I'm a UAW worker striking at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Don't forget our families. | Letters

Don't forget about workers on strike at Blue Cross Blue Shield

Your articles on the United Autoworkers strikes are great, however, there are more than 1,000 workers displaced at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, too. We are posted on 600 Lafayette E. in Detroit Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Our UAW colleagues at the Big Three have showed up for us on many occasions. Whether it be holding the line with us, or spreading the word that we need donations for our families, too.

I am one of them. I am also a wife of a disabled veteran, who happens to work for the Department of Defense as a SOS Coordinator who helps Gold Star families receive benefits and support after they lose their family member. As you know, we came very close to a government shutdown. When my husband and I went to bed Saturday night, we whole heartedly expected to wake up to be told the government was shutdown. By the skin of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s teeth, he managed to keep the government open, but only by extending negotiations for 45 days. For this, he was promptly punished by the four extreme right conservatives. He's now the former House Speaker. I need our legislators and all politicians to know that shutting the government down affects real, hard working human beings.

They’re turning their agendas into the only thing that matters … to them.

They’re not thinking about the families that will go without a paycheck, and how that will affect how we will support our families.

I truly believe if we cut their pay off due to them not being able to come to some sort of agreement, for them not doing their job, then I believe the words, “Well, we will just shut down the government," would never be spoken. The extreme left, and right, need to know that they are part of the minority. Most Americans do not align with either of their drastic ideologies. The hard working folks that work in our military, or for the government, or who are part of the UAW are watching, and paying attention to how these clowns are handling business, and I promise you, it will show when it comes down to who we vote for.

Rachel Grosso

Eastpointe

Are you affected by the UAW strike? Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

They need to settle this strike

Both the United Autoworkers and the Detroit Three automakers need to do a better job of negotiating, and staying in one place, no matter how many hours, to get (the ongoing strike) resolved. And we did give a lot back to the company in concessions, also, we can't pay our kids tuition in one check like them, and take a two-week's vacation in Paris like them. We would just like a comfortable life.

Hilton Graham

Farmington Hills

Banning pit bulls was a mistake

As the chair of Michigan Pet Alliance, an organization providing education in animal welfare best practices, we extend our concern to the residents of Grosse Pointe Shores, who were looking to their councilmembers to keep their community safer after a recent dog-on-dog attack. ("Grosse Pointe Shores votes to ban pit bulls," Unfortunately, four council members ignored the science and data and approved an ordinance amendment that bans dogs based solely on appearance, rather than on behavior.

Why are these breed banning laws a problem? They don't work. Every science-based study and all of the peer-reviewed research I have seen backs that up. These laws also rely on visual identification of targeted breeds, an impossible task that forces untrained, unwilling police and animal control officers to be responsible for enforcement.

Michigan needs an immediate statewide ban on these breed specific laws, as proposed in House Bills 5039-41, which will require local policymakers to focus on proactive, preventive approaches to regulate dangerous dogs, make irresponsible owners responsible and treat all dog owners fairly and equally. That is how we make our communities safer in Michigan.

Deborah SchuttBloomfield Hills

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Stop handing out our tax money to big businesses

Michigan residents are tired of being sold the dream that if we hand out billions in tax rebates to profitable businesses, we’ll get good-paying jobs in return. Year after year and decade after decade, our tax dollars are funneled by legislators and lobbyists to corporations. Instead, we should focus on spending public tax dollars on public goods like education, infrastructure, building and maintaining affordable housing, and increasing access to child care, mental healthcare and elder care services.

Michigan does not invest enough in education, infrastructure, and our communities. According to polling, Michigan residents strongly believe that corporations and wealthy individuals should pay more in taxes to fund these public services. To achieve the future we deserve, we need to move away from the way things used to be done, ensure everyone is paying their fair share, and make every dollar in our budget move our communities ― not corporations ― toward prosperity.

MoReno Taylor II

Saline

Joe Biden is a good president

The Biden Administration is focused on people and good policy that makes improvements in our daily lives. It is the first time I have felt a president is concerned about my well-being and my family’s future.

During the pandemic, my family benefited from the American Rescue Plan, which protected union pensions for more than 300,000 workers and retirees. Some were grateful for the plan’s food assistance, housing funds, and health care services. No one refused the relief payments.

The funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act replaced my complaints about bad roads and potholes with moans about traffic delays because of bridge and roadway repairs. After the Flint tragedy and recent power outages, we welcome upgrades to our water infrastructure and electrical grid.

CHIPS and Science Act funds research, development, and good-paying jobs to prepare the future workforce for the United States to be a global leader. Our shortage of semiconductor chips for automobiles, appliances and defense systems alerted us to supply chain vulnerabilities and dependence on foreign sources. This Act makes domestic manufacturing a priority.

Many predecessors gave lip service, but Biden delivered and lowered prescription drug cost with the Inflation Reduction Act. It was no simple task to cap Insulin at $35 per month for Medicare recipients and initiate other prescription reductions.

All Americans benefit from these programs. Biden’s experience, competence and dignified leadership have restored the normalcy needed for a functioning democracy and his patience and fortitude guided these beneficial programs through Congress. He respects everyone, even his opponents, and remains focused on governing.

Evelyn Gallegos

Brighton

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW strike, pit bull breed ban in Grosse Pointe Shores | Letters