Your Letters for Jan. 10, 2025

In light of recent storm

I live on the south end of town and I feel like as a tax paying citizen of this city for almost five years now that I need to write this. The City of St. Joseph is abysmal at maintaining their streets and alley ways.

In light of this recent storm that has hit St. Joe, the alleys need to be maintained by the city, I mean we pay enough in property taxes, and for those of us who don’t have street parking it is the only way to get in and out of our houses. But no, the City council doesn’t care, they would rather fine us and make money than help out.

Lord forbid you get a little bit of trash or something in your yard and they jump on it on writing you a citation for $100.00 or more, but cleaning out the alley ways, putting down rock where needed, actual preventative militance, nope, good luck! We as tax payers pay enough maybe the city should actually do something productive instead.

Adam Vollstedt

St. Joseph

Support is critical

The January 3 letter “Africa” correctly notes that this continent was one of President George W. Bush’s primary successes.

One of his greatest contributions to Subsaharan Africa was his creation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In the two decades since, PEPFAR has saved 25 million lives, provided treatment to 20 million people, greatly reduced the mother-child transmission of HIV, and helped developing countries establish the infrastructure to prevent and treat this disease.

In 2025, PEPFAR is up for a reauthorization of funding by the U.S. Congress. It is critical that Missouri Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt support the five-year renewal of this live-saving program.

Greg Campbell

Creve Coeur, Missouri