Letters: Rejection foreshadows City Council future; Victims missing from jail discussion

Thankful for Stone Belt fundraiser participants

We had the pleasure of recently attending the annual fundraiser of Stone Belt, "Belt Out Loud!" featuring talented country performer Hank Ruff. This thoroughly enjoyable evening benefits a longtime worthwhile organization that funds programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, in areas such as employment training, day and residential services, and advocacy services.

Thanks to all involved in putting together this lovely community gathering. (https://stonebelt.org/index.php/make-a-donation).

Jim Borman, Bloomington

Foreshadowing future city council behavior

The City Council's recent rejection of an ordinance restoring its oversight of traffic calming, bike lanes and greenways foreshadows a larger principle taking shape in Bloomington: the elimination of neighborhood autonomy.

The faction that will become the majority on the City Council in January 2024 favors the removal of council oversight of a range of initiatives, placing them within the exclusive purview of mayoral appointees and city staff. When a neighborhood objected to such a project in its midst, it used to be able to appeal to the council for help. That's been swept away.

Council member Dave Rollo has tried to restore council oversight on traffic projects, but that's probably gone for good. The city will be able to do more or less whatever it wants, wherever it wants, regardless of neighborhood opposition. Look for more attempts at behavior modification through infrastructure engineering, and a run at further densification of core neighborhoods.

Peter Dorfman, Bloomington

Urge Congress to enact carbon fee, dividend plan

If you are frustrated by the lack of action on climate change but don’t know what to do about it, consider urging Congress to enact a carbon fee and dividend plan. Canada has done this, and its citizens have already begun to see significant dividends: Families of four in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, receive rebates between $745 and $1,079 per year. This is more, on average, than they would spend because of the increased costs resulting from the carbon fees.

Other provinces use different forms of carbon taxes and rebates. Carbon fee and dividend legislation sends the cost of dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere right back to the polluters. The plan allows the benefits to climate and health to accumulate. It offers extra incentives for green energy development, and would hasten retirement of carbon-emitting power plants and transportation vehicles, thus reducing carbon emissions. The health benefits alone would make such plans worthwhile.

But Congress must enact legislation to create a carbon fee and dividend system. Urge your representatives to sponsor carbon fee and dividend legislation. (Sen. Mike Braun, 202-224-4814; Sen. Todd Young, 202-224-5623; and Rep. Erin Houchin, 202-225-5315). You will feel better for having taken this action.

Lee Ehman, Bloomington

Victims' voice missing from Monroe County Jail discussion

Once again, the “V” word was absent from another strong opinion delivered about incarceration being the wrong alternative in Monroe County when it comes to serving justice (Herald-Times guest columnists Jessica Zhang and Leigh Grundhoefer). That word is victim. No surprise.

The Community Justice Response Committee formed in recent years did not include a person representing the interest of victims in planning for a new Monroe County Jail. One could argue the prosecutor represents victims’ interests, but that would be naïve, as a crime victim’s best interests and ongoing safety concerns often clash with the priorities of the state.

Victims have a strong tie to some jail services and needs — including monitoring of inmate phone and internet usage, video surveillance, domestic violence programs, and more. But their voices aren’t being heard. Until the local debate about locking up criminals includes a more comprehensive exploration of victim impact, it will continue to be nothing but a biased exercise.

Numerous studies explain the positive impact that incarceration has on victim recovery. An American Academy of Pediatrics’ report in 2017 is just one of many examples: “It also has been documented that children have more long-term emotional problems if the assailant receives a light sentence; this finding is especially true for children who did not testify,” the report says.

It seems little has changed on the ground since Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s address to Congress in 2004: "In case after case we found victims, and their families, were ignored, cast aside, and treated as non-participants in a critical event in their lives. They were kept in the dark by prosecutors too busy to care enough, by judges focused on defendant's rights, and by a court system that simply did not have a place for them. The result was terrible — often the experience of the criminal justice system left crime victims and their families victimized yet again.”

It's time to remember that for every crime in Monroe County, there is at least one victim. These many thousands of people deserve more consideration.

Steven Isbitts, Bloomington (The author is the father of a crime victim in Monroe County.)

Crusade against doctor by Rokita appalling

(Indiana Attorney General) Todd Rokita once again proves he is a cancerous wart on the butt of Indiana. His cowardly crusade against Dr. Caitlin Bernard tells you everything you need to know.

The political appointees on the Indiana Medical Licensing Board threw Rokita a bone by convicting the doctor of the least serious charge available: violating a patient's HIPPA privacy rights. She has to write a check for $3,000. Would it surprise you if Rokita demanded that she make it out to him personally? I'll write that check for her. So would thousands of people throughout this country appalled by Rokita's MAGA-propelled persecution of Dr. Bernard. This doctor's crime? She gave out the patient's "age, gender and state." That's it.

The compliance officer for the Office of Civil Rights spelled it out: "That's not protected health information." To which the political hacks effectively replied, "We don't care. Rokita wants this." No matter how many elections this morally inert clown loses, Rokita's corrupt cronies fail him upwards. Radical right-wingers funneling money to him want to make this man your governor. Don't think for a minute that they can't. The very idea makes me want to hurl.

Dennis Reardon, Bloomington

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Letters tackle neighborhood input, Stonebelt, Rokita, Monroe Co jail