12/31 Letters: On Voter ID, liberal courts are obstructing what NC voters want

Voter ID

Again, the liberals in the court system are obstructing the choice of the people. Voter ID should be very simple. Everyone needs a picture ID to get medical coverage, a bank account, entrance to certain buildings, airline travel, and many other daily activities.

While we are fighting other countries trying to change our votes we should be aware of attacks by biased groups trying to help their candidate(s) in local, state and national elections.

Many have died to give us the freedom to vote and it is a sin that we cannot verify one vote per person. To make it a racial issue is a fallacy and a poor argument against having voter ID.

Joseph Rothengast, Raleigh

Disability rights

The N&O touched on an urgent issue in “NC families struggle to find housing for adults with disabilities” (Dec. 27). These families are caught in a system that is failing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. North Carolina has been moving in the wrong direction in recent years. More individuals are being institutionalized because they do not receive the support they need to stay at home. This damages their quality of life and violates federal law.

In Olmstead v. L.C. the Supreme Court held that states may not require people with disabilities to enter institutions if they could be supported at home. It is not a question of cost; it’s vastly more expensive to institutionalize someone than to provide support at home. Rather, the service delivery system is broken, with too few providers and a focus on short-term cost cutting. This article showed the human consequences, from perpetual crises, to family upheaval, to institutionalization.

Virginia Knowlton Marcus

Executive director, Disability Rights NC

Reparations

Regarding the UNC Board Of Governor’s decision on Silent Sam, it’s amazing that it is so much easier to give reparations to the Sons of Confederate Veterans than to even talk about reparations to daughters of Confederate slaves.

Pat Carstensen, Durham

Workplace deaths

Regarding “After workers die, North Carolina shields many employers from biggest penalties,” (Dec. 22)

Thank goodness the N&O still has the resources to research and expose the needless deaths in N.C. workplaces that have been caused, in part, by the policies of feckless N.C. Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry.

Reading the story of Dalin Adrong’s unnecessary and horrible death was heartbreaking, and the analysis of the N.C. Labor Department’s reaction sickening. A safety device that would have saved Dalin “had been inoperable for three months, had failed repeatedly over the years and (had been the subject of) a serious violation in 2012.”

Contributions to Berry’s re-election campaigns by cost-cutting businesses have kept her in office for an agonizing 20 years.

In return, North Carolina gets the slap-on-the-wrist-for-violations policies that constitute Berry’s “partnership with business” — yet are sometimes deadly for N.C. workers

William David Austin, Durham

Stadium project

I have heard a lot about the “wonderful” things Kane Realty would like to do to the property purchased in south Raleigh. What I’ve not heard is what they intend to do with the major stream, Walnut Creek, that runs smack dab through the middle of the property.

Downstream, in historic Rochester Heights, a history of flooding continues to this day during heavy rain events. Additional impervious surfaces created in this watershed will only make matters worse.

I am waiting for Kane to put forth innovative ideas for green storm-water infrastructure, on-site and downstream, and for the city to hold them accountable through enforcement of environmental ordinances and laws.

Stacie Hagwood, Garner

Sen. Thom Tillis

We are in the middle of a Constitutional crisis and Sen. Thom Tillis has a critical decision to make. I am not asking for him to vote for removal of the president. All I am asking is that he work across the aisle to ensure a fair trial by voting to allow the key witnesses to be called. Once he has heard the evidence, it is up to him to make a decision. I urge him to simply ensure all facts are able to be presented.

While he is weighing his options, please keep in mind that November 2020 is coming quickly. North Carolinians will not forget the decision the senator makes in January.

Alex Decker, Raleigh

Evangelical leaders

The disparaging response of several evangelical leaders to Christianity Today’s strong editorial calling for President Trump’s removal on moral grounds reminds me of those, who centuries ago, cried, “Give us Barabbas!”

Napier Baker, Chapel Hill