Don’t reduce Marshall Park to size of a house lot

Don’t reduce park, renew it instead

The proposed plan for Brooklyn Village reduces Marshall Park from 5.4 acres to 1.9 acres.

With the tremendous growth that Charlotte is experiencing, this incredible gem should be renewed into a city/county treasure, not diminished to the size of a house lot.

Perhaps Park and Rec could partner with the ASC to redesign it. Add attractions such as more trees, a nature/history trail, botanical garden, picnic areas, water feature, and interactive music stations and visual art.

Guns are no panacea, like in the movies

It’s so easy to think you would be the “tough guy” with the gun if put into the unimaginable situation the Pulse victims were. But, life doesn’t happen like it does in the movies.

To suggest that those who own firearms would be more courageous in a situation like this than those who choose not to own firearms is asinine!

There’s no shame in begging for your life! That actually takes courage. This way, you don’t put the lives of others at risk.

Chances are, you’ll be begging for your life, despite your big gun!

With gun rights come responsibilities

In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting Sen. Ted Cruz described debate on closing gun loopholes as political theater that did not address the problems.

Of course he hauled out the vaunted Second Amendment; there was your theater.

With all rights come responsibilities.

I find it interesting that the same day Ted was crying foul against common sense, the family of the AR-15 inventor said the weapon was meant for the military and never meant for civilians.

And, a gun store revealed that it turned the Orlando shooter away and reported it to authorities.

Trump and ‘The Three Little Pigs’

At 65, today’s presidential campaigns remind me of the children’s story “The Three Little Pigs.”

It hasn’t seen the top of the charts for a while. If it had maybe more folks would understand that Donald Trump is the only one offering bricks, rather than sticks and straw.

To resolve critical issues that pit us against each other, our country must first survive.

Trump understands that sticks and straw seem attractive, but they are not a path to unity and the revival of the American Dream for all citizens and lawful immigrants.

In the story’s happy ending, two of the pigs escape to live happily ever after with their loving brother in his brick home.

Don’t fall for free stuff politicians offer

Thus, we hear politicians claim that we can have “free” college or “free” health care, that the government can mandate wages and prices, or that the government “has” money to give away for the asking.

Just as naturalized citizens must pass a test to become U.S. citizens, politicians should be required to demonstrate a knowledge of basic economic principles before taking office.

A good start would be requiring them to know that there are two laws that nobody can change: the law of gravity and the law of supply and demand. So don’t even think about changing them.

Widening I-77 would bring N.C. money

Over the years, I-85 has been widened so that most of it is three or four lanes from Charlotte to Raleigh. And the state funded most of that!

This provides great traffic flow for cars and interstate commerce.

Why can’t the political power in our area be used to widen both sides of I-77 from Exit 18 to I-40?

It would relieve congestion and promote visitor travel. And guess what, motorists might actually want to stop and spend some money here!

As long as the current logjam exists, many re-evaluate and take a different route.

Wake up, Raleigh. Improve I-77 like you did I-85 and help North Carolina overall!

This story was originally published June 19, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Don’t reduce Marshall Park to size of a house lot."