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Letters to the Editor

Gun violence

EDITOR: My last words about gun violence Thank you, Mr. Glass and Mr. Smouthers, for responding to my letter - although you accused me of emotion and limited firearm knowledge (both true), and irrelevant and ‘dishonest’ facts. I included my sources (e.g., the Violence Project) to allow judgement of my facts versus opinions. Facts: - In 2016, the NRA dubbed the AR-15 ‘America’s Rifle’, and manufacturers stressed masculinity in marketing to men. - In 1970s, AR-type guns were 3% of firearm sales, but now are 26%. - Interviews with mass shooters identified common ...

Annexation

EDITOR: Commissioner David Moyle Commissioner Robert Barron Commissioner Steve Viau Commissioner John Malnor Commissioner Robert Peterson Public Act 156 of 1851, MCL 46.1 et seq… authorizes the county board to consider altering township boundary lines, when “…upon application to the board, as provided in this act, of at least 20% off freeholders who are actually residents of each of the townships to be affected by the alteration.” The “application” for boundary changes to Escanaba and Cornell townships and filed with the county and township clerks contains a ...

Zoom meetings

EDITOR: On April 4, three out of five commissioners voted to eliminate access to their meetings via Zoom. I am wheelchair bound and would attend meetings via this mechanism. (This was my preferred method rather than watch via YouTube because it offered the ability to speak during public comment.) When I contacted Chairman Moyle regarding this issue, he indicated that he was acting on the advice of the IT director but would look into this further. There have been three meetings since then and it has not been an agenda item despite many public comments asking to have it reinstated. ...

County board concerns

EDITOR: I’m writing today as a concerned citizen of Delta County, and a Navy Veteran. Recently, I’ve become more interested and involved in the politics of Delta County. Mostly after picking up the discourse of folks on both sides of the political aisle. I’m a Centrist-Progressive, so taking both sides into account is something I try to take seriously in political debate. However, I’ve been seeing some disturbing things coming from Commissioner Moyle, in particular: - His use of a social media platform to attack and disrespect not only his direct constituents, but members ...

Too many potholes

EDITOR : Could we possibly get the city to take a week and fill some potholes? There are other projects that are being worked on throughout the city. One down at the park. I’m sure those projects are important. But the city’s streets are atrocious! While I’m at it, I will address a couple of businesses that should be ashamed of their parking areas and the potholes. Number one - Burger King. I heard that they have to bid the project and have to wait until the weather allows it. I believe that if I were the manager, I would have already filled the crater with dirt, or at least ...

Choices in November

EDITOR: I started attending the board meetings of the county commissioners after the firing of our then County Administrator, Emily DeSalvo. I found the circumstances of that action puzzling and decided to educate myself as to what exactly was going on. As you may remember, Emily was fired in a 3-2 (Moyle, Barron, and Peterson) vote after she gave a speech questioning the integrity and ethics of these three commissioners. Now, after attending these meetings, I too have my doubts about the motives behind some of the actions that have taken place. The Delta Conservation District (Rory ...