Rep. Jake LaTurner missed a big opportunity with Marion, Kansas, journalists | Opinion

Little wonder

I have read considerable coverage of the fiasco in Marion County, Kansas. What I wonder is, because it was a meet and greet with U.S. Rep Jake LaTurner that the police chief ejected two journalists from, why didn’t the congressman step up and say something like, “The press is always welcome”?

I’m kidding. I don’t really wonder that at all.

- Bud Nolker, Leawood

Not a bully

There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about what America’s Founding Fathers intended. I believe their actions were a response to the history of tyrants and bullies who ran governments worldwide. In particular, they were fed up with being subjugated by the British king and Parliament.

Our Constitution was in part an attempt to prevent the future success of bullies and tyrants in our own government. This was the spirit of what patriots supported in the early United States.

Flash forward about 250 years, and things have changed drastically. I’m thankful that slightly more than half of our voters chose to stand up to a bully and defend democracy. President Joe Biden is not perfect, but he is no tyrant.

A little less than half of American voters chose to support a man who is the very embodiment of what the Founding Fathers wanted to prevent.

- Armand Way, Topeka

Protect Wheeler

Kansas City Manager Brian Platt suggesting that Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport might be closed because Federal Aviation Administration airspace approvals for planes’ flight paths slow real estate development is alarming. (Aug. 20, 1A, “Turbulence over downtown airport”)

The Wheeler airport is a crown jewel for Kansas City. It has more operations annually than Kansas City International Airport, so to call it a reliever airport is an understatement. It is critical to the regional air traffic system, with aircraft arriving daily from across the nation and even internationally. These flights support the community in many ways, including corporate travel, air ambulances transporting critically ill patients, air cargo, military exercises, flight training and transporting participants, athletes and spectators for games and festivals across the city.

A recent study shows Wheeler Downtown Airport contributes an economic benefit to the community of more than $300 million annually. Is all the above something the city would throw away?

That the city manager overseeing a municipality this large doesn’t understand the benefits of each airport is mind-boggling. Kansas City deserves to have the far-reaching benefits of Wheeler Downtown Airport protected for generations, not closed just to remove a few bureaucratic hoops for real estate developers along the flight path of arriving and departing aircraft.

- Tom Chandler, Central Southwest regional manager, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Heath, Texas

Cool the kids

When I was growing up, our home in Kansas City did not have air conditioning. I remember eating our summer lunch with a fan turned on us as my brothers and I tried to “blow away” our sweat.

Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Collier’s recent call to pass a bond issue to air condition all the district’s buildings makes perfect sense.

What if for one day all Kansas City business offices shut down their AC? I ask you: How much of a reduction in work would occur? You could always open a window and place a box fan on high and see how that works out.

How can any adult expect students to be successful in their learning without AC, considering this July was the hottest month in recorded history and there has been little relief in August? It’s also obvious that climate change will not improve the situation, and most expect this issue to worsen.

All of Kansas City needs to offer support to put this bond issue on the ballot and pass it. Students, teachers and staff deserve better. Dr. Collier continues to lead KCPS in the right direction.

- Pete Muenks, Raymore

This is gouging

Evergy customers on the utility’s new “time-based” rate plans will be charged more per kilowatt hour from 4 to 8 p.m. from June through September every year. (Aug. 24, 10A, “New ‘time-based’ Evergy rates could cost Missouri”) How much more? More than four times as much, or even higher. “Regular” rates will be 9 cents per kilowatt hour, while the “peak” rates will be (at least) 38 cents.

More electricity is generally needed during those hours, as adults and students get home from work and school. Kids use computers more as they complete their homework. Ovens, stoves and microwaves are needed to cook dinner. And no one wants to roast in a hot house with decreased air conditioning once they get home.

These hours are when more electricity is needed, yet Evergy will charge more for it. How is this not price-gouging? Dictionary.com defines this term as “an act or instance of charging customers too high a price for goods or services, especially when demand is high. ” Demand is higher, so the utility will charge much more.

It’s not as if we can choose another electric company. Evergy simply has a monopoly and can charge whatever it wants. And it’s unfair.

- Kathryn R. Leclere, Kansas City

Counting days

Jackson County will likely ask us to vote for a sales tax extension or possibly a new tax to help build a new and unneeded stadium for the Royals.

My home was recently assessed for $60,000 over its true value. I can’t wait to place my vote on this tax. Really, I can hardly wait.

- James J. Horton, Lee’s Summit