Letters: Readers discuss overreach for tenants, Sharice Davids’ help and KCI service
Flows downstream
The Star should devote more coverage to the plastic in our oceans. I understand that we are not close to the coasts, but most of the plastic in the oceans comes from rivers. The plastic in rivers come from streams. The plastic in streams comes from cities like ours. This happens when people are careless and litter.
I believe that reading more news about this problem would change people’s perspectives on littering.
- Hyrum Ward, Overland Park
Voices minimized
I’m a strong advocate for quality housing and very liberal, but even I can see that the proposed tenants’ bill of rights is overreach by city government.
The special committee that met Monday night seemed extremely uncomfortable and unprepared. (Dec. 4, 1A, “Tenants’ bill of rights passes City Council committee”) I think its purpose was to rubber stamp this ill-conceived ordinance.
Seriously, shouldn’t committee members be knowledgeable about Housing and urban development, housing vouchers, Section 8, property owners’ rights and the Volunteers of America housing program before they try to pass this referendum?
Mayor Quinton Lucas tried to hold this poorly written and vague ordinance together. He allowed only one minute of testimony per person at the meeting.
This should be shelved at the very least until February. It was embarrassing to see city government in action like this.
The purpose didn’t seem to be to get input from the community. One minute was absolutely shameful for such an important resolution, not only for tenants and landlords, but also for the neighborhoods.
We can do better than this extreme socialist agenda-driven attack on private property rights. I think it was just another photo-op media event for our camera-loving mayor.
- David Zagalik, Kansas City
Davids listens
People think their opinions aren’t being heard, no matter their political leanings or issues of concern. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas’ 3rd District has been holding pop-up office hours for just this purpose.
People are invited to speak, ask questions and get information in a small group setting. Her staff offers help navigating issues that constituents might be experiencing on the local or federal level.
These events aren’t publicized widely, but if you sign up for Davids’ newsletter, you’ll find out when and where they’re being held. I encourage everyone to find out more about what’s going on in the district and in Washington, and I commend Rep. Davids for her accessibility and community work.
- Paulette Field, Overland Park
KCI frustration
Does Kansas City International Airport need new management along with a new terminal? Last Saturday, the time I spent from retrieving my bag to loading it into my car parked in the economy lot was equal to my flight time from Denver.
We waited more than 40 minutes for a bus to the lot. At least one blue bus passed us before we were finally picked up by a red bus, whose driver said to pretend it was blue.
Yes, it was Thanksgiving weekend, but who could have seen that coming? Oh wait — anyone. We had truly horrible service, and no blame can be laid on the construction, so don’t try.
I take pride in my hometown, but this was embarrassing. I guess it’s a good thing KCI doesn’t crack the top 40 national airports in The Wall Street Journal’s rankings. I’d hate for it to finish behind New York’s LaGuardia.
- John Bush, Denver
Firsts for me
As a military veteran, I have been in places where we were visited by politicians and other dignitaries — even Bob Hope. Other soldiers and I greatly appreciated the support. And I am sure the troops President Donald Trump met with last week in Afghanistan likewise appreciated his visit.
However, I have never seen a president stand in front of the troops and lie to them as he did in December 2018 in Iraq when he bragged about how hard he worked to get the military a 10% pay raise. The reality is that he had nothing to do with the pay raise, which in fact was 2.4% in 2018, as approved by Congress. Trump had proposed only 2.1%, according to the Military Times.
As a military veteran, I have also never seen a president who would call prisoners of war losers, let alone insult Gold Star families while his fans cheered him on. As a parent and teacher, I have never seen a president mock someone with a serious physical disability while his fans cheered enthusiastically.
Hillary Clinton had it wrong calling Trump supporters “deplorables.” The correct term for them is “Republicans.”
- Bob Riddle, Lee’s Summit