Parkdale exec’s reason for closing NC textile mill doesn’t match reality | Opinion
I was surprised and disappointed to see Parkdale Mills executives blame the closure of the company’s Sanford textile plant, laying off 74 workers, on an alleged “rapid increase in energy costs, which has rendered our business model unsustainable.” Hogwash.
North Carolina’s energy costs are well below the national average; our electricity rates are declining; our economy is booming; and longstanding, unrelated trade issues plague Parkdale, which has closed factories throughout the Southeast.
Manufacturers and other major energy users such as data centers are flocking to N.C. in part because our electricity is affordable, reliable and plentiful.
As Parkdale Mills CEO Andy Warlick noted in recent testimony to Congress, America’s textile industry is struggling because of an archaic and unfair trade policy that floods our market with small, foreign shipments tariff-free. Congress should fix that. But claiming that North Carolina’s energy costs are high is spinning a mighty yarn.
Linda Hunt Williams, Sanford
Positive vibes
It’s easy to let politics drive a wedge between friends and family. Cutting ties over a difference in beliefs only limits our growth and understanding.
While I have strong opinions and candidates I support, I never let politics define my relationships. I encourage my students to be good people, work hard and stay positive without ever asking where they stand politically. Some may unfriend me, thinking I’m too extreme or not extreme enough, but I choose to focus on what unites us.
It’s true that not every topic will be easy to discuss, and we won’t always agree, but that doesn’t mean friendships need to end. By choosing to remain friends despite our differences, we set an example of resilience, maturity and open-mindedness. Instead of distancing ourselves, we can show others how fulfilling life is when we live authentically and with positivity.
Politics is ever-changing, and today’s heated issues may look different tomorrow. Rather than letting these differences drive us apart, let’s commit to finding common ground and continuing to grow together. By embracing our shared humanity, we build stronger, more supportive communities that thrive through every season.
Ken Robol, Wilson
Stop evictions
On behalf of over 100 public health experts, we call for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Scientific literature shows that moratoriums across the country during the height of COVID-19 protected public health and prevented homelessness, and lifting them increased virus transmission and mortality. We anticipate public health benefits from a moratorium in western N.C. and negative impacts from a failure to halt displacement.
Displacement is traumatic, damages health and puts residents at risk of homelessness. Evictions are associated with poor health outcomes for those evicted and their neighbors. Survivors of disasters experience health issues and wage loss, which hinder their financial ability to stay in their homes. These strains exacerbate existing conditions by interrupting health care and cause new problems through stress.
Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums are the best way to prevent displacement from inability to pay. Without a moratorium, many in western N.C. will be forced to relocate. A moratorium will ensure that hurricane impacted residents remain housed and support their communities’ recovery.
Libby McClure, Durham
Madam president
President Biden, you have been the most trans-formative president in my life, just a step below L.B.J. and F.D.R. That said, I know you have no concerns to give. It’s time to do the right thing. I’m asking you to resign. You will go down in history as a great man for doing so because you opened the door to your greatest feat. You will have given us the first woman as president. I’m a 77-year-old man and have waited a long time to utter the words “madam president.”
Michael Eisenberg, Durham
Liberals
Since the election, your editions have provided smiles and wonderment. The left’s reaction to Trump’s victory shows how out of touch with mainstream America it really is. Days off from classes for students? Articles on how to emotionally recover? Blaming military recruitment failures on the military budget and not the real reason — DEI. Saying the American public is brainwashed? Liberals are not acknowledging the real reason for the election results — Americans are fed up with the liberal agenda.
Douglas Aitken, Clayton