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In response to “Foxx: Streetcar critics use ‘smoke and mirrors’ ” (Feb. 5):
Foxx just doesn’t get it; now’s the time to cut city spending
Mayor Anthony Foxx says Charlotte is at a crossroads because it cannot grow its tax base through annexation of rural areas and has little room to build suburbs, which would bring more revenue.
If a family of four cannot increase its household income due to the economy or any other reason, can it continue to spend more and more? It’s time for the city to adjust to the times, cut the bloat and spend on what’s necessary, not just pretty.
Jack King
Cornelius
Charlotte needs boost like D.C’s Metro system gave that city
Mayor Foxx is correct; we need to connect east and west Charlotte with a streetcar system just as Washington, D.C., needed to build its Metro system.
Since the Metro was created, $212 billion in real estate value has been added within a half-mile of Metro stations.
Land value near Metro stations generates $2.8 billion annually in property tax revenues, $195 million of which is directly attributable to transit.
Households save $305 million per year on costs related to owning and driving cars.
Roberta Dunn
Mooresville
Boy Scouts want to include homosexuals, not pedophiles
There is a sturdy English verb we don’t hear often: conflate.
It means to join two things together as one. This is what the Boy Scouts, and much of America, do with the terms homosexuality and pedophilia.
Folks, those two just ain’t the same thing. Has anybody said Jerry Sandusky is a homosexual? He’s a pedophile, and in jail where he belongs. He and his ilk have no business being in the Boy Scouts – that’s who they want to keep out.
Homosexuality, though, is different. And unlike measles, it’s not catching. Quit conflating the two.
Ted Lucas
Charlotte
Scouts should focus on ridding ranks of those who hurt boys
It seems to me the Boy Scout council is spending a lot of time debating whether to admit gays. Wouldn’t their time be better spent making sure there are no pedophiles in their organization? They should be drafting proposals to have more background checks and policies to prosecute pedophiles.
Rita Walsh
Charlotte
In response to “Are you pro-life and pro-gun?” (Feb. 2):
Those who oppose guns that kill should also oppose abortion
Observer Religion reporter Tim Funk makes the point in his column that it is contradictory to say one is “pro-life and pro-gun.”
He says a person who believes life is sacred should be in favor of gun controls because that will save lives. I get that.
But if that’s logical, it must be equally logical that a person who is in favor of gun controls should be opposed to abortion.
If it doesn’t make sense to be “pro-gun and pro-life,” neither does it make sense to be “anti-gun and anti-life.”
Bud Carrier
Charlotte
In response to “Bill would let N.C. teachers and volunteers carry guns in school” (Jan. 31 CharlotteObserver.com):
Don’t arm teachers; some student will steal gun, use it
The writer is an East Meck High School sophomore.
The idea that adding more guns to a school environment would lessen the danger of catastrophe is both absurd and idiotic.
A gun is not a self-defense weapon. It is something designed and operated with the intention of killing an individual.
Through time, students have proven their ability to break into teachers’ personal stuff for mischievous reasons – and a gun locker is no different.
Once a student gets ahold of a firearm, there is nothing stopping him/her from going on a rampage at school – the very thing we are trying to prevent.
Connor Parke
Charlotte
Stadium update could bring more college games, money
The writer is executive director of Charlotte Collegiate Football.
It is not just about the Panthers! Bank of America Stadium is currently home to two major college football games, the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship and the Belk Bowl.
Annually these games bring $30 to $50 million into the economy, highlight Charlotte on national TV, and bring tens of thousands of fans. Updating this financial magnet for our city is imperative for the future of college football here. We all benefit from this facility, and without the Panthers we wouldn’t have these outstanding collegiate events.
Will Webb
Charlotte
In response to “Should N.C. expand Medicaid?” (Feb. 3 Viewpoint):
Apodaca unfairly using overruns to block Medicaid expansion
N.C. Sen. Tom Apodaca’s argument against expanding Medicaid is woefully misleading. He fails to mention that he and fellow lawmakers set highly unrealistic demands on the program’s budget in 2011.
Previously, our program was a model of efficiency for other states. As a consequence of the squeeze, there are predictable overruns which conveniently are being used to justify not expanding Medicaid.
This is like dealing from the bottom of the deck and not at all what North Carolinians deserve from their public servants.
John H. Clark
Charlotte
