Letters: Herbert’s call for responsibility; Iran nuclear deal; aid for refugees

Herbert column

Three cheers for 913 columnist Danedri Herbert and her Sept. 2 column, “To get ahead, make bad choices.” How refreshing it is to read a Star columnist standing up for individual responsibility and pointing out what should be negative consequences for making poor choices.

Sadly, her parody on our current societal/government policy of rewarding individuals who make poor choices is quite true. The Star could use more columnists like Ms. Herbert, who really tells it like it is.

Mike Kalny

Shawnee

Iran nuclear deal

Add Sept. 10, 2015, to days in infamy in U.S. history. We are currently at war with terrorists throughout the world.

Our Democratic president has decided to allow the state of Iran, which supports terrorists, to someday have access to nuclear arms as well as lift economic embargoes, which will infuse billions of dollars into the Iranian economy only to find its way to the terrorists we are fighting.

This will not only affect current-day America but will be an issue for generations. This decision is inexplicable.

Joe Lavender

Lenexa

U.S. aid for refugees

The refugee situation in Europe is currently the most serious humanitarian crisis we have seen since World War II and the Holocaust. These people require attention immediately with food, water, shelter and medical aid.

A week’s delay could mean the loss of many lives, especially children. President Barack Obama and Congress must recognize the seriousness of this problem and offer immediate aid directly, or through the Red Cross and the United Nations.

When the United States experienced Hurricane Katrina, or more recently, forest fires in the Northwest, foreign help arrived. We need something on the order of the Marshall Plan to help our European allies with the resettlement of these refugees.

It’s not an issue of whether or not to open our borders to these refugees. It requires an immediate plan to offer assistance to these people until they can be resettled.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Nuns on the Bus

The Nuns on the Bus have it right. How best to determine what Americans of modest means need? Ask them (9-12, A4, “Hearing hardships, sharing pain”).

That is what several Sisters of Social Service, who are also staff members of Network, the Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C., did this month as they came to Kansas and Missouri to interview those in need and listen to their stories. The hope of the Nuns on the Bus is to make Pope Francis even more aware than he already is of the plight of the poor, even in a country as affluent as America, while he is in Washington to address a joint session of Congress.

Ultimately, Network hopes also to educate and influence legislators as they prepare a new national budget. Buoyed by a deep spirituality and determination to work for the common good, the Nuns on the Bus, like many other Catholic sisters in the Midwest and all over America, are working daily to give not only a voice, but also a face to immigrants, minimum wage workers, minorities and anyone else who suffers from discrimination and hardship.

Following the example of Jesus, they not only “talk the talk” but they also “walk the walk.” It was a pleasure to welcome them to our neighborhood.

Janelle Lazzo

Roeland Park

U.S. heroes honored

I do hope the Lenexa man who wrote in the 913 Johnson County opinion page bothered to read The Kansas City Star on Sept. 18. Our three heroes from the train in France are being given big awards for their heroic actions.

Why is it that people who say they believe in American exceptionalism are so quick to find fault with our country?

Vicki Brown

Overland Park

Wastewater woes

In Johnson County, long-term planning is 20 years. Politicians come and go, and voters will forget during a generational time period. Johnson County Wastewater fits this governmental casting.

In April 1992, voters agreed to a transition from a sewer tax that started in 1977 to a fee basis billing system. In March 2012, the Board of County Commissioners decided to take the capital portion/sewer tax from the property tax bill and combine it with the usage bill. Those aware of the capital portion thought the usage bill that started in 2003 was to replace the sewer tax, not become part of the bill.

I feel wastewater should be a ballot issue revisited by voters. Owners of single-family homes are liable for all past due wastewater charges and collection costs whether they reside in the house or not. The property owner is also liable for all repairs and replacement of sewer lines across easements and right of ways.

Estimates show there are 41,000 homes with individual sewer lines running underneath public roads. The northeast area of Johnson County contains over half of these properties. On the commercial and industrial property front, owners have paid fees for wastewater disposal since 1977. Johnson County Wastewater covers the repair and replacement of sewer lines from the commercial or industrial property’s foundation to the main sewer line connection.

The county policy for maintenance and repair of sewer lines changed in 2003 and 2007. The 2016 county budget will require the first supposed tax increase in a decade. The sewer tax on my property tax bill increased several times from 2007 to 2011. Wastewater charges will continue to accelerate at a faster pace under a fee basis billing system.

Jeff Harkness

Overland Park

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Letters: Herbert’s call for responsibility; Iran nuclear deal; aid for refugees."