Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 05.13.15
In response to “Proposed garbage plan gets pushback” (May 12):
Budget blunder: giving Panthers $87.5M
Charlotte City Manager Ron Carlee blaming the repeal of the business privilege license tax for the city budget shortfall is laughable.
Charlotte officials simply cannot manage tax dollars.
We could pick up tons of garbage, fix all the potholes, and perhaps cut taxes if we only had back the $87.5 million we gave Jerry Richardson.
Jim Cherry
Charlotte
Mistake to cut back on street repairs even with tight budget
As a former facilities executive at a publisher, a university, and a hospital, I suggest that City Manager Ron Carlee’s proposal to not pave 16 miles of city streets is no budget savings.
It is deferred maintenance that will increase real cost through: 1.) accelerating deterioration. 2.) higher future material cost (currently abnormally low), and 3.) worn out roads carrying an ever-increasing traffic volume.
David Zeeso
Charlotte
In response to Our View “Health-care law spurring progress” (May 11 Editorial):
Those Obamacare subsidies aren’t free; people like me pay
Once again the Observer touts sign-ups in North Carolina for the Affordable Care Act.
Your editorial said 92 percent of the enrollees are getting a subsidy.
You failed to mention that someone has to pay for these subsidies – that would be people like me on a fixed income who worked for over 40 years, through good times and bad.
The country is over $18 trillion in debt. How about a little even-handed reporting?
Michael J. Nellenbach
Indian Land, S.C.
In response to “Editorial on surplus smacked of poor sportsmanship” (May 10 Forum) and related articles:
Surplus achieved on backs of elderly; Vinroot ignores that
I have always admired Richard Vinroot, whose Forum letter credited the N.C. legislature with the recent state surplus.
My elderly husband and I helped create that surplus when the legislature took away all deductions for medical expenses. Our state taxes more than doubled.
Maybe Mr. Vinroot and many legislators got a generous reduction in taxes, but it was paid for by the sick and elderly.
Is this the result he and legislators intended?
I doubt many seniors will vote Republican again!
Cary Johnston
Davidson
I’m still waiting for trickle down promised by Reagan, the GOP
I’m still waiting for trickle down promised by Reagan, the GOP
I am 67 years old and now live on Social Security. I have been waiting on that trickle down effect since Ronald Reagan was president, which the Republican Party said would happen if the well-to-do could only get more tax breaks.
With a $400 million surplus in the N.C. budget, it sounds like there is no better time to start trickling.
I could use it to pay some of these power bills up here in Cherryville.
Terry Bame
Cherryville
In response to “S.C. trumps N.C. in bagging Volvo plant” (May 12):
Sure, S.C. got Volvo jobs, but N.C. will get tourist dollars
Let South Carolina continue to give away billions to lure business.
Eventually, all of those S.C. workers will visit North Carolina for our beautiful mountains, clean waters, and fresh air – and spend billions to do so.
Mike Wright
Matthews
In response to “Brady, Patriots penalized” (May 12):
Brady gets felony treatment for what amounts to misdemeanor
Brady gets felony treatment for what amounts to misdemeanor
As a football fan in general, and a New England Patriots fan in particular, I find the NFL’s investigation and subsequent penalty against Tom Brady laughable.
The evidence barely cleared the low bar of a misdemeanor charge, but the penalty carried the weight of a felony conviction.
However, I completely understand why many sports writers and fans are thrilled that the NFL came down this hard on Brady and the Patriots. Envy is the highest form of flattery in sports, which is why I have always detested the N.Y. Yankees!
John Larrabee
Charlotte
This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 05.13.15."