Trump fired the coronavirus watchdog. The GOP silence is deafening.

A deafening silence from the GOP

Is anyone paying attention? Does anyone in the GOP care anymore? Are they too intimidated to speak up? On Tuesday President Trump fired Glenn Fine, the nonpartisan inspector general whose job was to oversee how the $2.2 trillion in COVID-19 taxpayer money gets distributed.

Be assured Trump will now appoint a loyalist and these dollars could flow unimpeded to his cronies and political supporters. This is complete and total corruption. We the people, deserve better. Trump must go. The GOP silence in deafening.

Bill Anderson, Charlotte

Pay grocery workers $15 minimum wage

Grocery workers were heroes long before COVID-19, working hard for dirt wages to feed and shelter their families. Most are working now because they have to; they don’t have the luxury of “working from home.”

Now, politicians co-opt these workers’ perseverance with pandering praise during television appearances.

You want to honor these workers for being on the front lines? Give them a decent $15 an hour minimum wage now before this terrible pandemic ends. Then, maybe they’ll call you “heroes.”

Dan Crawford, Charlotte

A nice gesture, but bad fit for seniors

Those of us who are older and/or have underlying health factors appreciate attempts to reduce our risks by setting aside special shopping hours and pick-up services.

However, why so early in the morning? We avoid activities outside the home much before 10 a.m. We lose track of days of the week. By the time we realize it was Tuesday, it is Wednesday. When we do remember, the lines are foreboding, enhancing our risks.

On-line ordering isn’t much better. Pick up times are a week out. By that time prices have increased, half the items are out-of-stock, and our needs have changed.

The result is that we wind up taking the risk and shop during regular business hours. Makes me wonder if the gesture is more symbolic than real.

John Gregory Hayes, Charlotte

No protesters if babies weren’t dying

Regarding “Ted Cruz shameless, wrong Charlotte abortion protest,” (April 6 Editorial):

People are praying at the abortion clinic because unborn babies are dying, and for no other reason. They are not there just to exercise their First Amendment rights or religious liberties or to defy restrictions. If babies were not dying, they would not be there at all.

As tragic as COVID-19 is - over 14,000 deaths across the U.S. as of Friday morning - about 16,583 unborn babies are put to death every week in the U.S. That is what’s wrong; and that is why they pray.

Willie Rash, Kannapolis

Plan now for secure elections in NC

One of the State Board of Elections proposals for November elections is to add additional staffing, which could be costly. My suggestion: Use the N.C. National Guard, as long as they are not being utilized for the pandemic.

Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell has proposed some excellent ideas, but they require significant costs. I sincerely hope the N.C. legislature sees fit to fund these efforts and doesn’t become a roadblock. COVID-19 comes first, but we must plan now to find a safe and secure way to vote in November.

Walt Boris, Pineville

Don’t punish all, fine the rule breakers

I have been walking the trails at McAlpine Park for many years. When social distancing and stay at home orders began, I wondered why others gathering at parks in groups were not being cited and fined. So, what did Mecklenburg commissioners do to solve the problem? They punished everyone by closing all the parking lots to cars, forcing anyone who wants to exercise in a park during these trying times to walk there, which forces people onto unsafe streets. Instead of punishing everyone, commissioners should find ways to punish only those who don’t follow the rules.

Jim Hill, Charlotte

Affordable housing fix that I’d like to see

I support Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles’ passion to provide additional affordable housing. However, I disagree with attempts to pay for the need with public funds.

Instead, the state should allow Charlotte to use its existing zoning power to withhold building permits unless housing and apartment proposals include a predetermined number of low income units. Establish a proportional scale and let those who profit from construction that actually burdens our city services, pay the true price of their builds.

Needless to say, developers, will complain vociferously. Don’t think for a second, however, that they will stop their profiteering efforts.

Rich Preiss, Charlotte