CMS must revise the way it handles big purchases like the $1.7M crisis alert system

CMS must revise purchasing policies

Regarding “CMS mails: Security system failed for months,” (Jan. 19):

How is it that a purchase of $1.75 million doesn’t require the approval of the school board and/or doesn’t go through major processes to get approved?

I have to scratch my head also about how CMS could buy additional products from the same security company, Centegix, after it was known its systems were faulty.

CMS must develop processes/thresholds regarding the approval of large expenditures. As school finance consultant Michael Griffith said of using a purchase order for such a large expenditure: “There are really only two reasons I know that you would do that and neither of them is good.”

Ellen Martin, Charlotte

Turn up the heat on local arts funding

Mecklenburg County’s support for arts and culture is crucial.

Our culture is reflected in the music we hear and play, in our visual art, and in the sharing of our stories. These things make up the “flavor” that is uniquely ours. It attracts others to us. Many of the programs and organizations that do this work depend on Arts & Science Council support.

County funding provides for diversity in the arts, science programs, and cultural exchanges throughout Mecklenburg and helps us to be the cultural “crown” in North Carolina and this region.

I hope that commissioners turn up the funding heat on cultural inclusion, equity and diversity.

Toni Tupponce, Charlotte

We can’t survive without ASC funding

The writer is executive director of Three Bone Theatre.

I’ve heard ideas about how arts organizations should be funded in Charlotte. They require groups to have full-time staffs, a luxury we don’t have at Three Bone Theatre.

We all have day jobs and work an extra 10-30 hours per week because we believe in the transformational power of theater to tackle community issues such as the school-to-prison pipeline, mental health, the impact of PTSD on veterans. We literally could not do this without ASC funding.

In the past year, we employed 68 local artists. Every cent we receive from ASC goes toward paying them. But it is not commensurate with the estimated 10,000 hours of work that goes into producing our season and, frankly, it’s not sustainable without additional financial support.

Becky Schultz, Charlotte

I see this as a ‘constitutional coup’

In Latin American “banana republics,” a coup d’état is carried out by a group of generals dissatisfied with the incumbent leader. In America, our people would never stand for such a thing. Therefore, we go through the process of impeachment to get rid of a president.

In other words, we do a “constitutional coup d’état.” It’s an attempt to cancel the election by removing from office a properly elected person the other party does not like but could not defeat at the polls.

John Baber, Lake Wylie

My hope for the US Senate this week

During the impeachment trial it should be the hope of all Americans that the senators conduct themselves as American citizens, rather than partisan politicians.

Donald T. Meyer, Denver, NC

Sen. Tillis is wrong about subpoenas

As a conservative Republican, I’m alarmed at the misleading statement Sen. Thom Tillis made to me in an email response regarding the impeachment trial.

Tillis wrote: “It is not the responsibility of the Senate to do the work that the House failed to do, particularly when they failed to issue subpoenas for testimony.”

But the House most certainly did issue subpoenas for testimony. The second article of impeachment says that President Trump abused his power by directing “current and former executive branch officials not to cooperate with the committees — in response to which nine Administrative officials defied subpoenas for testimony...”

The Senate is responsible for a thorough trial. In this age of disinformation, voters must hear from relevant witnesses, under oath.

Julianna Burgess, Boone

Just another way to punish women

Regarding “Court to look anew at health care law birth control rules” (Jan. 18):

Allowing employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptives could be considered an act of punishment towards women.

It would subject them to financial burdens paying for their own birth control, while at the same time encouraging religious institutions and others to deny payment.

Women face enough inequality. If the court passes a new rule, women would be no better off than rabbits reproducing without control.

Lorraine Stark, Matthews