Tax breaks for a project that lacks affordable housing? Stop sticking up for developers.

On housing, city leaders risk ouster

Regarding “Uptown plan faces critics over affordable housing,” (March 8):

Charlotte city leaders have thrown people in desperate need of affordable housing and those of us with lungs under the bus with their plan to offer $30 million in tax breaks to developers of uptown properties.

No provisions for affordable housing and more cars to clog our already highly polluted air in uptown. What if those parking garages had been converted to affordable housing and instead of encouraging more cars to clog the streets we expanded bicycle lanes?

Come on, Charlotte leaders, you can do much better than this. Quit sucking up to developers because they make contributions to your campaigns. Serve the constituents who voted you into office or those of us who are sick of the direction Charlotte is being driven may vote you out.

Jim Henderlite, Charlotte

CMS, find a way to fund honors music

Regarding “CMS loses funding for honors music programs,” (March 9):

Here we go again. No money for honors music programs. It is a proven fact that students who participate in music benefit academically, emotionally and socially. Music can be a lifelong pursuit, unlike violent sports like football, for which there always seems to be ample resources.

Think music isn’t important? Try living for even one day without it.

Margaret Howell, Charlotte

Prohibiting abortion won’t stop it

Regarding “The forgotten women in the abortion debate,” (March 9 Opinion):

As a retired physician I still remember the first autopsy I witnessed was that of a 14 year old who died from a botched illegal abortion, a frequent event at that time. In my first month as an intern I lost two young women to that common malady. Prohibition did not stop the consumption of alcohol. Similarly, prohibiting abortion will not stop them but make them dangerous and frequently fatal.

Jesse C. Craven, Charlotte

Meadows will stick to ‘Trump truth’

The truth did Mick Mulvaney in. He made a huge tactical mistake when he spoke the truth last October confirming that President Trump froze aid to Ukraine in order to pressure that country to investigate Joe Biden. Congressman Mark Meadows, the new chief of staff, is smarter. Meadows knows that the only truth is “Trump truth,” which he will follow and be loyal to as long as it benefits him.

Ed Kouri, Charlotte

Democratic must return to reality

What happened to the Democratic Party of John F. Kennedy - “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”?

It seems the Democrats’ slogan is now “what can the government give me for free by penalizing those who are more successful than me.” The party focuses on what divides us, how we’re different, handouts, socialism, and strives for a Utopian fairy tale.

It’s time the party came back to reality. Focus on what unites us, how we can utilize the free market to help those who are less fortunate than us, and ignore the calls for a disaster of an economic system.

Gabriel Russ, Lincolnton

Medicare for All is the right thing

Regarding “Dental care can leave patients vulnerable” (March 8) and “Coronavirus reveals an uneasy truth,” (March 8 Editorial):

Thanks for both the Sunday editorial about the need for better health care protection against Coronavirus and the front-page article about the need for better dental care coverage, which is health care. I am only disappointed that, in calling only for Medicaid expansion and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, you stopped short of the obvious, permanent, cost-saving solution for all of these shortcomings: Improved Medicare for All, which will include dental care. It is the right thing, the moral thing, and the practical thing for all of us. The extreme thing is to oppose it.

Paul Pressly Gilbert, Charlotte

Sanders, Biden and labor unions

The writer is president/CEO of The Employers Association, a consulting firm.

Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have received large amounts of political contributions from labor unions and in exchange they want Congress to repeal right-to-work laws in 27 states, including North and South Carolina.

Department of Labor data shows that in the past 14 months 60 union officials and staffers have been charged with crimes related to misuse and embezzlement of union dues, involving millions.

Unions claim they protect workers from bad employers. Who is protecting the employees from the unions?

Kenny Colbert, Cornelius

This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 3:01 PM.