Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.19.15

Charlotte needs better housing mix

It was easy to connect the dots between Sunday’s “How to confront resegregation” (Aug. 16 Editorial) and “Affordable units harder to find amid boom,” (Aug. 16 Business).

School segregation requires the cooperation of our entire community through zoning, housing patterns and economic development.

Concentrating high-end apartments uptown and in Ballantyne only intensifies the problem.

We lament that Charlotte ranks near the bottom on upward mobility, yet we continue to segregate our community economically and racially.

Ask those running for office for their vision to engage and cooperate across city and county departments to address these issues, and then vote accordingly.

Four better ways to help rural N.C.

Rather than rob Peter to pay Paul, we should look to obvious and proven revenue and job-creating investments that will help rural areas more.

Four examples include: continuing incentives to push solar energy development, increasing the historical tax credit which repurposes a liability into an asset, passing the bond initiative which will repair and rebuild roads, bridges, railways, and expanding Medicaid, which will help people, hospitals and the economy.

The solar push will help us meet the Clean Power Plan.

Rest easy, road noise is only temporary

My sympathy for Forum writer Vivian Lavaty’s sleep disruption would be greatly increased if I knew the length of time involved in the “temporary” I-485 resurfacing work being done in her neighborhood.

Also her opinion as to a more suitable time for scheduling this necessary work would be appreciated.

Our voices drowned out by ALEC

I agree with Forum writer and teacher Helen Williams. Many in North Carolina are frustrated with how the General Assembly has treated education.

The Moral Mondays movement has been fighting for teachers for years.

Alas, the problem is not that our legislators don’t hear us. They do, but our voices are drowned out by ALEC and big money.

CMPD officers not adequately trained

Officer Wes Kerrick’s self defense and “I thought I was going to die” statement says it all.

We are turning out police officers who are vastly under- or not qualified to be an officer.

A qualified officer should be able to handle any situation – other than an actual gunfight – without use of his firearm.

City leaders, work to reconcile Charlotte

Charlotte has historically been on the forefront of black civil rights.

In 1963 then-mayor Stan Brookshire and the Charlotte Chamber declared May 23, 1963, to be “the day leading to a major breakthrough in human relationships for the Queen City.” Brookshire later said it allowed the city avoid the riots and violence of other cities.

Tension is arising between black people and law enforcement. We need our leaders to demonstrate concern with this Jonathan Ferrell/Wes Kerrick case.

Under no circumstances should we allow others to disturb our history of peaceful, voluntary reconciliation.

When it mattered Pittenger fell short

I disagree with Forum Writer Barbara Rulf’s praise of Congressman Robert Pittenger’s bipartisanship.

Many conservative voters sent him to Washington to be strong and stand up against President Obama’s agenda, and he just hasn’t delivered on decisive votes.

On October 2013 when it really counted, he voted with the Democrats and Nancy Pelosi to fund Obamacare and increase the debt ceiling.

At two separate town hall meetings in Matthews, he was asked to explain his vote. All we got was a game of fiddle sticks and jumping jacks.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.19.15."