Category: Opinions

Federal stimulus spending considered necessary

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The federal government had to take bold action because of the financial hardship that the coronavirus pandemic caused.

At least that was the message from U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., when she spoke to the Congressional Forum, via teleconference, at Children’s Mercy Park, Friday, Sept. 17. She had originally planned to appear in person, but opted for a teleconference because of a family emergency.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which is also called the COVID-19 stimulus package or simply the American Rescue Plan, is estimated to cost $1.9 trillion.

Part of the stimulus plan was the Paycheck Protection Plan; employers affected by the pandemic could apply for loans which, if conditions were met, could be forgiven. Banks report this as most helpful, particularly for restaurants.

Rep. Davids said she supports a new stimulus funding for restaurants; she said several restaurants, particularly smaller independent operations, were left out.

Rep. Davids was asked about her feelings about Congressional redistricting. She said there should have been more notice given about public meetings concerning redistricting. There were 14 meetings across the state, including one at Kansas City Kansas Community College and another in Johnson County.

Republican political operatives have suggested that Wyandotte County and Johnson County be separated. This would dilute Rep. Davids’ Democrat base. She lives in Roeland Park, which is in Johnson County.

Rep. Davids already has potential Republican opposition; Amanda Adkins, who lost to Rep. Davids in 2020, has announced she will run again.

Forum members expressed concern about excessive government spending. Joe Vaught, a commercial real estate agent, warned about borrowing more money than the federal government can repay. Bill Schmidt, a certified public accountant, said that government borrowing should be limited to the value of the gross national product.

Paul Bush, a banker with First State Bank, said he was concerned about the proposal that would require banks to report most all banking transactions of account holders. This would be an invasion of personal privacy, he said. Rep. Davids said she would look into the matter.

The Congressional Forum is a function of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Open letter about Delta variant spread and mask mandates

An open letter from Rep. Aaron Coleman to the UG Commission concerning Delta variant community spread

Mayor Alvey, Commissioners Burroughs and Markley,

Regardless of me writing this letter, it is abundantly clear that mask mandates will return nationwide due to a large section of the population committing to never getting vaccinated. As long as these individuals are not vaccinated, the virus will be given fresh hosts to infect and given additional opportunities to mutate and spread. Before long, the virus will have mutated so much that the vaccines may no longer be effective.

So while I do admit to having thrown down my face mask for a few months after having gotten vaccinated, I will certainly agree that not wearing a mask is more comfortable than wearing one. Ultimately due to the unwillingness of my peers to join me in the vaccination efforts, I will once again don a mask upon my face inside buildings.

I strongly urge the UG Commission to enforce a mask mandate county-wide until our community has a vaccination rate exceeding 70%. To not do so is simply sheer negligence as well supported evidence has shown the damage the Delta variant is doing within Wyandotte, and will continue to do for the foreseeable future.

It is simply not enough to mandate masks, but an enforcement mechanism must be included. Those found indoors without a mask should be penalized monetarily with a municipal civil fine. Such funds collected with this enforcement mechanism should be used to pay people to get vaccinated.

At the end of the day, we will never return to normal life until our population is vaccinated. Face masks are simply the way to limit viral spread until such a time when herd immunity is established with vaccination efforts.

I hope you will take the action desperately needed to preserve as many human lives as possible through this pandemic.

Sincerely,
Rep. Aaron Coleman, Kansas House, 37th District

Letter to the editor

Representative supports efforts to address poverty, more funding for park security, deadbolt locks and gate locks at parks

Open letter to UG Commission, Mayor Alvey, Commissioner Burroughs, and Commissioner Markley:

Thank you in advance for your attention. I am proud to have supported all three of you at one point. I hope that G-d may continue to place his hand upon your head and guide you as you govern Wyandotte Country for the betterment of its people, and not simply its ruling class.

Hard times have fallen upon Turner and Argentine. Vandals dump trash in the street. Arsonists explode munitions in the public works while honest men and women hungry for work are struggling in their search for good paying jobs with benefits. The median income hovers around $20,000, and a large section of our community lives at or below the poverty line.

The southern half of Wyandotte County has fallen from the middle class lifestyle it enjoyed as recently as 40 years ago. The days of good infrastructure and high quality schools are gone.

The root cause of crime, drug addiction and violence is poverty. It is time to declare war on poverty.

I also call upon you to take immediate action to protect public works. I hope you will strongly consider protecting the taxpayers’ investment by appropriating funds to allow the Sheriff’s Department to increase patrols in Leo Alvey Park and Pierson Park between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

I hope you will follow Turner Baptist Church Pastor Steve Neal’s advice when he urges, “Rather than chains and padlocks [on the bathrooms], good solid deadbolt locks. Also, If I’m not mistaken, our parks have gates. They should be used. Parks closed at dusk and gates locked.”

Thank you for your time and for your public service to the community.

State Rep. Aaron Coleman
Kansas House of Representatives, District 37