After latest shooting death, more shoppers will begin to shun Concord Mills mall

Concord mall headed the way of Eastland

With the latest shooting at Concord Mills, including the death of a teenage girl, the shopping center has become a place of violence. A similar comparison easily draws to mind what happened to Eastland Mall. More shoppers will begin to shun Concord Mills for safety reasons, and over time the mall will lose tenants. Developers should start planning now what the land can be turned into.

Floyd Prophet, Kannapolis

Berry is protecting lax employers

Regarding “NC workers’ comp law has tough ‘injury by accident’ standard,” (Dec. 30):

I was beyond disgusted reading about Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry protecting employers who chose profits over workplace safety.

Some employers ignore the risks associated with dangerous equipment. They ignore safety recommendations and chose profit over employee safety. And if they have Berry in their corner, they know the financial penalty for an employee’s serious injury or death is low so they are rewarded for their repulsively irresponsible behavior.

The Labor Commissioner is supposed to promote the health, safety and well-being of N.C. employees. Instead it appears she is protecting irresponsible employers who are using ignorance as an excuse to avoid paying well-deserved fines for actively ignoring safety.

Gail Halverson, Charlotte

Ban robocalls from politicians in 2020

Regarding “Charlotte consumers got 538 million robocalls so far in 2019. Congress is cracking down,“ (Dec. 23):

One of the worst offenders of robocalls is coming up in 2020: Politicians. Why don’t they set a good example and not robocall us this year? They could even pass legislation to that effect. The latest bill passed the House by a 417-3 vote and only one senator has “expressed reservations.”CQ With only four people against it, this should be easy.

Brent Baxter, Cherryville

What Democrats really ‘hate’

Regarding “Dems driven by hatred of Trump,” (Dec. 22 Forum):

Let’s be clear on what this Forum writer labels “hate.” Democrats ”hate” that we have a president who thinks he’s above the law of our Constitution.

Democrats “hate” that the president thinks it’s OK to ask foreign leaders to investigate his political rival for personal gain.

Democrats “hate” the president has obstructed Congress from doing what they are Constitutionally obligated to do — uphold the Constitution through a proper, unimpeded investigation.

If holding the president accountable for his egregious behavior make Democrats haters, I’m proud to be a Democrat. Most importantly, I’m proud of those who take defending our democracy seriously.

Sham Ostapko, Huntersville

It’s time to find middle ground

Liberals desperately seek a “magic bean” candidate to deliver the keys to the kingdom — a savior to sell their singularly focused ideology of income equality through wealth redistribution.

Everything for free may be compelling to the masses, but it is an unattainable economic myth.

Conservatives continue to worship at the altar of trickle-down economics. It’s great in theory and yes, the economy has expanded, but the deleterious side effects of deficit spending gifted us a crippling national debt and untenable income disparity.

Our Founding Fathers did not envision a country of “haves” and “have nots,” yet here we are. “Let them eat cake” did not work out well for French aristocracy and “Let them feed me cake” will not work out well here. It’s time to find our middle ground in 2020.

Ken May, Charlotte

This plan threatens charter schools

Regarding “Report: NC still short offering all ‘sound basic education’“ (Dec. 10):

WestEd’s report to the Leandro lawsuit recommends what school district CFOs have complained about for years — forwarding local funding with a charter student.

This proposal means charter students share state funds, which is only a portion of education funding. Districts then keep all local funding as a way to keep district CFOs “out of the middle.” It assumes county money for education belongs exclusively to district administrators padding their budgets, not county students.

Currently, charter students on average only receive 73 percent of the funding that district students receive and no classroom funding, which districts receive from counties. The devil is in the details. This recommendation further cuts charter funding.

Lindalyn Kakadelis, Pinehurst