Observer readers react to McClatchy decision to stop running political cartoons | Opinion

To our readers: Because of changing reader habits, McClatchy will cease publishing daily opinion cartoons beginning this month. We have long been proud to publish the work of Charlotte’s Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Kevin Siers, who has provided readers with sharp, artful and insightful commentary that holds officials and institutions accountable. He has been a valued voice and leader on our editorial board.

Local opinion journalism remains core to McClatchy’s mission and success. We are committed to elevating strong voices who bring deeply reported, urgent local opinion journalism to our readers.

Peter St. Onge, NC Opinion Editor and McClatchy Opinion Editor

Editorial cartoons

Many of us have watched the struggles of daily newspapers to survive with dismay. There is no doubt that local journalism has suffered as newsrooms have been depleted and opinion pages reduced.

The news that McClatchy has decided to let Kevin Siers of The Charlotte Observer, Jack Ohman from the Sacramento Bee and Joel Pett of the Lexington Herald-Leader go is especially sad. Three extremely talented cartoonists whose pictures tell a thousand words and more, and enlighten us.

Thanks for all the great work, Kevin Siers. We’ll look forward to seeing it elsewhere, and will miss it in The Observer.

Pat McCoy, Charlotte

A terrible loss

The decision to drop the important work by Kevin Siers is unconscionable. His cartoons have carried us through important controversies with the grace of insight and humor. His daily contributions helped keep us sane — and, even, proud of our city. The loss of reason and clarity in these crystallized commentaries represents a loss in the public discourse and therefore a loss to our democratic potential. We are grateful for the gifts that have streamed from the intelligent and thoughtful inkwell sitting on the desk of Kevin Siers.

Jane and Jim Crosthwaite, Charlotte

NC prosecutors

Regarding “Prosecutors lobbied NC lawmakers to kill criminal justice reform bills, emails show” (July 18):

Thanks to Ames Alexander and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi for exposing the latest campaign by North Carolina prosecutors to erect higher and even more unjust barriers to exoneration. Mecklenburg is fortunate to have Spencer Merriweather as district attorney, but surely his view of this issue extends beyond his office’s staffing problems. Speak up, Mr. DA.

Lew Powell, Charlotte

Take responsibility

I just read Minerva Canto’s July 14 Opinion Extra article regarding fentanyl laced drugs being sold in Mexico and I’m amazed by the lack of accountability on behalf of the American tourists. Why are tourists looking to buy oxycontin, oxycodone and adderall while on vacation? Perhaps the problem lies with them and not Mexico or the cartels. When are people going to take responsibility for their actions instead of wanting to blame someone else?

Michael J. Carman, Mooresville

Shameful GOP

In the 1970s when it became apparent that Richard Nixon had broken the law Republican leaders told him to resign, which he did. Today, we have a former president about to be indicted for the third time. When asked about Donald Trump’s forthcoming indictment for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attempted coup, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the Department of Justice is being “weaponized” against Trump. McCarthy and his GOP colleagues were in the Capitol that day hiding from the mob. He and others called Trump begging him to tell the rioters to go home. Where are the current GOP leaders? They’re either defending Trump or they’re silent. It is shameful.

Laura Reich, Charlotte

Better schools

There’s much talk about public schools needing to be more competitive with private and charter schools. I agree we need to provide a better product to our students. We should take a lesson from business. Recruit the best and the brightest and offer pay that will attract talent. We should invest in development and infrastructure so teaching talent has what it needs to produce successful students. We should not provide coupons to shop at our competitors.

David Fahey, Charlotte