Criticizing closure of NC bars, restaurants was a petty, pathetic move on Forest’s part

Dan Forest

Gov. Roy Cooper’s steadfast leadership during this time of crisis should not be made a campaign issue by Dan Forest and Republican members of the Council of State. Taking issue with the governor’s decision to close bars and restaurants is a petty and pathetic attempt to create an issue when the only issue should be preventing the spread of COVID-19. Our governor has displayed leadership that frankly has been lacking at the highest national level. Please, Lt. Governor Forest, leave politics out of this.

John Dowd, Raleigh

Cooper overreacted

The governor’s order to close restaurants and bars to sit-down service is excessive. People are already staying home and keeping social distance when out. Mandatory closings are just public-health theater that stokes the hysteria.

State and local governments have raced past prudent precautions into festering fear. That will metastasize a short-term health crisis into a long-term recession.

Our officials should allow sit-down service with limited numbers and spacing. The same should apply to libraries, theaters and gyms. Most people want to keep calm and carry on. We can’t if everything is closed.

Gregory Morris, Chapel Hill

The state budget

Regarding “How we can restart NC’s economy after COVID-19,” (March 19 Opinion):

Sens. Ralph Hise and Ted Alexander emphasize that we “must balance short-term decisions with the need to avoid volatile swings in the state budget.” Yet, we have no budget.

The only volatility that may arise would be that of continuing to take piecemeal action without codifying an actual plan. If Hise and Alexander seriously wish for “apolitical, consensus responses,” they must work to pass a budget that addresses their priorities as well as others the legislature punted on last session.

Failure to do so will result in the appearance of slow-walking the budget until the election of the governor is sorted out. It’s not hard to imagine a budget appearing on Dan Forest’s desk on Day One of his administration.

Anderson Shumate, Raleigh

Virus testing

If the state had 2,000 coronavirus test kits right now, I would fully advocate for using 1,000 of them to do a random test across the population. We really need to know the prevalence rate for the virus if we want to have any idea how long social distancing must stay in force.

Doing 1,000 random tests every week for the next two months would be even better.

Ron Sutherland, Durham

Put stadium on hold

I watched the Raleigh City Council session live-streamed Tuesday and was disturbed by the “business as usual” attitude about the proposed soccer stadium.

We are in the middle of a crisis that really has no end in sight at this point. Now is the time to think of every way possible to earmark funding for this city’s response to and recovery from coronavirus. Council’s first priority should be the general public and our lifeblood small businesses.

Deciding to invest in a stadium now would be investing in the city we were three months ago. That city no longer exists and we will have a long, painful haul back to normal. Proposed plans for a stadium or other “luxury” investments should be put on hold for at least one year.

Nelda Holder, Raleigh

Limit the plastic

“Can I get a latte in my mug?”

“Um, can’t do that…”

Within two weeks of the first coronavirus case in the United States, my local coffee shop in Durham went from ceramics to single-use plastics. Public health concerns should come first and the need for something sanitary and disposable is understandable, but can we find other ways to keep people safe that are biodegradable and non-petroleum based?

Aissa Dearing, Durham

Learn from farmers

As Americans deal with the spread of COVID-19, they can learn a lot from the example set by our nation’s farmers.

For years, livestock farmers in North Carolina and beyond have been following strict bio-security measures to protect the health of our animals and preserve our livelihoods. We restrict visitors to our farms, wear protective clothing, disinfect footwear, meticulously clean equipment, continuously wash our hands, and limit travel when sick.

As a hog farmer, I know we’re often criticized for controlling access to our farms. Some of us put up “no trespassing” signs. People accuse us of “hiding something.” In reality, we’re simply taking the prudent steps all Americans are now being asked to take. I’m confident these actions can keep our communities safe.

Are we being a bit too drastic in our response to COVID-19? My heart wants to think so, but my knowledge of how an outbreak in animals can spread tells me maybe not.

Morris Murphy, Albertson