Trump was right to confront Germany

Keep the pressure on Germany, Mr. Trump

President Trump is right about confronting Germany on its lack of funding for NATO.

Germany is one of the wealthiest countries on earth, yet a 2014 NATO agreement gave it 10 years to meet its obligation to spend 2 percent on defense. It could and should do it immediately.

Germany is criticizing Russian aggressiveness, yet it plans to pay that country billions every year to buy natural gas when it could be buying it from the US. Keep the pressure on, Mr. President.

I’m with Lyles; city should host RNC

I want to commend Mayor Vi Lyles for her adult approach to the Republican National Convention.

Unfortunately, we have City Council members who have not demonstrated this level of maturity. If council members Braxton Winston and LaWana Mayfield are concerned about people being hurt during protests at the convention, they should encourage their protesting friends to remain at home.

Winston and Mayfield need to recognize that their ideology isn’t necessarily acceptable to many other residents.

Enormous benefits of RNC questionable

If hosting the RNC is so appealing and offers such enormous benefits to the hosts, why is it that Charlotte and Las Vegas are the only two cities in the country willing to bid on this opportunity?

GOP isn’t inclusive; city shouldn’t host

Mayor Vi Lyles, what planet do you live on? You want to host the 2020 GOP convention so Charlotte can be inclusive.

Their president takes children from the arms of their parents. He has admitted assaulting women. He equates Nazis with the protesters who oppose them. He is intent on dismantling the NATO alliance and free trade.

I, for one, do not want the presence or business of such an extremist group as the Republicans and their national convention in my town. May I suggest Moscow instead?

I’m disappointed too, but keep the statue

None of us is perfect, not Scott Fowler, not Jerry Richardson, not me.

While I am so disappointed in Richardson’s behavior, I am also one who knows what bringing the Panthers has meant to this community.

Get over it, Scott! Move on.

Airport pleases city’s boosters, but not me

This article on the Charlotte Douglas International Airport omitted one salient fact – it stinks.

Parking and getting to the terminal requires negotiating a minefield of shuttles and interminable construction. Once you get there, the terminal is cramped and overcrowded. Travelers must walk long distances due to the clunky, outmoded design.

Baggage service takes forever. Departing requires waiting – usually a long time – for a shuttle bus.

Regional boosters love to sing the airport’s praises, but those of us who use the facility (and other airports around the country) know better. The airport caters to the airlines, but gives short shrift to the local customers it should be serving.

Legislators, put that NC pork to better use

When doling out money for a dog park, NC legislators obviously didn’t give much thought to the homeless who often sleep in the parks.

As for giving $25,000 for downtown revitalization to the 158 people living in Lansing, NC, with no traditional downtown and who aren’t sure how they’ll use the money, many of us can provide some ideas to these generous legislators.