Want to preserve Prairie Village’s character? New mega-mansions crowd its old charm out | Opinion

Mega-mansions

Recent coverage of zoning in Prairie Village has been quite interesting. It is so nice to be in favor of “maintaining the character of Prairie Village’s unique neighborhoods” as newly elected City Council member Lori Sharp describes in her Nov. 3 guest commentary, “Elect a council to keep Prairie Village as the gem it is today.” (7A)

I would say tearing down the original charming small ranch-style homes (as well as the Cape Cods) and replacing them with mega-mansions that extend from property line to property line and dwarf existing homes around them is definitely not maintaining the character or charm of the Prairie Village I once loved.

- Susan Tozier, Olathe

The right no

It was good to see that the sensible Jackson County voters outside of Kansas City voted down the proposed use tax on purchases made online. (Nov. 7, KansasCity.com, “Voters approve Kansas City bus tax overwhelmingly, but in no mood for new county use tax”)

I hope County Executive Frank White doesn’t take it too hard.

- Bob Berry, Oak Grove

Money misused

I believe the money spent on this week’s election could have been better used to pay for the additional $1 per month on cellphone bills that voters approved for needed for 911 service in the Northland. (Nov. 7, KansasCity.com, “Clay County voters approve $1 monthly cellphone fee for 911 emergency services”)

- Vicki Cooper, Pleasant Valley

Out of order

A feature story about the restaurant where Travis Kelce had his birthday dinner was front-page news in Tuesday’s Kansas City Star. (“I ate steak where Travis Kelce celebrated his birthday”) A very important and informative article about Henry Ford’s antisemitism was on Page 8A of the same paper. (“Long before Elon Musk, Henry Ford went to war with Jewish groups”)

What is wrong with this picture?

- Anne Ralls, Mission

Hawley’s conduct

After listening to Sen. Josh Hawley’s recent questioning of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, I wonder what has happened to civility and respect. As odious and dare I say un-American as the social media posts made by an employee of the department in question were, Hawley’s rude theatrics and unwillingness to listen seem to be the norm for this new GOP. Mayorkas tried to say what he legally could regarding a personnel issue, but Hawley wasn’t listening. He was too busy interrupting and insulting the entire department of public servants.

It reminded me of another GOP loudmouth who screamed at, interrupted and disrespected a decorated military officer who was testifying in the first impeachment trial of the last president.

This from the party claiming to be the one of “Christian values”? What would the dark skinned, liberal, Jewish Jesus think of these so -called followers of his?

- Kathryn Alexander, Olathe

Doing what’s right

To the non-Trumpers: Realizing that there are many people who have bravely stood up in opposition to the crazed mob boss who has called for death to those who oppose him or who would impede his actions, I would like to say thank you to these brave souls. (Oct. 9, 7A, “Predict the GOP’s next move? Ask yourself, ‘What would Putin do?’”)

Thank you to the many people who have honored their oaths and refused to bow down to this cult leader who wants to be dictator. Maybe when good people hold onto their values, we can, as a nation, survive. Thank you for trying to assure that our country has an honorable history — or for that matter, that we have a history at all.

- Richard Clyde Lumpkin, Prairie Village

Tech threat?

I’m getting nervous about AI, artificial intelligence. It seems like toying with the lock on Pandora’s box.

Wasn’t social media enough to scare you?

- Patrick Shannon, Lawrence