Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 03.09.15
In response to “Motion to stop I-77 toll lanes denied” (March 6):
Don’t lock us in to 50-year plan on I-77
Let’s use some common sense regarding the widening of I-77 between Charlotte and Mooresville.
A $665 million contract for a Spanish company to construct and manage the expansion for the next 50 years is still before a judge.
North Carolina will have no control of infrastructure improvements for that period.
A time-phased approach would be a more logical and practical way of resolving this problem. Phase I would be to add another $12 million to the initial $88 million for widening I-77 between Huntersville and Mooresville.
The plan in five years may be for a high speed rail system versus roads. Why would any reasonable person lock North Carolina into this contract at this expense?
Thomas Uhl
Mooresville
I’m not buying claims that Charlotte will suffer now that ordinance failed
Woe is Charlotte! We are not seen as a progressive city any more by the elites who decide that sort of thing.
We won’t be able to attract large national Fortune 500 companies, despite Google and Sealed Air committing to come here.
We can’t attract young, smart professionals – despite the unprecedented apartment building boom and all the new arts-related facilities/venues in NoDa, Plaza Midwood and South End.
This is what the media and city cheerleaders tell us will – or won’t – happen because our City Council failed to pass the anti-discrimination ordinance.
Come on, give us a break!
Tom Creech
Charlotte
In response to “Gov. Pat McCrory’s budget includes some raises, university cuts” (March 5):
GOP tax cuts to blame for education and infrastructure cuts to come
North Carolina is in financial trouble because the Republican legislature gave huge tax cuts to the multimillionaires.
And now the only solution is to cut public education, eliminate basic public services, and to sell a few lanes of our congested interstates to a foreign company so they can be used exclusively by the millionaires who got the tax cuts.
Does anybody other than me remember what a great state this used to be to live and grow up in?
William D. Charnock
Charlotte
Fed up with power outages on sunny days; time to reconsider buried lines
Last week my neighborhood suffered yet another power outage – on a sunny day on an established street in an urban environment in the largest city in the Carolinas.
We’ve lost count of the times that power has gone out just over the past 12 months.
We recognize there is a significant cost implication in burying power, cable and telephone lines, but if lines can be buried uptown why not elsewhere?
Nick del Rosso
Charlotte
In response to “President Obama snubbed an ally, disrespected Netanyahu” (March 5 Forum) and related articles:
I support Israel, but not Netanyahu; he’s the one who showed disrespect
The prime minister of Israel came to America to deliberately spit in the face of the president of the United States.
Support Israel, yes. Support Prime Minister Netanyahu – never!
I’m just ashamed that more elected representatives didn’t boycott the speech.
Michael L. Ham
Matthews
Prime Minister Netanyahu deserves support, not criticism, from U.S.
I was very pleased to see the tremendous reception Prime Minister Netanyahu received in Congress.
At the same time, I was disappointed at the criticism fostered by some.
When I think of the threat of annihilation that Israel constantly lives under, I am reminded of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Netanyahu has to be tough because he understands what Israel is faced with every day. He deserves our support and respect.
Jim Beatty
Charlotte
This story was originally published March 8, 2015 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 03.09.15."