Letters: Support for wildlife conservation, mayoral candidates, mental health services

Make a difference, help state wildlife

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has only one program that focuses on non-game wildlife and rare and endangered species. “Non-game species” make up the vast majority in wildlife in Indiana.

Most of the money raised for the fund last year came from contributions by taxpayers who chose to donate part of their refund on their annual state income tax return. Those donations are then matched by federal grants.

The bald eagle reintroduction has been so successful that the DNR quit doing its annual surveys. Osprey and peregrine falcon populations are growing steadily, and the river otter restoration has been so successful that otters are now found in almost every county.

The DNR Wildlife Diversity Section has more programs in place to help and study bats, reptiles and amphibians, fish, mussels, and more. This can only continue if the funding is available.

Look for the eagle logo on your tax form to donate to the Nongame Fund or send them a check outright. The federal government will match $9 for every $5 donated to the program.

Send donations to Indiana Non-game Wildlife Fund, 402 W. Washington, W273, Indianapolis, IN 46204. For more information on the Wildlife Diversity Section, go to www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/endangered/anl.html.

You can make a difference.

Jim Sweeney, Schererville

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Better mental health services needed in Indiana

Mental Health America ranked Indiana 42nd in the nation in the provision of mental health services.

Years ago, when Indiana was highly ranked for mental health services, the director of the Department of Mental Health was a boarded psychiatrist. Today, mental health is no longer a department but has been made only a division under Family and Children’s Services.

The director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health does not hold a degree in psychiatry or a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Instead, he is an attorney. Yes, you read that right, he is an attorney.

Could there be a correlation between the demoting of mental health within state government, and the appointment of a person who has no credentials in mental health, with Indiana’s dismal rating in mental health services?

It is way past time for Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Legislature to take steps to provide the mental health services that are desperately needed in Indiana.

David Austin, Bloomington

Believes Don Griffin would be a good mayor

I continue to be excited about former Deputy Mayor Don Griffin campaigning to become mayor of Bloomington. Even before his on-the-job training brought him in direct contact with every aspect of our government and the people who make it work, Don made a longtime commitment to this city.

When not helping people find their forever homes, Don devotes his attention, time, and resources toward local artists, businesses, and organizations that do the hard work of caring for people in our community.

I know Don as someone who is always listening and learning, traits that will serve him well as mayor. Don invests himself in Bloomington and wants the opportunity to help it be all it can, which for me means being better attentive to all who share this city and sharing our city’s strengths with the larger world.

I want a leader for whom Bloomington is not just a current residence but also a childhood home. I want a leader for whom being mayor is not just a job, but an extension of his sense of community. I hope everyone interested in Bloomington’s future shares their own attention, time, and resources with Don Griffin in the coming weeks.

Kevin Makice, Bloomington

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Putting his trust, and vote, in Susan Sandberg

When Susan Sandberg and I were council members together, we formed a group called “The Committee to Maintain Sanity.” The council was often seriously divided in those days. But believe me, it has gotten much worse.

Council members are boycotting public meetings. Name-calling and bad behavior is rampant. Demeaning council members with opposing views is standard practice. Even the public has been insulted for having the privilege to have the time to attend long evening meetings. Not kidding! And long meetings. ... Don’t get me started.

Council members' lack of civility and divisive behavior prolong meetings to unthinkable lengths. The current council is quite simply broken. It is time for a change. Susan believes she can better affect that change from the mayor’s office, along with some much needed council member replacements. Susan’s one of the representatives who still behaves with common sense and concern and respect for all the citizens she represents. And our other mayoral choices have experience in real estate but not governing.

Susan is not doing this out of desire for position but because she knows she can help right this ship that is currently badly off course. I’m with Susan because I trust her. Please join me.

Chris Sturbaum, Bloomington

Investments in land conservation needed in Indiana

If we want Indiana to continue to be a place that birds rely on and that wildlife viewers enjoy, we need to address climate change and protect Indiana’s natural spaces.

The threats facing birds are staggering. We have lost more than 3 billion birds over the past half-century, and two-thirds of North American bird species at risk of extinction due to climate change — many of them right here in Indiana.

That is why I recently participated in Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day at the Indiana Statehouse, to share the importance of expanding renewable energy sources to combat climate change and investing in conservation to protect vital bird habitat, like wetlands, which are shrinking across the state.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has proposed investing $25 million to conserve important natural areas across Indiana, and $50 million to expand state trails. This would help ensure that more quality habitat is available for the hundreds of bird species that rely on Indiana's precious natural spaces. Thank you Sen. Shelli Yoder for meeting with Audubon during our Advocacy Day, and for your support of renewable energy and wetlands protections in Indiana. I hope you will support these investments in land conservation in Indiana’s budget.

Matthias Benko, president of Bloomington Birders, Bloomington

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Letter writers support wildlife diversity, mental health funding, more