The possibility that guns from the Raleigh buy-back may be sold disappoints me

Gun buy-back?

I was delighted to learn of the Raleigh Police Department gun buy-back program to remove guns from the streets. Although it was not clear what would happen to the guns, at least one source suggested they would be destroyed. I happily waited in line with my late father’s guns for 2 1/2 hours and donated back the gift card in hopes they could use the money to remove even more guns.

Now, I read that the guns may be sold. In my attic the guns were more “off the streets” than they may be now.

What a disappointment! What a waste of those officers’ time and energy.

Diane Trew, Cary

VinFast

Regarding “Fast-tracked road plans for VinFast factory shock neighbors,” (Aug. 22):

I would love to see the cost-benefit analysis that shows when North Carolina and Chatham County will recoup the $1.25 billion investment for automaker VinFast. Besides questioning the financial wisdom of this use of taxpayer money, it’s a blatant example of eminent domain abuse.

Donna Provance, Apex

Moving too fast

Good stewardship of the state and federal purse, not to mention the landscape, is to wait to see if a VinFast plant actually materializes, gets into production, delivers promised jobs, and then, if needed, design road improvements accordingly.

VinFast is a 5-year-old company with virtually no track record of production or sales in the United States. NC DOT and our legislators would do well to proceed with caution.

Once the landscape is spoiled, houses torn down, lives disrupted, and pavement spread, we can never go back, even if we find we have built roads to nowhere.

Ted Van Dyk, Raleigh

Teacher shortage

The need for 400 teachers in Wake County is very troubling. North Carolina lacks teachers because our legislature shows disdain for public education by refusing to adequately fund and support school infrastructure, supplies, and most of all, teachers and assistants. There is a bumper sticker that says “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” For the past 12 years our legislators have repeatedly shown that they prefer ignorance.

Joe Burton, Raleigh

Biden loan plan

President Biden’s $500 billion student loan relief plan is wrong on many levels. Loan “cancellation” is a dishonest euphemism, as the debt is being transferred to other people (taxpayers).

It’s also unfair to students who paid off their loans, not to mention parents who sacrificed to pay for their children’s education. It’s unfair to those who take out student loans in the future, as it’s a one-time give-away. It is unfair to workers who did not take out loans but now have to pay for other’s loans.

It subsidizes those with college and graduate degrees, whose lifetime income is higher than those without.

And, this action does nothing to address the underlying problem of the high and rising cost of college tuition — and may make it worse. So, the only rationale is that Biden is trying to “buy” votes right before the midterm elections.

Kevin O’Neal, Cary

GOP narrative

I find it amusing that Republicans are howling about student debt relief and how it will benefit mostly wealthy families. Where were they five years ago when Republicans gave nearly $2 trillion in tax relief to the wealthiest? Student loan debt relief will actually benefit low and middle income families and individuals. This party has clearly lost its narrative and cares more about stripping rights, sowing discord, and protecting wealthy donors. My they reap what they sow.

Henry Jarrett, Raleigh

Rising rents

The eye-popping rent increases for Greensboro and Raleigh cited in the Aug. 26 article likely caught readers’ attention. But Greensboro has passed one of the highest tax increases around, and Raleigh is doing its best to keep pace.

With housing affordability at the top of every candidate’s list of concerns, it’s just perplexing how we keep introducing more proposed tax increases. It’s not sustainable. If Raleigh citizens took a minute to look an hour west, the horrors of the tax rates in Greensboro would grab their attention. That tax rate, and it’s burden on property owners is one of the key drivers in rent increases.

J.D. Howard, Raleigh

Woodson’s pay

An Aug. 24 article touted N.C. State University’s Randy Woodson as the nation’s highest paid public university chief executive at $2,298,069. Congratulations to State for recognizing Woodson’s expertise and value. Now consider this: Where would Woodson stand were he an ACC head football coach? If he coached at one of the eight ACC public universities that release coaching salaries, he’d rank dead last. And he’d be a million or more below most on the list. Not judging — just commenting.

Don Douglass, Pinehurst

City of Oaks?

I’ve been thinking about leaf season after a 98% reduction in yard waste pickup volume every other week. Last year’s limit was 20 bags per pick-up. Now it’s one yard waste cart every two weeks with no increase in leaf vacuum runs. Perhaps it’s time to name a committee to pick a new city nickname.

William E. Brown, Raleigh