Readers sound off on Postal Service, farmers, Kansas mud
Postal Service flops
U.S. Postal Service delivery problems have been widespread throughout my Overland Park area for more than three months, starting with a renewal notice that was not delivered to my address, thus causing me to miss the final renewal timeline and creating a huge hassle of paperwork and the need for notary services.
Postal Service mail continues to be delivered to wrong addresses within our area despite face-to-face complaints to a postal supervisor and multiple unreturned voicemail phone messages to postal supervisors.
On one evening last month, a neighbor knocked on my door and gave me an envelope containing one of my 1099s and another envelope containing a check for payment, both of which were delivered to the wrong address. My neighbor cared enough to ensure correct delivery.
What happens when mail is incorrectly delivered to residents who don’t care whether it’s theirs or not? Nothing. How many of your neighbors care?
Why can’t employees simply deliver the right mail to the right address? Is that asking too much?
Does the postal employee suffer any consequences for a failed job? Apparently not, because misdelivered mail is still common in my neighborhood.
I suggest that Postal Service supervisors become familiar with their customers’ experiences.
Christine O’Brien
Overland Park
Backing farmers
Soon, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider Trade Promotion Authority legislation to finalize trade deals with other countries. As a leader who has emerged as an advocate for agriculture, we hope Congressman Emanuel Cleaver continues his support by voting to pass TPA, allowing Missouri farmers and businesses to grow.
Foreign trade is critical to Missouri’s economy. Our state exported $14.1 billion in goods last year.
Today the price of corn is falling below the cost of production. Expanding market access is crucial to Missouri farmers and this state’s economy. Almost one-third of Missouri’s exports are tied to agriculture. The dollars generated are reinvested in our schools and communities.
Missouri’s corn farmers and livestock producers are working hard to be the best in the world, but we need open markets and a seat at the negotiating table to compete for business.
As a member of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and corn farmer, I thank Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt for their supportive votes and urge Congressman Cleaver to continue backing farmers by voting yes on TPA.
Kurtis Gregory
Marshall, Mo.
Mud, grit, Kansas
My wife and I want to thank The Star and Cindy Hoedel for the wonderful June 7 article, “Mud, grit, glory,” in the A&E section.
We were in Strong City last Saturday, attending the volunteer orientation for the upcoming Symphony in the Flint Hills concert, while the race was in progress.
We weren’t at the concert site on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve because of the weather conditions and the totally saturated soil. We felt that north wind last weekend. And, as a road cyclist, I also know how cold it can feel if conditions are wet.
Initially, I thought the story should be in the sports section, but after reading it I decided it was in the right place. It wasn’t about statistics, high-paid prima donnas or unrealistic contracts or a diatribe on some team’s or player’s performance.
The article was about regular people doing extraordinary things for the simple pleasure of doing it because it was on a personal bucket list.
I have always read and enjoyed the pieces that Cindy Hoedel has in The Star (and I definitely miss Star Magazine), but this was probably the best one I’ve read by her.
She nailed it. Thanks again.
Robert Potty
Overland Park
Zippy’s question
On June 8, a despondent “Zippy” cartoon asked, “Hasn’t th’ world had enough of Zippy the Pinhead?”
Zippy is the phosphorescent oil slick on the sea of life. A shiny mirage of hope.
Keep on shining, Zippy.
Fred Farris
Leawood
Great performance
Looking for entertainment? The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s latest production, “The Full Monty,” is a hilarious and poignant musical show that has a limited run (6-2, C3, “Shortcomings bared in ‘Monty’”).
It’s a great cast accompanied by talented musicians.
We had seen the film but not the theatrical version. It takes place in Buffalo, and the accents alone are worth the price of admission.
Don’t wait. It’s quite a romp.
Alice Carroll
Overland Park
Obamacare truth
Republicans continue to bay at the moon, “Obamacare is the biggest job killer in history.” But according to Bloomberg Business, more than 90 new health-care companies employing as many as 6,200 people have been created in the U.S. since Obamacare became law.
Also, over the last 12 months, America’s health-care sector has added 342,000 jobs. Ceci Connolly, managing director of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Health Research Institute, told Bloomberg how “striking” it is to see so many entrepreneurs tell her the Affordable Care Act “has sparked innovation and entrepreneurship.”
There are 16 million people who now have health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. More people visit doctors’ offices and more go to hospitals because pre-existing conditions are now covered.
That alone creates more jobs.
The law has helped improve the quality of health care. It’s a major reason we saw fewer preventable patient deaths in hospitals.
If premium costs had continued to increase over the last four years at the same rate of the previous decade, the average family premium would be $1,800 higher than it is today.
Republicans, once again, distort, manufacture and deny facts.
Martin Kaynan
Olathe
James for mayor
Kansas City Mayor Sly James has worked hard for our city. He has done everything he can to make us more of a key player in bringing more modern companies into the downtown area.
He now is talking about an 800-room hotel downtown. Other leaders from the past talked about it, but he is making it happen.
I will vote for him again, because there is no one else who has the desire and would be able to handle the hard work ahead for more progress in the coming four years. James is a proven leader, which this city needs to get things done.
Things don’t just happen. Sly James makes them happen.
I am asking all my friends, relatives, co-workers, business friends, church friends and everyone who knows me to vote to re-elect an honest man of action to push Kansas City into the future.
This man is from a humble beginning with a quality education. He will work hard and is goal- and results-driven. James has become a champion of all the people in Kansas City.
Remember the mayor he replaced? I do, and we need to move forward not backward.
Florentino Camacho Jr.
Kansas City
Building for safety
Kansas Speedway was built in 2001 in the heart of Tornado Alley without any foul-weather options.
San Francisco is near the San Andreas Fault. That city’s newer structures were built to codes that reflect their unique location.
I have parachuted, cliff dived and scuba dived to the bottom of the Lake of the Ozarks in pitch darkness. My Harley will soon turn over 120,000 miles.
All those events were calculated risks, some mental, some physical and some a combination of both. If no options for a way out emerged after careful thought, all bets were off.
After riding in all our great states, I look for wall clouds and especially lowerings.
I am confident my luck will continue because I respect Mother Nature in the highest manner.
I just refuse to take friends or family to a facility with no foul-weather options in case of a lowering.
I do not think many Greensburg, Kan., patrons will be going to Kansas Speedway either.
Matt Kozak
Overland Park
This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers sound off on Postal Service, farmers, Kansas mud."