Coronavirus taught us value of low-wage workers. Provide more housing for them in Ballantyne.

Low-wage workers need more housing

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come to appreciate janitors and grocery cashiers more. A quick Google search confirms they make about a quarter of the average salary in Charlotte.

Northwood Office’s new project proposes to add 940 retail and hospitality jobs in the Ballantyne area but will reserve less than 10% of 2,000 apartments for folks making 60-80% of the area median income.

While any affordable housing is to be applauded, we need more housing for the most vulnerable among us. Now that we know these folks are essential to our health and sustainability, it is time for Charlotte City Council and Northwood to step up and reserve housing for folks who make minimum wage or slightly more.

Council member Dimple Ajmera asked the right question: Where are these folks going to live?

Deb Park, Charlotte

I’m ready, willing for a soft opening

Regarding opening the country again... If we go into a depression, I can’t imagine that. We need to reopen. I suggest a “soft opening” like restaurants have. Stores and restaurants could open for business but slowly. The limit of people allowed inside would be determined by square footage, just as it is with essential services now.

I would be willing and excited to participate in this soft opening. We can find a way.

Elizabeth Atherton, Charlotte

Take more steps to stop the spread

It is extremely necessary to begin taking more steps to stop the spread of this dangerous virus. Grocery stores should only be open on particular days, and should close earlier. So should other “essential” stores.

Certain places do not need to open at all, even though they are considered restaurants or food places. For example, ice cream shops and food places that are more of an option than a necessity.

Allowing these places to be open is encouraging people to leave their homes for personal, non-essential reasons. It results in further spread of the virus.

Hailey Johnston, Lincolnton

Learn from history, reveal the numbers

The writer is an RN.

Regarding “Mecklenburg officials tight-lipped about coronavirus deaths,” (April 14):

How ironic that Monday’s Observer had an in-depth article about the 1918 Spanish Flu and how the mayor and public health director withheld the correct number of deaths from the public at the time.

As a community, all of us are entitled to know more about the coronavirus deaths. How else will we be able to keep track of the cornavirus’ staging? How else will we know whether it would be wise, indeed safe, to lift our public health restrictions?

Caroline Tate Noojin, Charlotte

Here’s what I want county to reveal

Why can’t Mecklenburg County Health Department officials give us honest numbers about the COVID-19 virus?

I understand HIPPA laws well, but surely somebody can tell us how many of those affected are in the hospital, how many are on respirators, how many are in ICU, how many are in a regular hospital room and how many have been released.

Also, tell us the general areas where there are cases and the numbers, for instance uptown, north, south, east or west of Charlotte.

What are you hiding from the public?

Celia Powell, Charlotte

On virus, Trump can’t win for losing

I may not be President Trump’s biggest supporter, but let’s look at some facts: The U.S. has 554,849 coronavirus cases, more than triple the cases in Spain or Italy. But the United States has nearly seven times the population of Spain and five times that of Italy.

I realize this is no consolation to U.S. residents who do have the virus and those who have lost loved ones., but if Trump had closed the country earlier there would have been complaints. Instead, there are complaints that he did not close down sooner.

Armit Mundorf, Charlotte

Piano teacher has a lesson for us all

Thanks for the inspiring, well-written story about Dzidra Reimanis, the 92-year-old piano teacher. She has overcome hardships and obstacles greater than most of us can even imagine, yet she remains a productive, involved citizen, teaching and sharing her love of music with a new generation of young people.

Her story is a reminder of what perseverance, hard work, hope and a sense of purpose can do in lives beset by unforeseen calamities. It’s a timely lesson for us today as we cope with this pandemic.

Rita A. Simpson, Davidson