Raleigh will become like Asheville if it allows short-term whole- house rentals

Short-term rentals

Beware, Raleigh. Drunken revelers may be coming to your neighborhood. A city committee has recommended the Raleigh City Council allow whole-house short term rentals in certain areas.

I know about this from living in Asheville before it became a Top 10 destination, causing housing costs and taxes to rise as quality of life diminished. Local government, blended with politics and money, increasingly favored tourists over locals. Neighborhoods began to disintegrate, as homeowners illegally rented out spare bedrooms or entire houses to tourists.

On my small street, two homes became weekend havens for out-of-towners who preferred expensive homes over hotels. Sometimes there were problems. I see trouble as Raleigh heads in the direction Asheville took, and wonder what the city will do when things go wrong. And things will go wrong.

Donna Helen Crisp, Raleigh

Racism complaint

Regarding “Durham County to investigate manager’s accusations of racism,” (Feb. 25):

I’ve known Durham County Commissioner Heidi Carter for almost 25 years and have never heard a racist remark from her. I do not know what may have prompted the county manager to consider public accusations, but the throng of folks who showed up at the board meeting ready to make vague statements seems to have a political basis.

A complaint between staff should be handled in closed session for legitimacy and an opportunity for each to explain what appears to be a misunderstanding in roles of commissioners and manager. It’s unfortunate that such a publicly divisive event has occurred.

Charles Gibbs, Durham

Former Durham Planning Commission member

Trump, coronavirus

The country has always had to consider this hypothetical: a president who is a pathological liar spins a reality for his own personal and political benefit and being both disrespectful and ignorant of science has to go on national television to reassure us that the coronavirus outbreak is “under control” as it spreads rapidly around the world, killing thousands and trashing financial markets. Why should we believe anything that he says? You reap what you sow.

Dr. Stephen Kandall, Raleigh

Interest rates

The stock market declined over 10% last week. The president will lambaste the Federal Reserve into lowering interest rates again. My message to the Fed: Don’t panic and don’t lower rates.

If a company cannot succeed with the already ridiculous low interest rates and low income tax rates, it should not be in business. The taxpayers and savers - who get a measly 1-3% on CDs - cannot keep bailing out these companies at our expense.

The president lowered federal income tax rates for corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals by borrowing $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Anyone can spend borrowed money, but when it comes time to pay back the loan they panic because the money has been spent. Federal Reserve: Have a backbone and don’t panic.

Kevin Beasley, Raleigh

Educated voters

In this election year, many factors will drive people to the polls. The message we most often hear is to go vote, but what is not as often requested is that we educate ourselves before we vote.

Going to the polls without first arming yourself with knowledge of the candidates and their policies is akin to throwing away your vote.

Uneducated voters can do more harm than non-voters. People who give away their votes by voting slates of pre-selected candidates on colorful handouts, or who only vote party lines because they only listen to negative voices talking about the other side, may not be voting in their best interest. It is vital that voters educate and challenge themselves.

Steven Sosebee, Durham

Bloomberg

Regarding “Is Bloomberg’s workplace behavior disqualifying?” (Feb. 28 Opinion):

My husband came of age in the same era as Mike Bloomberg and he never spoke to or treated women in a disrespectful manner. If Kathleen Parker wants to support Bloomberg then go ahead and talk about whathe can do for this country, but stop making excuses for his behaviors.

Parker noted that his behaviors were not criminal, like Harvey Weinstein’s. They were merely bad jokes. However, words have powerful consequences. She is sending a dangerous message to young men that they can do and say whatever they please as long as they think they are “brilliant” people. That’s the same mindset that breeds people like Donald Trump.

Bloomberg only grudgingly ordered an end to the NDAs because he had to, not because he thinks it’s the right thing to do.

Thu Ostrander, Raleigh

My 2020 fear

I hold the same fear about the presidential election as the writer of “A repeat of ‘72?” (Feb. 24 Forum). However, my biggest fear is that if this president is re-elected and the GOP finally finds the courage to vote remove him, he would not leave office as peacefully as Richard Nixon did.

Robert Ipock Jr., La Grange