Cintra did great things with I-77 North. Sign them up for I-77 South.

I-77 South

I fully support the proposal from Cintra to build express lanes on I-77 south to South Carolina.

The widening and addition of express lanes on I-77 north has been a tremendous success. It’s politically expedient and easy to criticize the 50-year agreement, but we need to take a hard look at the facts:

▪ I-77 north of uptown was horrible to travel prior to the expansion.

▪ New free lanes were also added.

▪ The express lanes are there for anyone to use with a fee.

▪ Cintra remade the freeway. It was widened and straightened, exits and entrance lanes made more usable, and traffic now flows more freely most of the day.

Don’t look this gift horse in the mouth. Given a real chance to succeed, just like the northern expansion, the southern expansion will provide better traffic flow, safety and prevent the worsening of this stretch of freeway for decades.

Larry A. Clark, Charlotte

Money for roads

Wait a minute! Why are we talking about adding toll lanes to I-77 when President Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill? Aren’t interstate highways part of our infrastructure? Gov. Cooper needs to insist on receiving some of those funds for the largest city in the state so that we don’t need to add toll lanes. We pay enough in taxes to have these types of roads funded.

Walt David, Indian Land

Clarifying my view

I appreciate the Observer Editorial Board’s efforts to endorse candidates and recognition of my “strong grasp of issues facing the county.” However, comments about my “extreme views” regarding the LGBTQ community and unspecified issues require clarification.

I deeply respect the LGBTQ+ community and appreciate my time with LGBTQ+ individuals in the arts and elsewhere. However, I do object to sexually explicit and graphic materials in K-12 classrooms and libraries, regardless of sexual orientation. The maturation of children to adulthood is legally recognized as 18 years of age (voting, for example) and sexual activity should not be sanctioned or encouraged while children are in their vulnerable stages of development.

Additionally, we must ensure the school day is used to prepare every student for post-high school success, in an environment where all children are respected for their special needs, religion, race and sexual orientation.

Tatyana Thulien

At-large candidate, Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners

Social Security

Regarding “Enjoy the Social Security bump now. You’ll pay later,” (Oct. 16 Opinion):

I am sick and tired of people referring to Social Security an entitlements. I’ve paid into Social Security since I was 16. If they don’t think we’re “entitled” to get back what we put in, how would they feel about paying us back all the money they took out of our paychecks? If the government can afford to spend $742 billion on defense, they can figure out a way to preserve Social Security.

Lisa Baucom, Kannapolis

Inflation, your vote

Polls show the majority of voters will cast their votes based on the economy. Yet, the current economy, especially inflation, is mainly influenced by international factors, not by what Congress and the president have done.

The U.S. economy will rebound like it always has, regardless of politics. But we face many issues that will impact our future far beyond the economic impact of today: rampant gun violence, the right to obtain reproductive healthcare without government intervention, rights of all citizens to vote and have their votes counted, and preservation of our democracy, just to name a few.

Many candidates who only talk about inflation support policies that will have a negative impact on our rights and safety long after inflation is reduced. Voters should consider the future of our nation. If you lose your freedoms and democratic rights, the economy won’t matter.

Joel B. Miller, Hickory

Election integrity

Election-denying Republican candidates are busy spreading lies about voter fraud and conspiracy theories to sow discord in the name of election security. These tactics breed hate, division and violence among people who have been brainwashed into thinking that some groups don’t deserve the right to vote. They believe that opponents want to take away their rights, their freedom, their way of life. All lies.

Democracy is being eroded by a pernicious tribalism. Vote freely, vote fairly. Vote!

Joseph Salerno, Charlotte

Banning books

I worry that a small, but vocal number of citizens are trying to influence the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board on books. We must consider the issue in a broader context.

A recent, national study found most respondents supported school library book access for high school students, across topics of civics, racial inequality, the civil rights movement, slavery, the Holocaust, and sex and gender issues.

Respondents were less in agreement with elementary students having access to these books, especially those related to sex and gender. Still, 53% approved books that depicted families with same-sex parents.

Banning books doesn’t promote equity, and it’s certainly not an act of “Liberty.”

Linda C. Traum, Charlotte