Letters to the Editor: Dangerous jaywalking, Andy Barr’s mailer, kudos to teacher
Jaywalking dangerous
I used to live in Woodward Heights and walked downtown a lot. However, now when I travel downtown, I am noticing how many pedestrians jaywalk crossing Main,Vine, Broadway streets, etc. Pedestrians, please, if you don’t want to get hit or killed by a car, use the crosswalks. Not every car stops or obeys the speed limit downtown (25 mph). In a contest with a car, you will lose.
Carolyn Sears, Lexington
This ‘service’ costs
Good morning, neighbor. Walk down to the mailbox with me. Let’s see, what do we have in here? A water bill, a mailer that claims I won a car if this plastic key fits, and oh good, a card from Congressman Andy Barr. It seems he’s been busy fighting the pill problem here. Good to hear. Seems a little self-serving to put it on a re-election mailer though. Must have cost a bit of money to send one of these to everyone in the Sixth District. Wait, there’s some fine print here. “This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense.” Why would Andy charge us for a re-election mailer with all that money in his re-election treasure chest? Let’s read on. “It is provided as a service to the 6th district of Kentucky constituents.”
Ah, it’s a service. Seems it’s technically not a campaign mailer because it doesn’t say “vote” on it. Walks, quacks and swims like one, but technically not one. Maybe it’s time to change the laws that allow him to charge us for his re-election literature. Or maybe it’s time to change the “representative” who manipulates the rules and charges us for his own benefit.
Steve Skoien, Georgetown
Dog rules
Congratulations. You have adopted a dog. Whether you acquired your dog from a breeder or puppy mill (boo to both types) or a rescue adoption (hooray for you), the key word here is adopted. When you adopt a dog, that dog becomes family. Like any family member, that dog needs love, companionship, kindness, and a safe and healthy life. Dogs are pack animals and you are now the pack leader. If you are not going to give that dog (family member) the love and companionship it needs, don’t get a dog. Dogs are not disposable. Dogs are a lifetime commitment. If you are not willing to make that commitment, find a loving home for your dog. And for God’s sake, make sure it is not someone who wants a fighting dog or a bait dog. Be responsible.
Catherine Ferguson, Lexington
Teacher award
Certainly, Lafayette High School should be commended for recognizing outstanding effort and ability in the classroom. But I was not surprised Claire Polston was one of the first recipients. This decision was obviously based on merit. I had the opportunity to work with her during her exemplary contributions to the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. As a scholar, resident advisor, administrator and faculty member, she distinguished herself in every responsibility she assumed. Polston is smart, organized, hardworking, and is as student-centered as anyone I have ever worked with. It was a privilege to work with her and I am glad her abilities and talents are being recognized along with other fine teachers at LHS. The students at Lafayette are indeed fortunate and I hope this recognition effort expands.
Charles Myers, Lexington
Net-metering costs
Thanks go to Herald-Leader reporter Will Wright for his recent article on challenges Kentucky legislators have put upon local businesses trying to go solar. It is encouraging to see media support for solar and for customers’ choice. One point, however, demands clarification. While interviewing utilities’ spokesperson, Wright quoted an old, debunked talking point that non-solar customers pay more for electricity because net-metered solar customers “avoid paying their share of fixed costs.” This point has been proven false by many studies, including utilities’ own. As explained in the editorial by Herald-Leader Editorial Board on April 6, 2018, net-metering is “estimated by LG&E/KU in 2015 to cost each non-solar customer 12 cents a year.” Many recent studies from around the country, (14 of them), show that the value of the energy net-metered customers send to the grid far exceeds what they receive from the utility under the 1:1 kilowatt-hour credit.
Wallace McMullen, Louisville