Letters to the editor (Dec. 13, 2019)

Century II shell

Regarding the scenario for Century II to be only the metal skeleton of its current structure: I am not a fan of any scenario where Century II is not left as it is currently – but certainly not a fan of just leaving the metal skeleton to replace it.

Have any members of the planning committee ever been out in our Kansas summers? Have they never touched a piece of metal after it has absorbed the 90-plus degrees that the sun brings? Severe burns are not unheard of when touching metal that has been in the hot sun for hours.

If this is their plan, I see a problem: liability. Liability for severe burns, and liability during severe weather such as straight winds, wind bursts or tornadoes. The current structure has had strength to withstand serious damage from severe storms, which Wichita gets more and more frequently because of climate change. Just think of those metal skeletal structures flying through the air, leaving injuries and structural damage, with liability on the city’s shoulders – and taxpayer funds.

Downtown food hall

Many of us continue to suspect, as claimed by Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell, that the River Legacy Master Plan committee and its design arm, Populous, are giving little serious thought to re-purposing Wichita’s Century II.

Indeed, it seems to be the involved planners who can’t break out of the Performing Arts Center box. Wichitans, meanwhile, have multiple creative ideas for utilizing this landmark structure. Here’s one that remains unexplored, at least publicly:

“CBS Sunday Morning” recently aired a segment on the rising popularity of food halls in contemporary urban America. As opposed to food courts, food halls are non-corporate and stress culinary diversity and “artisanality,” offering hand-made food that is often cooked on-site. Booths can serve as additional exposure for local restaurants wishing to attract new customers. Food halls provide a community experience and can themselves become a destination. The large and potentially open interior of Century II’s iconic stand-alone shell might be especially adaptable to this relatively low-cost renovation. And hey, developer guys – this idea’s trending!

Seeking truth

In these tumultuous political times, many Americans just want a return to civility and normalcy. They don’t want this lunacy to become the new normal. But how do we accomplish those ideals?

The best way is to diligently search out the truth. With so many competing sources, ranging from social media to talk radio, cable television and print media, how do we sort out the truth?

In her book “Blowout,” Rachel Maddow quoted a white nationalist who attended the first International Russian Conservative Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2015. He said, “One hundred repetitions make one truth. The defenders of the truth can be overwhelmed by repeated lies.”

It is up to us as citizens to closely scrutinize every statement that is made by politicians and their proxies, and to hold them accountable when they tell a lie. Our democracy depends on it. To paraphrase a Biblical verse: If you know the truth, the truth will keep you free.

Holiday road construction

Way to go, City of Wichita. Once again you’ve outdone yourself on road construction.

I just drove on Webb Road between 13th Street and 21st Street during rush hour, so I had plenty of time to think about what to say here. There’s absolutely nobody working out here, and I haven’t seen anybody for the three or four days you’ve taken this down to one lane each direction.

It’s the holidays, for God’s sake! This could wait, and the fact that nobody is actually doing any work and you’re putting people through this is a sham. This happens over and over and over all year long in our city. I have people come here from other towns, and they tell me they can’t stand driving here. I simply assure them that none of us can. I’m tired of my money being spent on something that has apparently no supervision. And why would you do this over the holidays with extra shopping traffic? Ridiculous!

This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor (Dec. 13, 2019)."