ReOpenNC should take its protests where the fault lies - the White House

ReOpen protesters

If the ReOpenNC folks wish to publicly flaunt their ignorance of science and disregard for life, I’d prefer they do so on social media rather than endangering the population.

Most of these protests seem to be thinly disguised Trump rallies. Ironically, the main reason the U.S. can’t reopen now is President Trump’s disastrous response to this pandemic. The U.S. and South Korea had their first confirmed cases on the same day. Today, South Korea is largely reopened while the U.S. has the most cases and deaths of any nation.

The difference? South Korea did massive testing and followed the advice of scientists, while the inept Trump administration wasted precious weeks denying there was a problem, thoroughly botched testing, and ignored the advice of scientists.

ReOpenNC should take its protests to where the fault lies - the White House.

Brent Miller, Cary

NC inmates

We are seeing rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreaks in correctional health facilities across the country, including in North Carolina. Every day that we wait to act leads to worse outcomes.

We can choose to ignore what is happening in N.C. jails and prisons, or we can choose to value their lives and refuse to infringe upon their most basic right as a citizen - the right to live.

Inmates should not be at increased risk of death in custody simply because we are failing to protect them.

How can we protect N.C. inmates and correctional staff? We can encourage DPS Secretary Erik Hooks, Gov. Roy Cooper and state representatives to support immediate release of a significant number of elderly and medically vulnerable inmates and those near the end of their sentence. We can urge our leaders to provide all inmates with masks, soap and disinfectant, and waive “sick call” fees (prison “copays”).

We can support groups that protect inmates, as well as programs like Formerly Incarcerated Transitions that assist N.C. inmates integrating back into the community.

Remember, prison health is public health.

Dr. Kristen Benninger, Cary

Family Medicine physician

Cooper’s response

I am a restaurant owner in Pinehurst. Gov. Roy Cooper closed restaurants and other hospitality businesses so abruptly that we had no time to prepare and little resources to handle the bottoming out of revenue.

Reopening will take extensive planning and training of staff. If the governor has any intention of extending the closure, he needs to give hospitality businesses the courtesy of a week’s notice at least.

He told us to flatten the curve and we have complied at great cost to our business and staffing. I cannot afford to take on additional loans to prepare for reopening only to be launched into another month of loss. It’s Cooper’s responsibility to keep us informed. A 24-hour notice isn’t good enough.

Mark Elliott, Pinehurst

Earth Day

COVID 19 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Amidst the tragedy and suffering of COVID, we are learning that we can change our behavior to protect both our health and the environment. Fewer people are, driving, flying, and commuting. More are gardening and eating local. These changes in human behavior could secure greater future sustainability.

The dramatic rise in on-line meetings has increased efficiency. We know more about learning and worshiping online that could extend the benefits to many more people, increasing opportunity while reducing future poverty.

Biking and walking have been rediscovered for transportation. We can decrease cars within urban spaces and give priority to safe biking/walking.

Let’s dream, work together, and demand action for an Earth-sustainable economy as our preferred future.

Alice S. Ammerman, Chapel Hill

Duke Energy

Thankfully, the Utilities Commission and Gov. Roy Cooper ordered a temporary delay of utility service cutoffs. Meanwhile, disputes over Duke Energy’s request to increase its rates continue.

On March 25, after the Utilities Commission’s Public Staff exposed wrongdoing, Duke agreed to delete $2.2 million in lobbying charges and millions more for executive pay, airplane travel, board of director expenses, and other improper costs it wanted customers to pay. Shame on Duke for trying to steal customers’ money.

Ironically, next month Duke holds its annual stockholders meeting (via Internet) and it is opposing stockholder resolutions to require detailed publication of its lobbying and political spending. Duke releases some of this info, but many stockholders aren’t satisfied – and customers rightfully worry they wind up paying the bill.

Bob Hall, Durham

Former executive director, Democracy North Carolina