This batch of Charlotte candidates can’t get the job done

Add it up, these candidates are inept

No, I’m not talking about a traveling band of criminals; I’m talking about candidates for Charlotte City Council and mayor. When you have irresponsible, inept people managing a city, do you really expect them to do a good job?

Let them manage my tax dollars? No way.

I was going to pay my bills this morning, but decided to file for bankruptcy instead and use the excuses created by candidates for mayor and City Council. If these people can’t manage their own money, why should I vote for them to manage our tax dollars?

Good reasons for Trump to remain

I respectfully differ with Forum writer Dan Laurent, who wants President Trump out after two years. (“GOP has to do more than criticize Trump,” Aug. 30 Forum)

I want the Donald to remain for his full four-year term, as a wake-up call to both parties.

I hope the Democrats will reflect on their abandonment of the blue-collar worker and rural votes, which left the way open for the Donald. And I hope they’ll change their focus from silly, divisive niche issues and come back to the mainstream.

I hope the Republicans will take a hard look at the racism and sexism that underlie some of their appeal, and consider whether this is really where they want the party of Lincoln to be.

Congress needs a win; try infrastructure

The coming GOP budget battle will continue to cut back the safety net for minimum wage earners, provide more tax cuts for the wealthy, increase defense spending, and shut down the government unless a wall is built along the Mexican border.

Does this make sense?

Instead, Congress could consider repairing our long-time failing infrastructure. With more jobs available there would be more tax revenue to fight increasing poverty – a positive effort to unite us.

‘No’ on Sandy aid? Say ‘yes’ on Harvey

In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast. Damage was well over $50 billion and 117 people died in the United States.

I hope and pray that they do not repeat this heartless action when voting for Harvey funding.

Duke execs must be held accountable

By and large, Duke Energy had done a good job providing cost effective energy. But this coal ash issue is different.

This is the effect of years of management decisions that kicked the issue down the road at ever increasing costs.

I could only support a rate increase if the executives and board members who made the poor decisions pay back the incentive compensation and stock they received for the past 10 years.

Shareholders and customers did not make the decision to kick the problem down the road; the executives and board did. They should be held accountable.

Stop letting cars park on Sixth Street

Recent street closures in uptown have forced large numbers of drivers to use Sixth Street to enter and leave the city.

The gridlock has become so severe during rush-hour that it can easily take 20 to 30 minutes to travel from North Caldwell to North Graham on Sixth Street.

One simple solution would be for city officials to prohibit any on-street parking on Sixth between Caldwell and Graham. This would allow a three-lane road to operate as a three-lane road, instead of the one- or two-lane road that parked cars have forced it to become.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 1:51 PM with the headline "This batch of Charlotte candidates can’t get the job done."