Former mayor and YMCA chair: Ballantyne members will survive this ‘inconvenience’ | Opinion
The writer was Charlotte’s mayor from 1991-95:
I applaud Andrew Dunn’s July 22 column: “The Morrison YMCA sale is a hard choice, not a betrayal.” The YMCA’s Board of Directors (which I once chaired) – faced with financial stress threatening all of its branches and programs in the aftermath of the COVID shutdown – made a decision that was difficult, but rational, to sell the Morrison site for $42 million. Thus, Y members in Ballantyne will now have to drive a little farther to other branches to participate in YMCA activities. I suspect they’ll “survive” this minor inconvenience. Move on!
Read more North Carolina still has time to avoid Arizona’s food stamps crisis | Opinion
Richard Vinroot, Charlotte
Thank you for Andrew Dunn’s insight to the rationale behind the forthcoming sale of the Morrison YMCA property. Here is my question: Why did the YMCA leadership not make public the sale of the property? This property could have been a serious consideration for the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department. Elon Park, the current Ballantyne area recreation center, is outdated and inadequate to provide the programs offered to participating families. Consider the quality services and programs the Y facility could offer the entire Ballantyne community at the Morrison facility.
This potential sale doesn’t pass the smell test.
Martha Hadaway, Charlotte
The Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board appears to believe that the citizens, for whom they work for, are not capable of understanding the facts associated with Dr. Crystal Hill’s suspension. This suspension that continues to drag on as the new school year approaches was discussed in a closed door meeting. Word is the public will get an update soon.
It seems involving the public would be the respectful way to handle this suspension of our superintendent, Dr. Hill. After all, it is the citizens that will be affected by the future of Dr. Hill. Instead we will get an update.
The citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg are very capable of handling the truth and reading the facts for themselves. Transparency is a must right now if we want to have any chance of keeping a good reputation of being a top school system in the state and the country.
I implore the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board to let the public in and end the closed sessions. There is a lot at stake here, a lot CMS could lose.
Willa Hackney, Charlotte
In his recent televised address to the nation, Trump, in an effort to control the public narrative, once again repeated his conjured-up claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Trump is cunning and slick and has already begun attempting to change the ground rules of elections by trying to coerce Congress into passing his Save America Act and by ousting federal election commission members.
Read more Michael Whatley is shunning some media. It’s a risky strategy | Opinion
Congress has already abdicated its responsibilities by pretending that he is an aberration that will pass in due time. He is not. Unrestrained by any sense of propriety, he will steamroll over any concepts of justice and truth, and our fought-for democracy will suffer a death by a thousand cuts.
Pat Kunder, Charlotte
Among a number of good reasons to vote against Todd Blanche’s confirmation as U.S. Attorney General, his determination to do President Trump’s bidding coupled with Trump’s escalating threats against free and fair elections should be high on the list.
Trump’s exaggerated and largely dishonest speech last week on election vulnerabilities raises even further alarms about aggressive federal intervention in the November election. Our senators should be wary of this, but I haven’t heard either say a thing about it. They should, and they should vote against Blanche.
Pat McCoy, Charlotte
I am very concerned about Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on generic medicines that come primarily from India and China. More than 90 percent of our generic drugs are imported.
These tariffs, which would go into effect in 2028, could raise prices, disrupt supply and cause hardship for many Americans who are dependent on these drugs. The tariffs of 100% the first year and 200% in the second year would be on generic drugs from India and China.
The intent, statedly, is to force our pharmaceutical companies to build more U.S. manufacturing plants. This would be a huge undertaking, and even with major government funding, the result would only put a small dent in imports in 10 years. Undoubtedly, there will be opposition to the tariffs from pharmaceutical companies, Medicare, doctors, and pharmacists.
Read more Bodies found days apart along nature trail. Both were murdered, NC sheriff says
Linda Brooks, Durham
