City’s big shots don’t want Kelty
Rep. Mark Souder and quite a few people are kicking Republican mayoral candidate Matt Kelty while he’s down. The big shots downtown don’t want him in office. That’s it, cut and dried.
So he made a mistake. Let’s just nail him to a wall.
No one wanted the stadium downtown, but the big shots did. They didn’t listen to us then, and they’re not going to listen to us or Kelty now.
WANDA SHOUDEL Fort Wayne
Experience gives Henry the edge
To vote for Tom Henry as mayor because to his years of experience in government is just common sense. We do not need anyone who has not held any office prior to becoming mayor. Voters should forget party labels and vote quality when you have it available.
ROBERT RUNGE Fort Wayne
Breed-specific laws are wrong
I was alarmed to learn that the city has organized a “Dangerous Dog Input Panel.” I agree that there is a need for stricter laws regarding animals, animal cruelty and owner responsibility. All dogs bite, and there are multiple studies finding that many breeds are misidentified. The issue concerning pit bulls is the media hype and myths.
First and foremost, pit bull is not a breed; it encompasses three different terrier breeds. Historically, the breed was bred to be human-friendly.
Many organizations have written position statements against breed-specific legislation. A study in Prince George County, Md., researched a ban and recommended lifting it based on findings that “it is costly, ineffective and punishes responsible pet owners, and does nothing to irresponsible dog owners that are the real problem.” The Alabama Supreme Court and Westbury, N.Y., court have ruled it unconstitutional. I believe the community needs to be involved with the public hearings and let the City Council know that this is unacceptable. The City Council should not be able to tell me what type of dog I can or cannot own.
KRISTENE CALDWELL Fort Wayne
Government can be a hassle
I wish The Journal Gazette published a column that could answer questions about how our local government functions.
I went to our City-County Building to drop off a request to mail an absentee ballot for my wife and me to our home. Mine was accepted, but I had to fill out a form and sign it before they would accept my wife’s request from my hand. If I had put it in the mail, I would have been spared the hassle. It seemed like unnecessary bureaucracy that costs taxpayer money, and it makes me want to avoid contact with the government.
LARRY WILLIG Fort Wayne
Take opportunity to honor America
I just came from a middle school volleyball tournament. The national anthem was not played or sung. The Pledge of Allegiance was not recited either.
We have many athletic contests at our schools. This is an opportunity to honor our country by always playing the national anthem. We should take every opportunity to show our love and respect for our country and our flag. I encourage every school to always include the national anthem or the pledge at every athletic event from K through 12.
LINDA LEHMAN Monroe
School song drowned out
My husband and I recently attended the Carroll-Homestead football game at Homestead High School.
After the band played the national anthem, it began playing Carroll’s school song. Someone in the announcer’s booth simultaneously began playing deafening taped music. The music stopped as soon as the band was finished.
The band then played its school song (with no taped music overplay, of course), and immediately after that was an announcement that said, “Homestead encourages good sportsmanship and ethics in high school athletics.” Sort of ironic, don’t you think?
Maybe someone should enlighten the administrators at Homestead High School as to what the statement “ethics and good sportsmanship” implies.
KIM KENNEDY Churubusco
