Letters: Readers discuss paying for the Mexico wall, Overland Park’s future and crime
Funding source
Let’s charge every illegal immigrant $2,000 per adult and $1,000 per child for an immigration card. Then those funds can be used to build and maintain a wall along the southern border.
These people are the reason we need a wall in the first place, so they might as well help pay for it.
Nabil Haddad
Kansas City
Look to the future
Throughout Overland Park’s short history, it has been fortunate to find itself positioned in the right place at the right time. We are fortunate to be the co-chairs of the citizen steering committee that is leading an effort to again position our city to take advantage of that future.
ForwardOP is exactly what the name suggests. How does Overland Park move forward over the next 20-30 years?
At 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Overland Park Convention Center, residents, employers, employees, retirees, visitors, high school and college students, new and established families and anyone else can provide input into shaping our city.
We have been recognized as the top community in the nation in one ranking of best cities to live and among the top 10 in many other community accolades.
By 2050, it is expected that nearly 1 million people will live in Johnson County. What will Overland Park be like then? What role should it play in not only the county but the whole metropolitan area?
How should it develop? What about entertainment venues? Should more attention be given to pedestrian needs and bicycle use? What about land use?
Our community’s success has come about because of the commitment of residents, neighborhood leaders, family-owned businesses, major corporations, schools, colleges and universities, the health care industry and many more.
We strongly encourage those interested in the future success of Overland Park to RSVP at ForwardOP.org and attend the community meeting. Join us for this conversation.
Greg Musil and
Brenda Sharpe
ForwardOP Steering
Committee Co-Chairs
Overland Park
Pass/fail test
I wonder whether President Donald Trump could pass a merit-based immigration panel of non-immigrants or descendents of non-immigrants. That group should include Native Americans.
Judging by his history, actions, words, morals and character, what do you think his chances would be of qualifying?
Jim Siress
Overland Park
Not protected
We must denounce the Trump administration’s plan to establish a Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Jan. 20, 9A, “‘We are with you,’ Trump tells abortion opponents”)
This is another clear attack on a woman’s right to choose and provides a path for discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
The Trump administration says this new office is intended to “ease the way for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to opt out of providing services that violate their moral or religious beliefs,” The Washington Post reported. In other words, this will allow medical providers to deny abortion and health care services for LGBTQ people.
The Center for American Progress released shocking data on the impact of discrimination in health care for transgender people. Twenty-nine percent reported “a doctor or other health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived gender identity.”
Individuals turned away from one provider cannot simply find another, especially in the small towns and rural areas of Kansas. In fact, 41 percent of LGBTQ people who live outside of metropolitan areas say it would be very difficult or impossible to find service at a different hospital if one turned them away.
The government must stop the attacks on the LGBTQ community.
Alan Marston
Olathe
No silence
Once again I read about the senseless killing of a child during a drive-by shooting. (Jan. 22, 4A, “Crossfire during gun battle between two cars kills boy, 9”) It breaks my heart.
The people living in the affected neighborhoods refuse to identify those responsible for fear of retribution. When will they realize that silence only emboldens those responsible? The murderers continue to terrorize their communities with no fear of being arrested or prosecuted.
Instead of blaming the police and society, they should look at themselves and ask what they can do to make it better. The answer is to speak up and accept some culpability.
Please, people: Speak up and help your children and yourselves.
Tom Bitzer
Grain Valley
This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Letters: Readers discuss paying for the Mexico wall, Overland Park’s future and crime."