Letters to the editor

Permanent shelter needed in city

We are now entering into another fall season and heading into winter.

The majority of us are fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads and food on our tables unlike our most vulnerable population, the homeless. I have been actively involved for the past 18 years with our homeless population who again this year do not have a permanent shelter.

Fortunately, in the past, we were able to house 50 homeless people during the winter at Hotel Grace at St. John's Church and again during the pandemic at Ascension Church, and this past winter at Blessed Sacrament Church.

These are called emergency shelters, closing at the end of March. Why? People need shelter all year. When is our city going to step up and accept responsibility?

There are so many "empty" buildings in Worcester. The concentration seems to be on building new high-end or so-called affordable housing, disregarding our people that are sleeping under bridges, in hallways, on benches and in the woods. The need increases every year. Please let's see some action.

Kathy Gervais, Worcester

Binienda rates A-plus, vote

On Nov. 7 it’s time for this community to step up and elect the most knowledgeable and qualified candidate for School Committee, a former teacher, principal and superintendent: Maureen Binienda. If there was ever a person who had the best interests of every student, teacher, parent and community in her heart, it is Maureen.

She has invested so much of herself in our community. I have seen Maureen personally give the students and staff assistance in order for them to succeed. Her qualities of integrity, empathy and leadership make up her character. Vote Maureen Binienda for School Committee.

John Monfredo, Worcester

Enough of Trump, MAGA

"A government shutdown is the last chance to defund these political prosecutions against me and other patriots." Donald Trump

Though the government shutdown was averted at the last minute (literally), not only was it an attempt to "burn it all down" by the MAGA extremists, it was yet another obstruction of justice "Hail Mary pass" attempted by the four-time felony indicted former President Donald J. Trump.

This travesty must stop. The country has been damaged enough by Trump's nefarious ways and his pact with the extremist MAGA members of Congress.

If the end game is to eventually shut down and kneecap our constitutional democracy by attempting to destroy its governmental structures, the bad guys seem to be gaining ground.

Genevieve Harris-Fraser, Orange

Clean-energy pilot study lauded

As a resident of Framingham, another city with a good supply of older homes, I was heartened to read about the pilot study to electrify three-deckers in Worcester.

Fossil fuels are obsolete — their emissions are tipping our climate into dangerous, uncharted waters. How many of these three-deckers will have to cope with flash flooding in the next few years, like buildings in Leominster, North Attleborough or even New York City? If builders and energy companies learn from this pilot, they can be ready to upgrade homes to clean energy when they inevitably need rebuilding after disasters.

In the meantime, every building Worcester successfully electrifies will help its residents enjoy clean energy, cleaner air and a more hopeful future.

Mary Memmott, Framingham

Back tighter gun-safety laws

Though Massachusetts boasts some of the nation’s most effective gun-safety laws, the people of Worcester and across the commonwealth are not immune to gun violence. Recently nine people were shot at carnival celebrations in Worcester and Boston, three people were shot and killed and at least five others were wounded in Lynn, and a man in Springfield forced his way into his neighbor’s home and killed or wounded two people, including children. This is just a snapshot — there have been many other shootings.

The state Legislature is currently working on strong, common-sense gun-safety legislation aimed at keeping guns out of the wrong hands, supporting people working to reduce gun violence in our communities, making it easier to hold the gun industry accountable when their misconduct contributes to our gun violence crisis, and more.

More guns on our streets makes us less safe, not more. States that have weakened their firearm-permitting systems experience an 11% increase in handgun homicide and a 15% increase in violent crime. Access to a gun doubles a person’s risk of death by homicide and triples the risk of death by suicide.

Increasingly, guns used in violent crimes are “ghost guns” — the weapon of choice for extremists and felons, because they can be bought online without a background check and, because they don’t have serial numbers, can’t be traced.

The time for bold action is now. Contact with your state representative and Senator and tell them you strongly support efforts to put forward tough, modernized gun-safety legislation during this legislative session. Lives are at stake!

Ken McDonnell, Holden

Remember who's to blame

It is widely known by most Americans that our country is in crisis. The only people that are in denial are our inept President and all of the Democrats who think more about covering up for him than doing what is best for the American people. Ed Markey is more concerned about his Green New Deal than to worry about the day-to-day problems of his constituents.

Elizabeth Warren is hiding in her Jack-in-the-box waiting for Biden to announce that he is not running. At that point she will pop up and yell, “I am your next president.” Then she will not be seen in Massachusetts for the next 13 months.

As far as the illegal immigrant problem, our small town of Westminster found out recently that about 40 families are being located to our town. It was easy to watch the border problems on TV when it was not in our backyard. As the great Tip O’Neill once said, “Politics are local.”

Massachusetts is the only state in the country that has the Right to Shelter law. This needs to be repealed!! The world is different than it was 40 years ago. If we do not do this, we might as well put up a sign in Eagle Pass, Texas, that reads, “Come to Massachusetts, everything is free.”

Instead of politicians looking for money, look at the root cause — our president.

In 13 months remember who has caused all of our country's problems. Vote!

Wally Richards, Westminster

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Letters to the editor