Letters to the editor on paving streets, the people of Cuba and Kansas conservation
Paving streets
Our City Council recently discussed a budget item about keeping paved streets repaired and noted that the bulk of the money went to one or two districts. South-side council members mentioned that many of the streets in their areas were not even paved yet.
In new neighborhoods, paving is a given. The people buying houses there can see that they have to pay extra for the streets, driveway entrances and sewer access. But people buying homes in unpaved areas have to get all the neighbors to agree to the special assessments for these amenities. I lived for 45 years in a west-side neighborhood that is partially paved and some of my neighbors even felt that unpaved streets were safer because cars could not go as fast on dirt. And the unpaved streets would be smoothed over by the city periodically.
Paving was considered “modern” and a way to lure people downtown to shop way back when. And paving certain streets to provide faster transit to work encouraged people to move to towns. Paving also directs rainwater into sewers to avoid flooding.
On the other hand, paving often makes a city hotter by disrupting the local environment. And trees are frequently destroyed if they are “in the way.”
Should we deprive people in poorer neighborhoods access to paving? Should we encourage not paving as a way to balance nature? Can we develop an overall plan to balance these issues? Good luck, City Council members.
Cuba
Imagine you live in a country where all radio, TV and newspapers are owned and controlled by the state. Imagine there is only one political party allowed. Imagine all major service, manufacturing and agriculture are controlled by the state. Imagine there are “neighborhood committees” whose sole purpose is to keep an eye on citizens and report any opposition to the state. Imagine you had to stand in line for hours to receive whatever food supplies you are allowed (Cuba produced most of its food prior to the Communist Revolution and today the economy is in ruins).
That is life in Cuba today.
Unfortunately, most visitors do not see past the old cars, the music and the beaches and choose to ignore the suffering and lack of liberty all over the island — as well as a dictatorship that has been in power for over 60 years. I ask you to support the people of Cuba in their struggle for freedom
Conservation
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently declared that 23 birds, fish and other species are extinct, including the ivory-billed woodpecker. Humans are the primary cause for the extinction of these plants and animals and the agency warns that our changing climate will expedite the extinction of species in the coming years.
The climate crisis unfolding before us requires bold action that balances the conservation values of Kansans throughout the state. We are lucky that Kansas ranks second in onshore wind potential and seventh in utility scale solar potential. The deployment of our renewable energy and economic potential needs to keep conservation in mind.
More than 11 million acres of low-impact land in Kansas are suitable for wind development according to The Nature Conservancy’s Site Wind Right study. Utility scale solar can also be deployed in these areas alongside pollinator friendly habitats that support biodiversity and improve ecological resources, including nearby crop yields. We can have clean energy and conservation too.