Readers share views on air conditioning, ‘recyclopaths,’ police failures

Cool comfort

Central air conditioning — best invention of the 20th century. I love technology.

Katie Linder

Prairie Village

Lost ‘recyclopaths’

If recycling is to end, what will happen to self-confessed “recyclopaths” like myself (9-18, A1, “It just doesn’t pay to recycle”)? What can we do? Our goal has been taken away from us.

G. David Dixon, M.D.

Leawood

Police failure

As the father of two children who were sexually abused by a Kansas City Catholic priest, I read with interest your Sept. 19 editorial, “KC police must restore public trust after failures in children’s crime unit,” concerning the Police Department’s mishandling of crimes against children.

Long after my children’s abuse, they bravely wanted to explore the possibilities of filing criminal action against the priest. We spent more than two hours in an intense interview and were full of hope that something might finally be done.

That was several years ago. Despite many calls to the detective, we have never heard a word.

My father was a police officer. So it pains me to say I share The Star’s conclusions about shortcomings in the Kansas City Police Department. It’s clearly not one or two or three “bad apples” but a much deeper and more systemic problem.

David Lewis

Biersmith

Kansas City

Trumpery defined

Some names are derived from descriptive qualities. My pocket dictionary defines “trumpery” as something “showy but of little value.”

Judy McGuire

Kansas City

Guns, political aim

Politicians are just concerned about financing their campaigns. Missouri legislators have voted to allow anyone to buy a gun and carry it concealed on his or her person — no waiting, background checks or training (9-15, A1, “Gun bill, voter ID overcome vetoes”).

The National Rifle Association has them toeing the line for money. People can now buy a gun like a bag of oranges.

The Independence City Council has passed an ordinance requiring inspections of the inside of homes of tenants. There will be additional taxes required to pay the heads of this new department and so-called experts for inspecting.

This ordinance violates a person’s right of choice. There will be an increase in rent and less affordable housing for the poor. Marginalized people will be forced west of Interstate 435.

Big contributors want the less-fortunate persons out of Independence. If politicians weren’t so concerned about funding their next elections, we citizens would not have these insane laws passed.

Martha Hamm

Independence

Campaign points

Torture.

Enhanced interrogation.

Extreme vetting.

It’s the art of the deal.

John Goldsmith

Napoleon, Mo.

Act of kindness

A while back, I decided to get a second opinion from the University of Kansas Medical Center and set up an appointment with a neurologist. I arrived by cab and saw the doctor, and he set me up for tests at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. about a month later.

I went to the appointment by cab, got my tests done at 11 a.m. and took a shuttle bus to the KU Medical Center restaurant. I had called to make sure I could write a check at the cafeteria and was told I could.

I went through the line in my wheelchair, which I have used since October 2012, picked out my food and got to the cashier, who told me the restaurant would not take my check.

Without hesitation, a young man who was patiently waiting behind me flipped out his credit card and paid for my lunch.

This letter is to thank the young man (whose name I don’t have) for the wonderful gesture he made by paying for my meal at KU Medical Center.

In these days of great unpleasantness, it was nice to see a young man, who was maybe a doctor or a medical student, perform such a kind act.

Ronnell B. Townsend

Independence

This story was originally published September 20, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers share views on air conditioning, ‘recyclopaths,’ police failures."