Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.21.16

Save tax dollars, close failing charters

In response to “2 struggling Charlotte charters may be axed” (Jan. 20):

Kennedy and Crossroads charter schools both got F’s from the state based on 2015 test results.

Taxpayers – you and me – paid those two charters a combined $6.5 million for 500 students. That’s $13,000 per student.

My vote is to close them now. Quit wasting my taxpayer money.

Give that money back to state schools so they can hire more and better teachers.

Scott Chapin, Charlotte

Thanks for approving SouthPark project

In response to “Council approves plan to reshape SouthPark” (Jan. 20):

The writer lives on Colony Road.

I am so appreciative of our City Council and its unanimous vote for the redevelopment of Synco Properties’ 27 acres at Colony and Sharon Roads.

There will be Colony Road improvements at no additional cost to the city, and workforce housing, in place voluntarily, 55 units for 30 years.

Synco sets a high bar for others to follow.

Sherry Williams, Charlotte

SouthPark walkable? That’s a long shot

In response to “Can planners turn booming SouthPark into a walkable area?” (Jan. 17):

This would require a cataclysmic upheaval of urban design.

Buildings in walkable cities have their faces on the street. And the buildings are inviting, with easy entrance access, not an architect’s ego trip.

SouthPark is a conglomeration of puzzle pieces from different puzzles, with the biggest piece being an Island Mall mired in an asphalt and concrete swamp accessible only by four-wheeled row boats.

Ed Mesko, Charlotte

Clinton not capable of managing country

In response to “Official: Some Clinton emails beyond top secret” (Jan. 20):

An Inspector General has now found “beyond top secret” emails on Hillary Clinton’s insecure home server.

This casual treatment by Ms. Clinton of national security matters appears unending.

This and other matters that have surfaced during her tenure as Secretary of State should make it abundantly clear to all that Ms. Clinton is not capable of managing the affairs of our country.

Dick Robberts, Charlotte

Email story shouldn’t be downplayed

You’ve done it again – buried on page 9A Wednesday was yet another report of Hillary Clinton’s activities concerning her private server, this time involving several dozen emails that were beyond top secret.

All occurred while she was Secretary of State.

When will you report her activities in the manner deserved?

Jim Hatfield, Charlotte

Way we view states vs country has changed

In response to “The eight amendments the United States needs” (Jan. 20 Opinion):

Jonathan Bernstein’s proposed constitutional amendments highlight the divide in our perception of the USA.

The founding fathers saw a set of heterogeneous states, united, with equal representation, hence the Electoral College and two senators per state.

Now, we tend to view the USA as a homogeneous country where states have become historical boundaries.

The political dilemma is balancing ubiquitous federal laws versus “states’ rights.” E pluribus unum!

Dale Saville, Charlotte

Another reason toll contract despised

Can you imagine going into a grocery store and paying $3.23 for milk in the morning, but $6.83 in the afternoon? There would be hell to pay.

The changing toll rates throughout the day are one of many reasons the Cintra contract is so despised.

The free market approach works well when there is open competition, but it loses its luster when trying to apply this to our highway system.

Mark Mazzoni, Charlotte

Flyovers are good military training

In response to “Game flyovers waste taxpayer money” (Jan. 20 Forum):

Taxpayers may not realize that every military unit must fly a certain number of training hours per year, and that game flyovers come from the training budget.

As an Air Force pilot I flew a few of these and the precision and coordination to have an accurate Time Over Target for the flyover is difficult to do and mimics real-world missions.

Kevin Hammond, Mooresville

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 01.21.16."