I’m 89 and no longer drive. Missouri is making it almost impossible to cast my ballot
Vote thwarted
Since 1975, I have consistently voted in Columbia using my Boone County voter registration cards. Now, I am furious at the recent legislative efforts to erect barriers to voter registration that may disenfranchise me.
I will be 90 years old in a few months. Owing to glaucoma, I am completely blind in one eye and have limited, declining vision in my other eye. Accordingly, I allowed my driver’s license to lapse six years ago.
I am housebound and unable to travel, so my passport credentials are also long expired. Born in New York City in 1933, I have no idea where my birth certificate might be.
The prospect of standing in line to vote presents a special challenge for me as I can no longer walk without assistance and am very concerned about falling.
I do not believe any potential voter should be burdened with registration requirements that appear directly aimed at voters like me and are not really necessary for safeguarding the integrity of the vote.
Still, however how high the obstacles placed in my way, I hope to find a way to vote as part of my effort to eliminate restrictive election laws in Missouri.
- John T. O’Connor, Columbia
A no-show?
It is unfortunate that Scott Fricker, my opponent for Platte County presiding commissioner, has backed out of an opportunity to present his ideas to voters Oct. 8 at the town hall forum sponsored by the Parkville Living Center. I invite my opponent to reconsider his refusal to discuss the future of Platte County.
Republicans have chosen Mr. Fricker to be our presiding commissioner. Imagine a future in which he would be in charge of this county if he is uncomfortable even discussing important county issues with his Democratic opponent. This position requires transparency and accountability to our county’s residents. He is not demonstrating what we need from our commission.
For some time, Platte County politics have strayed from equally representing all our people. This would have been an opportunity for both of us to present our platforms and demonstrate a commitment to transparency in our government. Any time he is willing to make himself available for discussion, I offer my platform as an outline: funding public health and safety, transparency in our local government, and promoting diversity and inclusion among us.
- John DeFoor, Kansas City
Don’t drop it
It is a relief to hear that former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski has finally been indicted, but it is disturbing that he was released from detention until his trial, as he could seek revenge on the women who have testified against him.
Also, I am disheartened to read that KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner is no longer calling for a federal investigation of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. (Sept. 18, 6A, “KCK mayor reverses position on police corruption probes”) That sounds like cover-up and fear of repercussions to me. It is hard to believe that a man like Golubski could be a police detective for nearly 30 years without anyone in the department seeing or knowing anything about his criminal behavior. Garner needs to follow through on his promise to call for a federal investigation of corruption in the department.
I commend Melinda Henneburger’s excellent reporting of Golubski’s alleged abusive treatment of Black women, but more action needs to be taken to see that justice is carried out and this never happens again.
- Barbara Mayer, Atchison
Whom to blame
The author of a Sept. 9 letter to the editor (7A) wrote about the amount of trash on the roads in and around Kansas City and asked: “Who is responsible for cleaning them up, and why isn’t more being done?”
Wrong question. What we should really ask is who is responsible for making that mess in the first place, and why is nothing being done about it?
- Harold C. Williams, Leavenworth