Letters: Pull out your checkbook, Columbus residents. Former sex, drugs lover proof of God.

We are going to pay for their fat raises

Only in Columbus can elected officials get up to a 40% pay raise, as recommended by a five-member city "compensation commission" (April 19, "Pay hikes advised for elected leaders").

In my many years of working, I never received a raise anywhere near 40% and I'm sure not many, if any, can say they did. But in our city, you can do what you want if elected, as you have your way of getting around things.

Pay hike: Panel appointed by Columbus elected officials recommends boosting those officials' pay

Residents of Columbus, get your checkbook out 'cause it's started: what council wants, council gets, and we get the invoice.

I'm sure a lot of people, especially seniors, will be going back to work because someone has to pay for their raises and cost of living increases.

Connie Louden, Columbus

How about respect for the 'other'

My first response to retired Pastor Tim Kuenzli's April 19 letter "Nastiness not the only way to win," was of course total agreement.

The second thought was a JFK quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

I keep the mute button handy for all the political ads because, as the pastor said, most of them are personal attacks, name-calling, and fear-mongering.

Letters: TV ads offer proof "politicians are not for the people."

So how about, as the pastor suggests, 'respect for the "other,"' and instead, tell me what you plan to do for your country if you get elected, and how you plan to work across the aisle to accomplish these goals.

Jean W Hoitsma, Columbus

American Rescue Plan could help literacy

As shown in the article “Student reading scores dropped in pandemic. Here's what's being done to improve skills,” COVID-19 exacerbated a literacy crisis in Ohio. The article also shows how districts are wisely using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to address the problem.

COVID-19 and literacy: Student reading scores dropped in pandemic. Here's what's being done to improve skills

Through the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal government is sending Ohio’s school districts $4.4 billion that must be spent by Sept. 30, 2024.

The American Rescue Plan Act will help students in rural, suburban, and urban districts, with extra support going to districts with higher shares of students with low incomes.

In addition to programs featured in the article, district leaders can use American Rescue Plan Act funds for reading summer classes or for additional staff to give students extra help.

Literacy is fundamental to children’s success. Data from the state’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment shows that reading scores are lower than previous years, particularly for Black, brown and economically disadvantaged students.

'Disaster plan'?: Students are falling behind in online school. Where's the COVID-19 'disaster plan' to catch them up?

Remote learning set struggling kids further back – especially in under-resourced communities where many people lack reliable internet, or lived in households headed by “essential workers” unable to work from home.

American Rescue Plan Act funds can help districts ensure every student has the skills they need to thrive, no matter their race or zip code.

Dr. Tanisha Pruitt, PhD-State Policy Fellow-Policy Matters Ohio

Share your thoughts: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

Density would create less segregated neighborhoods

Re: April 20 article, "Arena gets $2.4M for upgrades: Is it enough?":

Since Columbus City Council has approved a contract with Lisa Wise Consulting to upgrade the city’s zoning code, now is the time for the city to expand opportunities for housing and allow new guidelines that strengthen diversity and economic integration for a better Columbus.

Arena upgrades: Nationwide Arena gets millions for upgrades, but official suggests 'major facelift' needed

Initial reporting that highlights changes to only three corridors falls far short of this goal. These changes will not create enough units to address the community’s housing needs.

Wise Consulting and City Council need to expand their thinking, allowing for greater density across our community. Greater recognition needs to be placed on increasing zoning density in neighborhoods of greater opportunity, as defined by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

Greater density needed: Columbus zoning code overhaul should combat history of racism, council told

Failure to allow greater density throughout the entire city will only perpetuate the role of zoning in sustaining racially and economically segregated neighborhoods throughout Columbus.

Carl Faller, Columbus

Former sex, drugs and rock lover proof Jesus changes lives

Loved the April 19 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette article, "Former Jefferson Airplane bassist changes tune, now lives with God."

