Letters 03-14-2016

March 11, 2016

A Word from the TCHC The Traverse City Housing Commission (TCHC) does not agree with the statements offered by Mr. Parsons in his opinion in the Mar. 5 issue pertaining to representations allegedly offered to or from the TCHC and regarding his client.

No one at TCHC was interviewed by Mr. Parsons to obtain information supporting his opinion. Mr. Parsons did not provide his opinion to TCHC for comment prior to its publication. The TCHC’s disagreement with Mr. Parsons’ opinion is specifically related to his allegations as to the TCHC’s statements to his client and to his allegations of his client’s statements to the TCHC. Mr. Parsons has not been present at any time during the communications occurring between the TCHC and any residents of TCHC properties.

TCHC staff and board are very grateful for efforts and initiative of Mr. Parsons’ client (Ms. Townsend) in working toward identification of the underlying problem related to resident eligibility for public assistance benefits available from agencies other than TCHC. His client raised the awareness of the benefits problem, which originated beyond the control or knowledge of TCHC within agencies entirely unrelated to us. The TCHC staff participated in the solution of this problem from the moment it was brought to our attention. Ms. Townsend’s efforts in restoring the eligibility of fellow residents for public assistance has been recognized and lauded by the TCHC in its open meetings.

Those interested in the subject can find more in a recent Record-Eagle account. The TCHC board and staff have worked diligently to improve the residential experience of its tenants through on-going improvement of TCHC’s processes and properties.

Andrew Smits,

TCHC President Anthony Lentych, TCHC Executive Director

The Real World Social media can be an interesting thing. Writing one’s feelings, passions, etc. is much easier on a screen. It’s easier to perhaps be our true selves when we’re just looking at computers and not other humans. It’s an entirely different story when we’re face to face with someone else.

I assume a majority of people, in public or in a group with people whom they may agree or disagree will act civilly more times than not. We want to be agreeable people, even though we disagree on politics, justice, social issues, etc. If people decide to communicate in person more, I would argue that disagreements would be aired in a more civil way, and compromises could be reached in any arena from simple conversations to government legislation. We must always keep in mind that the "Facebook world" or the "Twitter world" is not the "real world," no matter how much time we spend online.

Imagine a Venn Diagram of your two worlds. One circle represents the Facebook/ Twitter, the other circle represents the real world. Make sure that the overlap between those two circles isn’t too big.

Drew McKenna,

Beulah

Plant the Right Trees Municipal tree plantings are a very important opportunity for the cities and towns around the state of Michigan to providing biodiversity and sustainability for their citizens.

In the late 1990’s the city of Petoskey experienced one of the greatest Arborio blights in the city’s history, resulting in the removal of the vast majority of the maple trees along its streets. The removal costs for these trees was ultimately tens of thousands of dollars. With proper tree planting management, such blights and costs can be greatly reduced. In the 20 years since that awful experience, the city of Petoskey has done an amazing job replacing the dead and dying trees with vibrant young trees.

But the management of Petoskey has failed to acquire the wisdom that such a devastating learning experience should have created for the city leadership. Instead of planting trees such as Chestnuts, Ginko Bilbo, Beech, White Pine, Tulip Poplar, Cherry, London "˜Plane’ trees, Redwoods and others that are long lived and blight resistant, the city of Petoskey has instead chosen to replace the blight susceptible Maple trees with more blight susceptible Maple trees.

If Northern Michigan truly wanted to create a beautiful autumn color experience, tree diversification in our own cities would be an excellent opportunity for a Pure Michigan experience. Please, northern Michigan city managers and parks and recreation departments, consider sustainability and biodiversity when it comes to creating shade trees along our roadsides.

Jericho Simon,

Petoskey

Bus Drivers Are Champions A few weeks ago a local school bus driver was proceeding merrily on her rounds when she came upon a man lying on his back next to a snow shovel. She stopped and secured the bus, determined that he was not breathing, called 911 and commenced artificial resuscitation. By all accounts she saved his life and eventually continued on her way. Thus is a day in the life of the largely unsung school bus driver.

Drivers face unanticipated challenges as well as unexpected moments of joy (there have been reports of random hugging) daily, from wiping noses to drying tears to emergency wheelchair repairs to aiding a parent in distress. Some deal with a range of behaviors and physical and mental conditions that most of us have never experienced and could never imagine. And all in a very confined space.

And so I would like to propose a "hats off " in salute to the men and women who convey our precious children safely from home to school and back again.

Bob Sullivan,

Traverse City

What We Need Fifty years ago we instituted K-12 education for all children. Now a high school diploma won’t "buy you a cup of coffee." We need to make available affordable college or technical school for all.

Climate change is a reality; investing in renewable energy must be a priority. Reducing our carbon footprint is mandatory if we are going to slow down the adverse effects of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

If you do not mind the high rates charged by drug and insurance companies including the high cost of health are, then we have the best health care you can afford. Otherwise, consider a single-payer system like Medicare or TriCare, which these control the costs. Drug and insurance companies will still lobby to hemorrhage your wallet.

We need to revise our tax system so that individuals and corporations pay their fair share according to their actual income.

Corporations lobby against regulations that affect their bottom line. Without regulations, corporate American has a "blank check" to pollute, pay low wages, send jobs overseas, and discriminate against women.

A compassionate immigration system that closes our borders but also recognizes the contributions of undocumented workers should not separate families.

Ron Dykstra,

Beulah