Letters to the Editor: Prepare to vote. Open the pools. Pay COVID-19 heroes.

Get ready to vote

In recent months, the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed the way we live; it will also change the way we vote. In Kentucky, this year’s primary election has been postponed to June 23. The tentative plan for voting in Fayette County includes limited voting centers for in-person early voting, weekdays June 8-22, and on Election Day; secure ballot drop-off boxes, and mail-in balloting. The criteria to vote via mail-in absentee ballot have been expanded only for this election to all voters, however, voters must request an absentee ballot; ballots will not automatically be sent. Most voters will vote via mail-in ballot.

The Kentucky State Board of Elections is developing a website for voters to request mail-in absentee ballots. A postcard with instructions for requesting a mail-in ballot will be sent to registered voters around May 22. You can also call the Fayette county clerk at (859) 253-3344 to request a ballot. The voter registration deadline is May 26, so check your voter registration and update your address today at either fayettecountyclerk.com or govoteky.org.

Voting will be different in June, however once voters understand the process, they may find mail-in ballots more convenient, and in a time of a pandemic, lifesaving.

Dr. Jennifer A. Jackson, Lexington, co-president, League of Women Voters of Lexington

End voter suppression

As high school seniors around the state studied for their AP Government exams recently, many also faced a test no less perplexing: preparing to vote.

From cumbersome voter ID requirements that restrict the use of student IDs or out-of-state driver’s licenses to confusing voter registration rules that are difficult to navigate for young people changing their addresses, dozens of laws disproportionately suppress the youth vote. Younger generations are often criticized for being lazy or apathetic. But it’s not that youth don’t want to vote — it’s that in many cases, they can’t.

Voter suppression is actively damaging our democracy, preventing youth, minorities, people under the poverty line, and the elderly from being heard.

The Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, restores protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and also protects voters in other ways, such as by ending gerrymandering. The VRAA has yet to receive a Senate hearing. I urge all citizens to call Senators Mitch McConnell (502-582-6304) and Rand Paul (270-782-8303) and ask them to support this bill.

The original Voting Rights Act received bipartisan support and this one should, too.

Sadie Bograd, Lexington

Statue suggestions

I have long advocated for women’s statues in Lexington, as well as for a lot of men, too. I had heard of the suffragettes’ work but not known names of many locals involved, except for Madeline McDowell Breckinridge.

So why not add statues of Breckinridge in the state Capitol rotunda along with Amelia Tucker, the first African American woman elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, and remove the Jefferson Davis statue that should go to the Jefferson Davis museum and monument in Fairview.

As far as Lexington is concerned, why not have statues of Belle Brezing, made famous for being credited with inspiring the character of Belle Watling in Margaret Mitchell’s book “Gone With the Wind”; or Joan Gaines with her husband, John, at Thoroughbred Park; or Anita Madden, or Mary Lou Whitney.

Or a statue of Sweet Evening Breeze, a transgender Lexingtonian and famed drag queen who died in 1983 and who is so well respected here, at Maxwell Street and South Limestone.

Don Pratt, Lexington

Caution still needed

We are grateful for Gov. Andy Beshear’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. His first instinct is the protection of Kentucky citizens and concern for their well-being. His daily briefings have been marked by calm, honest compassion as he presents the COVID-19 developments and efforts to combat its deadly attacks.

Therefore, it is baffling to see some of our citizens take to the streets and the courts to oppose his very appropriate actions. Because of the governor’s quick response at the beginning of this pandemic, Kentucky has lower numbers of cases and deaths than almost any other state.

This virus is expected to be a threat for months. Now is the time to be more vigilant than ever as we slowly open up our communities. It is still up to us, as conscientious individuals, to protect ourselves and to protect others.

We support our governor’s leadership and challenge opponents of his pandemic orders to be part of the solution, not the problem. Our lives are at stake.

Karen Armstrong-Cummings, Frankfort, on behalf of Together Frankfort

Give us pools!

I have a simple question: Why is the state opening aquatic centers but we here in Lexington can’t have city pools open this year? Wake up, Mayor Linda Gorton. We want swimming pools!

Diane Martin, Lexington

Praise for schools

“Excellence keeps moving” comprises the motto for Casey County schools, and those words have never been more appropriate than now. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and students across the commonwealth are navigating unprecedented challenges.

As a fifth-grade teacher at Casey County’s Liberty Elementary School, I am proud of the way that our administrators, faculty and staff districtwide are collaborating to serve our students and their families.