Bassist born again: Original Jefferson Airplane bassist Bob Harvey is singing a new tune after turning to God

Bob Harvey, the original guitarist for the band Jefferson Airplane, detailed his transformation from a lover of sex, drugs and rock ‘n' roll to a lover and disciple of God. He attributes this transformation to "Jesus Christ, His son, who paid the price that I owe."

Those are powerful words, particularly in view of the recent Resurrection Sunday, more commonly referred to as Easter.

First-century secular historians agree on the existence of the historical Jesus and in excess of 500 people witnessed the post-resurrected Christ.

The essence of the claims of Jesus, the anointed one to some, is that He was either a liar when He claimed to be the son of the Creator of the world and all worlds, a lunatic in light of those outlandish claims, or Lord, i.e., to say the actual son of God.

Jesus' example: Jesus doesn't need Christianity. His example is powerful without any religion at all.

Mankind has developed several means of denying Jesus' claim of being the second person of the triune Godhead, but I would offer up lives, such as Bob Harvey's, that have been radically changed and the writings of secular historians as an objective place to start.

The rest, as they say, is a matter of faith, and as the unknown writer of the New Testament Book of Hebrews said in Chapter 11:6: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, and those that come to Him must believe that He is, and a rewarder of those who seek Him."

Jim Viney, Canal Winchester

The 'medical industrial complex' is 'too obtuse'

The April 18 article, "Push to cut prescription fees in peril," provided another chapter in the same old story. Government officials attempt to require pharmacy benefit managers to actually serve the people and pharmacies of Ohio.

The pharmacy benefit manager responds by figuring out a different way to put its own profits first, the public be damned, and continue with its game of Whack- A-Mole. Perhaps our West Virginia neighbors provide an example of how to end this game.

Lower fees in jeopardy: Prospect of lower fees for prescription drugs could be dashed by new maneuver from PBMs

West Virginia state officials have directly managed the state's Medicare prescription drug program serving 550,000 people without using a pharmacy benefit manager. A West Virginia Bureau of Medical Services report found that the state saved $54 million in its first year after the state took on the task, $24 million more than the $30 million in savings it had anticipated.

Would this type of solution work for Ohio? I don't know, but it seems like something that should be looked at.

Capitol Insider: PBMs might escape fallout for drug-pricing tactic due to its complexity

The bottom line may be that the medical industrial complex is too obtuse to be treated like other parts of the economy. Maybe we cannot just bid out work and get it done effectively by the private sector like we do to get a road built or to buy an information technology system.

Medicaid chief quietly drops bombshell: Millions obtained by PBMs unaccounted for by state

Perhaps it is time to investigate whether state officials motivated by keeping prices down would do a better job than pharmacy benefit managers, who have shown that they will always find a way to put their own profits first.

Lou Jannazo, Columbus

Is it really time to go green?

The political pressure placed by highly vocal minorities on companies forces them to react not necessarily in the best interests of long-range economic and ecological benefit.

Not only must a company "go green," it must visibly and locally go green.

Companies must generate renewable energy today, even though it is not yet economically competitive. They must also be seen to do so locally and visibly, even though electricity can be transmitted long distances from source to user.

Ohio-based renewables: Worthington may consider Ohio-based renewables for electricity-aggregation program

The U.S. and the world will not be less hungry after the renewable energy generators are built. Thus, local land taken out of service for the production of food and fiber must be replaced by moving land elsewhere into production.

Hydrogen hub: Hydrogen energy could bring jobs to Ohio. Environmentalists skeptical it's really green

It is a conundrum that local production of wind and solar energy contributes directly to the destruction of the Amazon rain forest through the loss and necessary replacement of local productive land, when there are vast tracts in Ohio suitable for wind and solar generation of power not usable for the production of food and fiber. Non-arable reclaimed strip mines and south-facing foothills of southern and eastern Ohio spring to mind.

The issue at hand, however, has little to do with increasing electricity availability, and much to do with complying with mandates created by political bodies reacting to the "will of the people" as represented by single-interest advocate groups.

Sad, indeed.

John Platt, Arlington

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: The pandemic affecting children's. Columbus council raises