Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 03.06.15
Driggs’ vote unfair to LGBT community
I met with City Council member Ed Driggs, my district representative, regarding the anti-discrimination ordinance and found him intelligent and willing to listen. But I would describe him as less than truthful when he says: “I don’t have any animus towards LGBT people.”
He voted against the ordinance even with the removal of the bathroom issue. He is complicit in treating LGBT citizens as second-class citizens.
He does not truly represent the residents in his district or this great city. Remember this at election time.
Chris Turner
Charlotte
Council did not heed the lessons of Dean Smith
In the aftermath of the passing of Dean Smith I would have hoped our City Council would have been reminded of the virtue of treating all citizenry in a nondiscriminatory fashion by approving the proposed anti-discrimination ordinance.
The position that certain members of our community are not entitled to be treated equally in accessing what most of us take for granted, is contrary to basic standards of justice.
Jameson Wells
Charlotte
In response to “A visa, for a price: Charlotte developer raises funds with little-known immigration program” (Feb. 28 CharlotteObserver.com):
No immigrants allowed tobuy their way into the U.S.
The headline and quote in the EB-5 visa article incorrectly suggests the program “sells” green cards. It does not let people buy their way into the U.S.
Investors must submit to the same Department of Homeland Security checks required of other green card applicants.
The stringent background check requires verification of the investor’s capital source, including how the investor obtained the funds, and the path from the source to the U.S.
The investor cannot legally enter the U.S. until official approval is received, which takes about 18 months.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs reports that there are 10,000 visas set aside for EB-5 investors each year, which accounted for less than 2 percent of the immigrant visas issued at foreign service posts in 2014.
Jennifer Moseley
Atlanta
In response to “UNC grad school pushed to take players” (March 1):
Stop teaching athletes thatthe rules don’t apply to them
I was greatly surprised by how pushed-around university leaders are by athletic departments.
Universities should take greater interest in what goes on behind the scenes of admissions and make the process less subjective.
Allowing athletes to get in only on sports ability teaches them that they can get whatever they want in life without abiding by all the rules, and that fairness has exceptions, which it does not.
Cassidy Petrykowski
Charlotte
Hard to decipher two very different portrayals of UNC
Every day in the Observer there seems to be a new UNC story that juxtaposes the irony of “experience the legend of Dean Smith” against “experience the sleaze of athletes and academic scandal.”
Will the real UNC Chapel Hill please stand up?
Richard Lindsey
Charlotte
In response to “Fate of 500,000 in N.C. hangs on ACA case” (March 2):
McCrory, fellow Republicans put N.C. in precarious position
It’s nice to see that Gov. Pat McCrory now realizes the loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies will put North Carolina in “a very precarious position.”
However, it’s a shame that he did not come to that realization back when he and fellow Republicans were refusing to expand Medicaid, refusing to set up a state health insurance exchange, and doing everything in their power to undermine implementation of the ACA.
Gov. McCrory and the N.C. legislature are the ones who put N.C. in a very precarious position.
Julee Carr
Cornelius
Public wasn’t told the truthon ACA; it was sold on lies
Let’s not forget that President Obama and the Democratic leadership lied to the public in order to sell the Affordable Care Act.
Those being “subsidized” translates to getting free coverage from the wallets of those who pay for it .
Whether the U.S. Supreme Court chooses to follow the letter of the law as written, or bail out those shouting its “intention” remains to be seen.
Floyd Prophet
Kannapolis
This story was originally published March 5, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 03.06.15."