Readers share views on Waldo apartments, guns and earthquakes

Waldo apartments

To say I’m upset about the apartment complex being built by reStart Inc. at 75th and Washington streets is an understatement.

I and many other Waldo residents would like to know how and why this project was started without asking the residents, Tower Homes Association and Waldo business groups for their input.

When several businesses wanted to build on the Bingham School land at 76th and Wyandotte streets, there were posted meetings and several newspaper articles. Every proposed plan was met with opposition and ultimately failed.

Now I am sure many residents are concerned that the apartment complex will lower property values and be a detriment to the Waldo area.

Richard Stebbins

Kansas City

Conceal carry bill

Missouri keeps our communities safe by requiring a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public.

To get a permit, applicants must be at least 19 years old, pass a criminal background check and receive eight hours of training.

There is a bill pending in Congress that would override these public-safety standards and force Missouri to recognize concealed-carry permits from every other state — those that issue permits to teenagers, people with no firearms training at all, even to criminals with recent violent convictions.

Federally imposed concealed carry is a dangerous proposal that is bad for Missouri.

Under federally imposed concealed carry, Missouri state and local law enforcement would be forced to let anyone with a driver’s license carry concealed, loaded guns in public without any permit or background check.

We urge Sen. Claire McCaskill to continue to stand up for Missouri and for common-sense public-safety policies by opposing federally mandated concealed carry.

As a mom, I am alarmed that a federal law could allow people with no training to carry a loaded gun around my family.

Missouri’s current permitting system is right for our communities. I urge Sen. McCaskill to oppose this legislation in Congress.

Erin Gregory

Lee’s Summit

MDC sales tax

Many have been accused of trying to decimate the Missouri Department of Conservation. This accusation is untrue.

The biggest beef is over the sales tax collected for Missouri Department of Conservation. This tax was passed nearly 40 years ago.

The tax is so old that most Missourians probably don’t even realize they’re paying it. There are some who want to see a sunset on this tax, which would bring the tax back to the voters every 10 years.

You’ve heard money doesn’t grow on trees, but the Missouri Department of Conservation has its own personal taxpayer-funded money tree, while other budgets are being cut.

For example, the elk-restoration project was reported by the Missouri Department of Conservation to cost taxpayers $411,000.

The state auditor reported that $3,381,615 was spent to introduce 129 elk. This money issue is nothing new. The Kansas City Star reported on this back in 2004.

Many are looking for good government that includes transparency and a heavy dose of common sense. It is puzzling why the Missouri Department of Conservation is opposed to allowing citizens to hold it accountable by voting on this tax once every decade.

Accountability should never be a dirty word.

Mike Deering

Columbia, Mo.

State earthquakes

Because of the recurring earthquakes linked to energy drilling, it seems Kansas and Oklahoma officials are in a tight race for the title dumb or dumber.

Jim Siress

Olathe

Obama action correct

I implore our politicians to fully understand why the Western world must never declare war against the Islam religion. Our president has it right.

By doing so, we would validate the extremists’ “holy war.” Every historian knows the horror and violence perpetrated for millennia by those who claim that God is on their side.

Yes, we must fight the terrorists and extremists who happen to be Islamic. We must never make it about fighting their God, or we will pay the price of feeling so empowered.

Dorothy Brandwein

Fairway

GOP leadership

I’m enjoying watching the Republican Congress continue to prove daily that the GOP is incapable of governing.

So far, Republican lawmakers have threatened to shut down the Department of Homeland Security, started another investigation into Benghazi, sent an idiotic letter to the leaders of a nation they themselves consider to be an enemy of the U.S. and again tried to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

Republican lawmakers continue to try to thwart the president’s immigration efforts and block the nomination of Loretta Lynch as attorney general, and they began an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s email accounts.

All of these actions are definitely helping to move this country forward, creating more jobs and improving our image among the nations of the world.

I truly hope the Republican lawmakers continue on this path of inane legislation and investigation because each one brings Hillary Clinton one step closer to the White House.

Jim Lullie

Holt, Mo.

Safer oil transport

I have written a number of letters to The Kansas City Star, congressmen and the president about the dangers of the mile-long trains from the Bakken Basin.

There was a recent derailment in West Virginia. Luckily, the massive explosions did not result in deaths, but the oil flowed into a river that is used to provide small towns with drinking water.

It is only a matter of time until a derailment occurs in a populated city and threatens a river that is a major source of drinking water for people. This is the principal reason for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline that would transport Canadian oil.

The oil is coming.

Let us bring it by the safer pipeline.

Richard A. Wellenstein

Overland Park

Medicaid expansion

It is gratifying that there is at least one rational Missouri Republican legislator — Kansas City Sen. Ryan Silvey — who supports Medicaid expansion.

For several years, Cass County Rep. Chris Molendorp waged a similar battle with unyielding Republicans.

Depriving 300,000 poor Missourians of minimal health care under the guise of avoiding “wasteful welfare” is unconscionable.

These are borderline poverty-level citizens who could hardly be accused of using Medicaid benefits frivolously. Uninsured poor people and their children often go hungry, lack heating and do without minimal health care.

Chris Molendorp, a longtime Belton insurance agent, and his father, former county commissioner Gene Molendorp, have a long history of community service. Before last year’s elections, Missouri’s fast-growing north Cass cities Belton and Raymore were gerrymandered. Carved into five districts, they are represented by Jack Bondon, Wanda Brown, Rick Brattin, Joe Runions and Donna Pfautsch. Cass’ Sen. Ed Emery lives in Lamar.

Cass County has exceptional health-care services — coordinated through ConnectCass.org, and headed by Chris Molendorp.

Sen. Silvey is fighting a lonesome battle for Medicaid expansion. Citizens of Cass County could help.

Joining forces with Cass County on Medicaid could enhance that clout.

Ed Fleetwood

Village of Loch Lloyd

Dancing, fun police

You’ve got to love our Kansas City Police Department. The sight of the flash mob of cops doing the “Electric Slide” in the heart of Westport on St. Patrick’s Day was priceless.

The crowd loved it, the cops loved it and now it’s gone viral.

It’s a great way to show the rest of the world that there’s more than one kind of police department in Missouri.

Maybe Chief Darryl Forté should send a contingent of his officers to Ferguson, Mo., to give their police dance lessons.

Mary Hood