Letters: Is south Wichita bearing the brunt of homelessness? | Opinion
Containing the homeless
The city of Wichita says its homeless shelter and beds are underused. I have no doubt, although there are certainly far more than enough to fill it.
Most of our homeless stay close to where the panhandling is good and out of the more affluent areas of Wichita, where they know the police will hassle them.
They tend to leave them alone in the south of town where we have had shanty, tent towns for years now — particularly along the river and railroad tracks — yes, long term shanty towns like those of the 1930s.
You see, it’s an unwritten policy of containment. Keep them out of affluent areas and in the working class neighborhoods.
The wealthy don’t wish to gaze upon them or be panhandled. I live south and am panhandled daily — sometimes right in my own front yard.
Those beds will continue to go unused until a more intelligent approach is found to this problem.
And yes, it is a problem. Live in a more “realistic” part of town and you will see it staring back at you every single day.
The city’s policy is clear. We can’t fix it, so contain it. Pretty pathetic.
USD 259 needs bond
Wichita United for Better Education opposes the current $450 million bond issue, citing the unfulfilled promise of new comprehensive high schools in the northeast and southeast Wichita.
This argument ignores the devastating impact of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget cuts, which crippled USD 259’s ability to staff and operate the proposed schools.
Instead of blaming the district, we should acknowledge the consequences of these misguided policies.
USD 259 has diligently focused on basic maintenance, but years of neglect have resulted in a massive deferred maintenance backlog.
This bond issue is crucial to address these critical needs efficiently and prevent further deterioration of our school facilities.
Don’t let the rhetoric of Wichita United for Better Education distract you.
Their supporters’ policies directly contributed to the challenges we face today.
It’s time to support this bond issue and ensure a brighter future for our students.
Fight for Medicaid
The 2025 Kansas legislative session has begun. It doesn’t look good for Medicaid expansion.
The pundits on TV say that because of the supermajority there is no hope.
Pharoah had a supermajority so there was no hope for the Israelites. King George had a supermajority so there was no hope for the colonists. The Russians had a supermajority so there was no hope for American collegiate hockey players in Lake Placid.
Does the Kansas supermajority reflect your opinion on the issue of Medicaid expansion? I think not.
Of all the times I have made my views known publicly and held conversations on this matter, only three people, and two of those were elected officials, have told me they think we should turn our backs on Kansans without health care coverage.
Our state, workforce, businesses and especially the individuals in the insurance gap will benefit from Medicaid expansion.
Do not give up hope. Do not relinquish your seat at the table. Do not quiet your voice.
Do all that you can to keep this issue in the public eye, on the news and at the forefront of legislators’ minds.
Expel immigrants
It is my hope that there will be a complete expulsion of all men, women and children who consorted with criminals, including the Biden Administration, to illegally enter the United States.
From Uzbekistan to Uruguay to the Congo, the very nature of their entry is an affront to every law-abiding American citizen.
If indeed sanctuary cities, states and localities are operating illegally, from governor to dogcatcher — arrest them.
Remember they have been telling us for years that no one is above the law, it’s time to prove it. The American people have been used and abused, and our hard-earned money squandered long enough.
Preachy self-serving NGOs and political activists are lining their pockets and disrupting our communities, schools and healthcare system so they can virtue signal at our expense and none of their own.