We don’t have to choose WNC recovery or paying teachers if we tap this revenue | Opinion

North Carolinians are being told that the state’s savings reserve is dwindling due to Helene Recovery, that the fund should be replenished to $10 billion and that we must choose between responding to disasters or funding public services that help people thrive.

In reality, the savings reserve is not drained, and state policymakers have done little to support Helene recovery, providing less than 3% of the damage assessment need.

The narrative of hard budget choices is misleading. More than a decade of tax cuts have enriched the ultra-wealthy while creating impossible choices: Can we afford to pay our teachers? Fund childcare? Support local businesses?

Unless lawmakers change course, corporations will pay no state income taxes by 2030, sending money to out-of-state shareholders instead of Western NC. We can afford a full recovery, great public services and robust savings when corporations pay what they owe in taxes.

Alexandra Sirota, NC Budget & Tax Center, Durham

Deer Treyburn

In response to the Jan. 8 article “Deer are driving a Durham neighborhood apart. Should hunting them in the city be easier?”

I have been a Treyburn home owner for more than 12 years. My backyard is a forested area. Over the years, more and more deer have appeared. They are almost tame. When my wife and I got to thinking about it, the number increased as more construction occurred.

The deer habitat has shrunk tremendously. Just look at the nature destruction at the corner of Guess and Latte roads. Another destroyed forested area. The deer aren’t the only indigenous species affected. Very sad.

Fenton McGonnell, Durham

Hall and schools

In his Jan. 14 op-ed laying out his vision for improving the lives of North Carolinians, House Speaker Destin Hall makes no commitment to investing in high quality public education. May we infer that he and his fellow Republicans are planning to continue their relentless decade-long assault on our public schools?

Helen Ladd, Chapel Hill

Voter challenged

I have called North Carolina my home since 2004. I’ve given back in any way I can, including through voting. For me, voting has been a way to help ensure that my community is heard and fairly represented. So when I received a letter in the mail from the NC GOP on behalf of Jefferson Griffin, a candidate for the state Supreme Court, I was disappointed.

To receive a letter saying that my vote is one of 60,000 being challenged makes me wonder if my right to fair representation is being erased. Tens of thousands of North Carolinians are being disenfranchised through a blatant power grab by the state Republican party to steal the seat Allison Riggs rightfully won.

Our leaders are chosen by the people, not the other way around. Judge Griffin, every vote deserves to be counted and our voices should be respected. It’s time for you to listen to North Carolinians and concede.

Danielle Boulet, Hillsborough

Unconditional help

The devastation caused by Los Angeles wildfires is horrific. Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional Republicans threaten to link disaster relief to demands for reform.

Republicans parrot falsehoods about California’s forest and water mismanagement, and pitch their tiresome, unscrupulous references to “woke” and DEI programs as the root of all problems. Thankfully, NC’s Sen. Thom Tillis is a rare Republican questioning the call for conditional aid. Kudos to him.

Los Angeles County supplies more than 25% of California’s economy. California has the fifth largest economy in the world by certain measures. Its economy contributes greatly to our national well-being, making up almost 15% of the U.S. GDP. Clearly, California helps subsidize all the rest of us. Canada, Mexico, Ukraine and Iran have pitched in or offered to help those working tirelessly to alleviate this natural disaster. President-elect Trump and Republicans should drop the ridiculous political posturing and do the same.

Heather Stein, Chapel Hill

Greenland, Panama

Some political analysts have predicted that failure to continue with assistance to Ukraine will signal that invasion of smaller, weaker democracies will be tolerated. The analysts could be right. There is a soon-to-be head of state showing take-over interest in Greenland and Panama.

Deborah Brogden, Durham