Letters: KC readers discuss upstanding KC police board, mask reality and COVID-19 relief
Police integrity
I have served on the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission for 20 years. It was created in 1949 at the recommendation of a Jackson County grand jury concerned about integrity in law enforcement. Today, its values are “integrity, equality and engagement of our diverse community” to “power a safer, better Kansas City community” through its leadership and programs.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners has existed for more than 80 years. It consists of five board members, who are prohibited from engaging in politics, and the mayor. I am confident no allegations of corruption have been made about any member of that board. The same cannot be said for the City Council.
- W. Terrence Kilroy, Kansas City
Vote for reality
On Monday, The Star published an editorial stating that Kansas statistics have shown wearing masks works in slowing the spread of COVID-19. (7A, “Kansas shows mask mandates bring decline in COVID-19 cases”) The Johnson County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 in early July to uphold Gov. Laura Kelly’s mask mandate. We can thank Chairman Ed Eilert and commissioners Becky Fast, Janeé Hanzlick and Jim Allen for following medical advice and reason.
Of the three commissioners who voted against the mandate, only Mike Brown of District 6 is running for reelection. In this vote, he showed utter disdain for medical expertise. He wanted to fire and sue the county public health official for his reports and recommendations concerning COVID-19.
Shirley Allenbrand is running for county commissioner in District 6, and she would bring back much needed civility and community to the board. She has strong experience in business and is a member of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, the American Health Care Association and many other organizations. She would have a measured approach to issues in a spirit of mutual respect.
I ask the voters of District 6 to vote for Shirley Allenbrand for county commission to make all of Johnson County a better place.
- Dawn Olney, Prairie Village
Defund the USPS?
“We the People”, the Constitution’s first words, establish the people as the government’s source of power — a power exercised through the vote. For years, Republicans have been attacking the vote of minorities by insidious actions to disenfranchise voters, from striking names from the voting rolls to closing polling locations in minority areas while hypocritically preserving polling sites in white areas.
Now Republicans are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to disenfranchise voters by reducing the United States Postal Service’s capacity to process absentee and mail-in ballots. They aim to delay delivery of ballots so that voters, including service members worldwide, will miss getting a Nov. 3 postmark on their ballot, and to delay vote counts to cause confusion and enable them to level accusations of fraud. Disabled veterans and the elderly, who cannot risk exposure to COVID-19 at the polls, will be impacted.
Thursday, President Donald Trump admitted to blocking funds for the United States Postal Service specifically to stifle mail-in voting — a blatant attack on we the people’s right to vote. (KansasCity.com, “Trump opposes postal money that would help vote-by-mail”)
Where are the Republicans who champion patriotism but are silent during this assault on the values of democracy they hold dear? Their silence dooms America, under Trump, never to be great again.
- John Goodnow, Leavenworth
Empty moves
Don’t be fooled. President Donald Trump did not save the day when COVID-19 relief negotiations failed last week.
His unemployment plan uses disaster relief funds (in the middle of hurricane season) to create a system so convoluted that states can’t follow it. On evictions, instead of extending the national moratorium that expired last month, he asks federal agencies whether a moratorium would help curb the virus. Then he decides to starve Medicare and Social Security by cutting the payroll tax. We all would be better off if he had done nothing.
Let’s not forget, the president and his staff walked away from negotiations over the new coronavirus relief bill. The House passed a comprehensive package three months ago while Republicans did nothing. They could have been negotiating this whole time but chose not to.
And even after the Democrats offered a reasonable compromise, the White House walked. So much for being the great dealmaker the president considers himself.
Tens of millions of Americans are suffering through the worst economic disaster in nearly a century. The president and Congress must pass a COVID relief bill now that actually helps renters, the sick and the unemployed.
- Jos G. Linn, Kansas City