Your Letters for Feb. 28, 2025

A lack of responsible adults

Jodi Flurry from United Way states, “The low supply of housing stock is a real challenge because there’s even people who have a housing voucher through the public Housing Authority, but they can’t find a rental unit, so they stay homeless.”

St. Joseph doesn’t have a lack of housing — we have a lack of responsible adults.

I’m a property manager. I accept vouchers. I have apartments available now.

I’ve worked closely with various agencies whose goal is to house people. Often times, an agency would pay some or all of an individual’s rent. There comes a point in time when that money is no longer worth the trouble that comes along with it. Illegal activity, property damage, filthy living conditions, harassing our staff... The list goes on. Let me be clear, I do not believe that everyone who receives rental assistance is “bad.” I’ve rented to people who have received assistance through local agencies and they’ve been absolutely wonderful! But for me, that’s extremely rare. It’s unfortunate that the bad apples have ruined it for everyone else but that’s where we are.

Maggie McDowell

St. Joseph

Trump needs to be held accountable

Many of Donald Trump’s initial actions and remarks as the 47th President have been, at the very least, unsettling to those of us with a sense of what used to pass for normalcy and decency in Washington. His most egregious action thus far was his blanket pardoning of all those convicted in the J-6 storming of the Capitol building, many of whom were given lengthier sentences than they otherwise might have been, because of serious prior criminal convictions.

Another of his inexcusable actions has been the revocation of government security details (protection) for former federal officials upon whom he is seeking retribution for having been “disloyal” to him, such as former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Sec. of State Mike Pompeo, and even former Chief Medical Advisor to the President Anthony Fauci. The FBI has reported that both Bolton and Pompeo have received credible death threats in the past from Iran.

There are many other more subtle measures taking place. One example was the reported reassignment of 20 senior career lawyers, formerly working in the public integrity (anti-corruption), counterintelligence (combatting foreign influence), and crypto crime units, to a newly formed “Sanctuary Cities” task force, effectively neutering their former offices and likely reducing many of the internal security checks in place to limit the excessive use of executive authority.

His nominations for critical cabinet positions have often seemed more like an attempt to elicit the greatest outrage from the left, Matt Gaetz being the supreme example, rather than an effort to put forth candidates that are experienced and qualified for the job. Other nominations come close to rivaling Gaetz for that distinction, many of whom have been unable or unwilling to answer direct questions from Senate Democrats, and occasionally Senate Republicans, regarding past statements and current beliefs. However, most of the Republican Senators have seemed uninterested in holding questionable nominees accountable if it means inviting the wrath of the President.

Trump’s response to Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde’s biblical appeal for mercy on the vulnerable in our country during her post-inaugural prayer service was a sad reminder of his psychological immaturity, when he referred to her afterward as a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater”. Another example of his reckless speech was his inappropriate politicization of the tragic air accident at the Reagan National Airport in D.C. on January 29th, when he without evidence suggested in a press briefing the very next day that the accident could have been the result of DEI initiatives.

Perhaps most concerning to me is his foreign policy, especially with respect to our commitment to NATO and Ukraine. His suggestion that Ukraine started the war with Russia is a prime example of his disregard for the truth and obvious facts. When the President of the United States doesn’t regard the truth as essential and virtuous, how can the rest of the world trust us? Donald Trump is the duly elected President of the United States, and is entitled to the authority designated to him by the Constitution, but he needs to be held accountable to the limits of that authority by the Congress, the Courts, and by the people, including the press. If the Congress will not hold him accountable, as they have failed to do so in the past, then the Courts must step up. And if the Courts fail in that role, for whatever reason, we the people must continue to voice our concerns. We have been given so much in this country, and to whom much has been given, much is required. My hope is that the U.S.A. will continue to be a beacon of hope and freedom for us and for the rest of the world for the next 250 years.

Mike Hawkins

Fairfax, Missouri