Every time I hit a pothole, I’ll remember the Charlotte city manager’s raise

A 14% raise?

Regarding “Charlotte city manager to get 14% raise after council vote,” (Nov. 30):

It is obscene that City Manager Marcus Jones will make nearly half a million dollars — $434,551 per year — when there are not enough 911 operators to answer life and death calls. What about needed city improvements, and the need for more firefighters, police and trash collectors?

The Charlotte City Council made an egregious decision to raise his salary to such an amount. When election time comes, I will remember those who voted to raise his salary and will vote against them. Every time I hit a pothole in the street, it will be a reminder to vote against those who voted to raise his salary.

Augie Beasley, Charlotte

Marriage rights

Same-sex and interracial marriage are now the law of the land. Bully for us. Women’s rights are still left behind.

Kris Newton, Charlotte

Extremism

Thank you for your advice on “How to talk to your family members about right-wing extremism,” (Nov. 22 Opinion). Please be sure to give us your advice on how to talk with family about left-wing extremism, as well. It is needed too.

C. H. Hendricks, Charlotte

Trump and Kanye

The problem with Donald Trump dining with Kanye West is West, not Nick Fuentes. Whether Trump knew of Fuentes’ positions or not (as an ex-president he should have known) is irrelevant. He knew of West’s antisemitism positions before he dined with him. This is inexcusable.

Dewey Rochester, Charlotte

Ukraine war

Regarding “Biden deserves props for his masterful Ukraine policy,” (Nov. 20 Opinion):

I would not consider President Biden’s Ukraine war policy such a success. Russia keeps bombing Ukraine and Putin is turning the country into a wasteland. Thousands of civilians, men, women and children, were killed. Power plants, water plants apartment buildings are being destroyed, as well as hospitals and factories. The country is becoming unlivable, millions of people are fleeing, and the war rages on, costing the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars.

Bruce Jacik, Charlotte

Accountability

Pope Francis was recently criticized for describing Ukrainians as “martyred people” while failing to name the Russian dictator who martyrs them. He has similarly decried persecution of Uyghurs by the Chinese government, without naming the Chinese dictator responsible.

Closer to home, our government and many Republicans have embraced this practice. Hundreds of Americans, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, have pleaded or been found guilty of sedition, by inciting resistance to or engaging in an insurrection against duly elected candidates. Yet the one American most responsible for inciting this attack on our democracy remains free, unaccountable, and yet to be named on a bill of indictment.

Bill Sitton, Charlotte

‘Shame on us’

In the 1940s and ‘50s the ultra-right wing of the GOP sought out those suspected of harboring Communist thought. People like Joe McCarthy wanted to ruin the lives of anyone who didn’t toe their line of Americanism.

In the ‘50s the power of evil was based on fear. Today, the power of evil is based on hate and ignorance. We are in a period when the likes of Hershel Walker can garner nearly half the votes, and when a former president dines with racists and bigots and hate mongers.

Shame on us. Less than 50% of Americans voted this year. Less than half of Americans seem to care about democracy. Can authoritarianism be far behind?

Michael Ham, Matthews

A class act

I’ve had the privilege of working in the Charlotte media market for over 60 years, and on Nov. 22 I witnessed a universal class act by television competitors to WBTV. As a courtesy to WBTV and the families of the two news department victims of the Sky3 helicopter crash, they withheld the known names of the two people who tragically lost their lives in the crash until the victims’ families and colleagues could be notified. Additionally the competitive stations shared their video with WBTV.

A truly class act, ladies and gentlemen. Putting compassion over competition should serve as inspiration and example for all of us.

Jim Babb, Charlotte

Small biz costs

I’ve been a small business owner in Charlotte for over 40 years. As owner of Phil’s Deli, I face the same problems most small businesses face — supply shortages, employee shortages, major price increases.

For example, I used to pay $30 per case for eggs. Now, it’s about $120. Due to national contracts, my friends who own franchise restaurants pay substantially less.

When my wife and I eat out we always eat at a small business like ours, never complain about the price, and leave a healthy tip. Next time you go out for a meal, consider the mom and pop restaurants and be as generous as you feel you can be.

Phil Levine, Charlotte