Columbia must revisit missed opportunity to meet needs of area’s chronically homeless | Opinion
Missed opportunity
While other cities are reducing their chronically homeless populations, we are seeing a significant increase in Columbia – with a heavy concentration along the Elmwood Avenue corridor.
It is no secret that many other communities send their chronically homeless to downtown Columbia without any plan or regard for the consequences.
With dozens of overlapping service providers scattered across town today, it is physically difficult for those in need to access services. This fragmented infrastructure encourages the chronically homeless to come downtown, but then allows them to fall through the cracks in the areas in between.
Drive down Elmwood Avenue and you will quickly see how destructive this pattern has become – both for our chronically homeless and the city.
Recently, the city was unfortunately denied a $30 million funding request to build a comprehensive homeless services campus, known as The Hope Center.
The goal is not just to move our existing system to another part of town. This center would provide a human-centric approach, wrapping our passionate service providers around those in need to ensure comprehensive and accessible care and a range of housing options.
John Wilkinson, Columbia
Stop the deluge
The Biden Administration is waking up to a harsh reality of its own making: in the name of saving the climate, they’ve driven US manufacturing into the arms of China’s warm, coal-fired embrace.
And we can’t blame them.
China knew to pursue green technologies, because they knew we’d jump through hell and high water if it meant rejoining feel-good agreements like the Paris Accords.
Luckily, Republicans have an opportunity to deliver clarity on the climate issue: make polluters like China play by the rules.
Make them pay for the costs of labor and environmental compliance that they otherwise face in a true market economy.
For too long, we’ve been complacent in letting China deluge our shores with cheap, pollution-laden goods.
Politicians pointed to the price tags on these items and made it seem like we won. Yet, the condition of our workforce, environment, supply chains and global standing clearly indicate the opposite.
So, the key question is this: will Congress stand with Senator Graham, former President (and presidential candidate) Trump and the American worker, or are they with the Chinese Communist Party? That is how clear this issue should be.
Jay Lester, Inman
Stop nuclear weapons
New nuclear proliferation by the Biden administration puts everyone at risk for Armageddon.
The recent subcritical nuclear test conducted by the United States in Nevada is more than alarming, it is morally reprehensible.
The fact that President Biden plans to increase the frequency of these subcritical experiments when he knows that the use of nuclear weapons destroys the environment, is indiscriminate in their destruction and denies the unity of mankind says he doesn’t value our world and the spirit of love that inhabits it.
We must turn from our narrow exclusionary views and embrace a more inclusive one or our fate will be continually tied to hatred and fear.
In addition, these tests will further accelerate the nuclear arms race. What kind of future are we creating for our people and the world?
It is time to do away with all tests that contribute to maintaining or developing nuclear weapons and focus on how to create and embrace a more peaceful, loving world.
Cassandra Fralix, Lexington
Future saddled by debt
In the months leading up to the November elections, I expect to hear Republican candidates and spokespersons use terms like “liberal budget-busters” and “tax-and-spend Democrats.” Here are some facts to remember:
(1) the last time the U.S. had a balanced federal budget was under President Bill Clinton, a Democrat;
(2) the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by President Trump in December 2017 has added a trillion dollars to our national debt with negligible effects on job-creation.
Another fact is that neither party is committed to pursuing a balanced budget.
Instead, our legislators are committed to pursuing our votes by providing us with the services we want without requiring us to pay the full cost of those services through our taxes.
I’m so sorry that our children and grandchildren will be saddled by the national debt my generation has created.
Andrew Gowan, W. Columbia