It is inspiring to see my colleagues’ unwavering commitment to excellence in meeting educational needs, physical needs, and emotional needs.

Technology platforms like Google Classroom have allowed us to stay connected with our students and focused on the lessons they need to learn. We have also worked to ensure that students without internet access remain on pace through alternative instruction methods.

Through our expanded school and community feeding programs, we are making sure that no student goes hungry; and teachers are checking in regularly with their students to make sure they feel supported and loved during these trying times.

I’m proud that “excellence keeps moving” in Casey County and across Kentucky.

Heather Murphy, Liberty

Set rates harmful

America’s leading economists agree: Government price controls would hurt access to medical care in largely rural states like ours. In a letter to President Donald Trump, Sen. Mitch McConnell and other top leaders in Congress wrote that government rate-setting would force local hospitals and doctors out of business, causing shortages in emergency care in rural areas. But this hasn’t stopped the nation’s largest insurance companies from lobbying Congress for government rate setting.

Insurers would profit from allowing the government to dictate fixed prices for medical care, as they would be able to push for artificially low rates that are below fair-market value. Healthcare providers, who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 epidemic, would struggle to cover their operating costs, including rent and payroll, with rates that only benefit the insurance industry.

Doctors and hospitals are already in a financial squeeze after non-emergency appointments have been postponed due to the virus. Their core sources of income have been disrupted and they are now expecting to lose over a billion dollars by the time the coronavirus epidemic ends. I hope Senator McConnell rejects the insurance industry’s government price-fixing scheme and instead supports our medical providers in the next coronavirus stimulus.

State Sen. Ralph Alvarado, Winchester

Living wage overdue

I read Linda Blackford’s column about Kroger discontinuing their “heroes bonus pay” of $2 per hour despite the fact that COVID-19 is still with us and may always be with us unless a vaccine or effective treatment can be found, two things that are not a given. I agree with her points: workers are still at risk and “hazard pay” (my words) should continue (Kroger has since announced a one-time “thank you” bonus to employees). I also agree that we should contact Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen who, as Blackford points out, makes $12 million a year (bet he gets paid sick leave), while the average Kroger employee makes $24,000.

However, I do not think Blackford goes far enough. When will we, as a nation, realize that $24,000 a year is not a living wage and the income inequality in this country, caused by unmitigated greed, is untenable? Yes, I will send a letter to Mr. McMullen to record my displeasure with this decision. I will work to elect government representatives that serve everyone in this country and not just the rich and “big business.” I’m looking forward to a response from Mr. McMullen. I hope it is not “Let them eat cake!”

Jackie DeCroo, Lexington

Fund USPS

The U.S. Postal Service has never been more valuable than now as letter carriers deliver checks, letters, medicine, and packages six to seven days each week to every residential and business address in Central Kentucky during this COVID-19 pandemic. Daily delivery to all 160 million addresses in the United States happens despite possible viral exposure to carriers. For an institution that has been rated the most satisfactory government agency, the postal service has been around before the U.S. Constitution, and has survived without taxpayer assistance since 1980, until now. Due to the tremendous loss of revenue because of the COVID-19 crisis, USPS needs financial stimulus support from Congress. Now is not the time to allow possible suspension of mail delivery. I urge all citizens to contact our U.S senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, and representatives and ask them to fund the postal service. Thousands of jobs would be lost in the commonwealth and nationwide if the U.S. mail service is allowed to cease to exist.

Robert P. McNulty, Lexington

Bias on the bench

Last year, following a disappointing 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, President Donald Trump expressed his dismay over the alleged existence of “Obama judges” whose decisions and votes are ostensibly biased by liberal ideologies rather than adherence to the U.S. Constitution. Pushing back on this, SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts said there is no such thing as Obama judges or conservative judges, just judges doing their best to interpret the law.

I present federal District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan as prima facie evidence of an “Obama judge.” Judge Sullivan has presided over the drawn-out Michael Flynn trial and proceedings, during which he has often expressed contempt for former national security advisor Flynn (as well as the Trump administration).

Now, the Department of Justice has dropped the entire case against Flynn, setting up what should be a pro forma dismissal of the court case by the presiding judge. Instead of dismissing the case, Judge Sullivan has decided to draw out the proceedings even further by asking for an amicus court brief from biased parties to challenge the ruling of the DOJ. His ruling can only be described as off-the-wall and inconsistent with his prior rulings on amicus briefs.

Steve Nussbaum, Nicholasville

This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 1:41 PM.