burdens on poor, middle class
Congratulations to the residents of North Carolina who voted for a GOP legislature and governor. The Republicans will now reward all of us with the following: A proposal to do away with all personal and corporate income taxes, and replace the revenues by raising the sales tax from the 4.75 percent to 8 percent and the tax on food from 2 percent to 8 percent, and tax such vital services like medical care, and impose taxes on 100 other items which are tax free now. The GOP also proposes cutting unemployment benefits by one third, and the number of eligible weeks to only 12 from the present 26 or more. These proposals will benefit the wealthy, while imposing additional burdens on the middle class and the poor.
Joseph Pepe
Charlotte
In response to “Nothing will improve until GOP ends ‘no compromise’ stance” (Jan. 28 Forum):
GOP wants to dance with the president; he’s not willing
Forum writer Chris Porier doesn’t understand that House Republicans were also voted back in by the people. They have come to President Obama with many proposals only to be shot down by the president because they weren’t what he wanted. Porier is right about one thing: It does take two to tango and the president isn’t willing.
Steve Shaw
Charlotte
Open borders freely to those from Europe, Middle East too
As long as Congress is discussing amnesty and citizenship for undocumented workers, allow our friends from Europe and the Middle East to openly and freely immigrate to live here too! They have been unable to immigrate despite years of paperwork. So please let everyone, not just Latinos, immigrate freely. It would certainly provide a far more diverse environment.
Roy Brown
Charlotte
In response to “CMS considers hiring race bias expert” (Jan. 28):
Say ‘no’ to bringing in divisive consultant on race to CMS
I would hope that Dr. Heath Morrison would save Mecklenburg County taxpayer dollars and not hire Glenn Singleton. This would be a divisive waste of time and money. Neither race nor the outdated notion of “white privilege” determine student achievement. Educators do not hold primary responsibility for student performance. Parents, and the students themselves, have that responsibility.
Catherine Stout
Indian Trail
Give Hornets name back to minor league baseball team
The original Charlotte Hornets were a baseball team. Why not give the name to the new baseball team and let the Bobcats be what they are. This would give the new ball team a familiar name in their new city.
Don Hudson
Charlotte
Face it, folks, it’s not the name that’s killing pro basketball here
I hate to be a buzz kill. Does anyone really believe that changing the name back to the Hornets will put butts in the seats of the arena? We got rid of the team owner we didn’t like. Now we’ve got a well-liked superstar owner. We tore down our old arena and spent a quarter of a billion dollars on a state of the art basketball arena. Buzz about the name won’t change one important fact. Folks in Charlotte don’t care much for pro basketball.
John Murr Rhame Jr.
Charlotte
In response to “Mecklenburg officials perplexed by tax office hire” (Jan. 26):
Kim Horton is doing her job in tax office; keep her there
We have been dealing with Kim Horton about a tax revision on a lot. She is the ONLY person at the tax office who has helped us. Before talking with her we were passed from person to person, told something would be done and never heard back. She has done everything she said she would. It sounds like she was vetted and had explanations for her actions. I have pretty conservative ideals and do not feel, from what I’ve read, that this warranted a two-page article.
Dottie Toney
Charlotte
