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Charlotte airport among best
in U.S., don’t mess that up
The proposal to move control of Charlotte’s airport to some phantom “state agency control” is ridiculous.
The airport rightfully belongs to the City of Charlotte, County of Mecklenburg and surrounding communities. As a frequent user of CLT, I strongly oppose making any changes at this point.
Any phantom “state agency control” or appointed agency will only make things worse.
Our airport – excluding airline prices – is one of the best in the country. Why would we want to change?
Daniel L. House
Lake Wylie, S.C.
In response to “Close gun loophole, officers say” (Feb. 15):
Background checks for all gun buyers would add to backlog
Mecklenburg Sheriff Chipp Bailey wants a state law requiring permits for all gun sales, including long guns and private handgun sales.
He should be careful what he wishes for. His office already takes four to six weeks to process pistol purchase permits and three to six months for concealed carry permits.The permit bureau is overwhelmed and under-resourced, and couldn’t handle the increase in applications.
Al Williams
Charlotte
Let the Big Cat walk; say ‘no’ to tax increase for stadium fixes
To show your regard for local officials willing to add new taxes to the food you eat – for the next 30 years – please drop your state legislators a note at ncleg.net.
As with the streetcar, there may still be time to “derail” such an effort.
At least local officials are not yet taxing the air that we breathe. But the air wafting from 600 E. Fourth St. is becoming increasing foul, at least to those of us who both work and pay taxes.
P.A. Williams
Matthews
Panthers touted as two-state team, so why only squeeze NC?
Funny how the season ticket packages for the Panthers this year claim “Two States, One Team,” but only North Carolina is getting its arm twisted by Jerry Richardson to pay for stadium renovations.
The city and state getting squeezed for a handout should at least have its name associated with the team since we can’t seem to get any satisfaction from the product on the field.
Rich Kelly
Charlotte
In response to “Tax reform needed, but state should protect nonprofits” (Feb. 13 Opinion):
New state taxes on higher ed will drive prices even higher
Russell M. Robinson’s commentary made many good points about the value of nonprofit organizations. As president of Queens University of Charlotte I, too, am concerned about what tax reform could bring.
Under current law, independent colleges and universities, like Queens and other charitable nonprofit organizations, are exempt from most state taxes.
If state tax reforms place new taxes on higher education, the result could be significantly higher costs for our 2,400 students and their families.
At a time when we are working hard to make college accessible and affordable to more of our state’s residents, placing a new, burdensome tax on nonprofit colleges and universities would be the wrong path to take.
Pamela Davies
Charlotte
Changes needed in education, but real fix lies with families
Over the past 30 years we have seen the education of our children decline steadily. We’ve blamed teachers, teaching methods, classroom sizes, etc.
We’ve made changes, created tests for students, created tests for teachers and spent years trying to address the problem with very little success.
Unfortunately no one has been willing to address the real cause of the problem because it may be politically incorrect.
When our students were succeeding they had parents who were actively involved; who expected success and held children responsible; who demanded children show respect and behave in class; and who supported teachers over their children when there were conflicts.
We will never fix our schools until we fix our families.
Lane Wright
Kannapolis
Unbalanced approach puts too many at mercy of ‘free market’
Conservatives will not support raising the minimum wage.
Nor will they allow you to collectively bargain for a living wage and needed benefits.
Now they plan to cut government spending in ways that threaten the poor and middle class. They intend to leave too many of us at the doorstep of their beloved “free market.”
This liberal does not support laziness. I do expect a government that promotes responsibility and provides opportunity for all social classes.
A balanced approach to the needs of business, government and labor is the positive way forward.
Robert Hrozencik
Vilas
Call me crazy, but golf just might be what Congress needs
When I was a kid, there was a newspaper account of two lawyers almost coming to blows in a courtroom. A day or two later, when I went to the golf course to caddy, the lawyers had their arms around each other smoking cigars. Maybe some bipartisan, non-competitive, friendly golf could help thaw out this nightmarish impasse we have in Washington.
Ben Vernon
Cornelius
