Letters: How many were put off by Indiana's hostile political climate?

According to Visit Indy research, Gov. Mike Pence's Religious Freedom Restoration Act resulted in $60 million in lost economic impact for the Indiana. We can expect the same and more considering the state's recent legislation that includes a near total ban on abortion, support for book banning and laws meant to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people, in addition to our County Council's efforts to ban "equity" with regards to the provision of health services.

While we can estimate lost revenue, we will never know the number of companies and highly qualified employees who decided not to come to Indiana because of its hostile political climate or how many of our best and brightest students decide to leave the state after graduation for the same reason.

Dennis KaplanSouth Bend

Bravo!

Reassigning speeches among characters to balance the gender roles is risky, maybe gimmicky, but it works very well in Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival's Professional Company production of “Hamlet 50/50.” Semi-spoiler alert: As much as I would’ve liked to hear *this* Hamlet deliver the “To be…” soliloquy, the change seemed not just acceptable but brilliant, arguably a correction! The premiere was excellent, with interesting staging and outstanding performances. Don’t miss it!

David Johnson

South Bend

Different companies

Earlier this summer, the article "South Bend neighbors see tree 'butchering' to make way for Knute Rockne home relocation" (Tribune, June 30), described concerns from residents and the city’s forester about the work that a local tree service undertook without a permit in South Bend’s Harter Heights neighborhood.Since that article was published, our tree care company has received numerous calls from readers who are uncertain if we are the same company whose work was described in that article. Their name is “Heartwood Tree Care.” The name of our company is “HartWood Tree Care.”

We have been in business since 2017. They have been in business since 2021.

Nick Simons

Owner, HartWood Tree Care

Elkhart

Damaging

It’s exhausting to watch the recent news charging the former president of crimes while in office. It’s sucking the oxygen out of the news. He has caused incredible damage to the USA. Very early, CIA reported Russia’s interference in our 2016 election. He publicly announced belief in Vladimir Putin rather than our defensive organization. He admires Putin, a strong autocrat, who has no morality. He recently announced his plans to behave like Mussolini if elected again.

An early action was to change taxation that gave huge benefits to the wealthy but not those who work for a living. The result was increasing our national debt by trillions of dollars. He demonstrated (lack of) leadership during COVID with fantasy and lies costing countless lives. He antagonized our allies with his boorish and arrogant behavior and removed us from the Paris accords, a plan to halt global warming. Our global weather this summer gives us some idea of the effects of not taking stronger action. His effects on the Republican party have greatly diminished its effect on proper political leadership. Instead we get GOP men who define masculinity but fail to have the testicular fortitude to address the issues and challenge the president to do the correct thing. I am awaiting the results of our legal system.

Tom Nowak

South Bend

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Letter writers on Indiana's hostile climate, a local performance, Trump