Don’t abolish the Missouri Senate. Sign the Better Elections petition to fix Jeff City

Better choices

The Star’s May 15 editorial “Time to get rid of the whole Mo. Senate?” was a disgrace. (May 15, 19A) I agree with the assessment of the session, but not with the remedy.

Here’s a superior solution, which The Star endorsed on March 30:

Better Elections is an initiative petition that’s been submitted to the secretary of state with the signatures of more than 300,000 registered Missouri voters. I hope we’ll see the issue on the statewide ballot this year.

Better Elections includes ranked choice voting for the elections for Congress, the General Assembly, governor and other statewide offices.

Among the benefits we can expect are:

▪ Winners would be guaranteed the support of a majority of the voters.

▪ More candidates would run, including women and minorities.

▪ Politicians would use less negative campaigning.

▪ Interest in voting and voter turnout would increase.

▪ Third-party and independent candidates could viably run for office without the “spoiler effect.”

▪ Candidates would be less likely to take extreme positions that fuel political polarization.

▪ There would be fewer unopposed races — a big problem in the Missouri legislature.

▪ Cynicism about politics, politicians and government would decrease.

In cities and states with ranked choice voting, candidates and voters alike give it high ratings. Visit BetterElectionsMO.org for more information.

- Mary Lindsay, Kansas City

Get buy-in

Public safety should be the top priority of City Hall. Development of the policy should include all parts of Kansas City, unlike the process in the reallocation attempt that occurred a year ago.

On May 20, 2021, eight members of the City Council (all from south of river) and the mayor passed a same-day ordinance that aimed to reallocate $42 million of the police department’s budget. This prevented the four Northland representatives from bringing it to a committee and calling on their constituents for feedback or questioning the legality. That would have saved the city millions in lawyer fees since the ordinance was found to violate Missouri state statutes and thrown out.

In light of those actions, amending Section 502 of the city charter would help foster a better political relationship between the Northland and south of the river. The charter should be amended to require support of a council member in at least five of the six council districts in adopting same-day ordinances. Since two districts are entirely within the Northland, there could no longer be legislation that would catch part of the city off guard. This would restore some trust in our city government.

- Nathan Willett, City Council District 1 candidate, Kansas City

Fight hunger

I love hearing about mothers helping mothers, as the Los Angeles Times recently noted in a story about lactating moms donating breastmilk during the infant formula shortage.

It reminds me how I was moved to start advocating for malnourished children after my baby relied on formula for several days before my breastmilk fully came in. I thought I was doing the right thing by breastfeeding but discovered my baby was starving. Thanks to formula, my child got the calories and nutrients she needed. But I began to understand the desperation of mothers around the world who can’t feed their children.

Even before COVID-19, malnutrition was an underlying cause of almost half of all preventable deaths of children under age 5. Because of the pandemic, about 168,000 additional children under 5 are expected to die by the end of 2022, according to one recent study.

We have a chance to help undernourished infants. The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act is a bipartisan bill calling for a coordinated U.S. Agency for International Development strategy, clear targets and solid interventions so assistance reaches the most impoverished children.

My congresswoman, Rep. Ann Wagner, already signed. Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley and Reps. Sam Graves and Emanuel Cleaver should join her in co-sponsoring S. 2956/H.R. 4693.

- Cynthia Changyit Levin, Town and Country, Missouri

Royal failure

Our beloved Royals have lost yet another game. The hitting coach was recently fired because the Royals are hitting below expectations. The team is playing well below its capabilities. How long do we have to endure Mike Matheny?

- Don Grove, Blue Springs

This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.