Civilian boards could build trust with police and their communities

Information at your fingertips

Recently, I have read letters asking for information about the candidates’ views on the issues.

I would like to remind readers that the information is readily available.

The League of Women Voters publishes a free voters’ guide with information from state and local candidates. The guide is available at the library and many other locations. It is also available at vote411.org

Helping the police and the policed

May I suggest that the recent spate of public disturbances — protest rallies, justice marches and so on — are not democracy in action nor good public relations.

I believe a better approach to improving relations between police and the communities they serve would be the creation of civilian review boards.

A panel of a reasonable number of citizens from across the community reviewing police department policies, training and legal authority could change policing in a way that would prevent the kind of controversial incidents that some find so disturbing.

Continuing along the traditional path we have been on isn’t proactively preventing these events. Those who now feel disenfranchised might feel they are represented with authority by these new boards.

The panels might also provide the community a better understanding of policing.

“Protect and serve” is a complicated mandate. Protecting one person requires restricting the activity and desires of someone else. Somebody is going to be unhappy.

There’s no reason for leaf blowers

No, Stuart Brown, you are not the only one who is completely against leaf blowers. (Sept. 25, 11A, Letters to the editor)

Not only are they noisy and annoying without reasonable purpose, but gas-powered models with two-stroke engines produce more air pollution than automobiles.

They’re a waste of fuel, time and human energy. They should be banned.

Say no to Kelly Hancock

Kelly Hancock, candidate for Senate District 9, has voters convinced that he supports limited government and family values. His record shows otherwise.

In the last legislative session, Hancock authored SB451. The gist of this bill was that “a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce a local law that expressly or effectively prohibits the use of a property as a short-term rental.”

The existence of short-term rentals threatens to unravel formerly close-knit neighborhoods, as homes are bought by absentee owners for the sole purpose of creating businesses. These owners have no investment in the community beyond making a profit at the expense of local residents.

Hancock also authored or sponsored other bills with the goals of wresting power from local governments and centralizing governmental authority at the state level. This is the antithesis of an advocate for limited government.

Hancock does not deserve anyone’s vote.

Let’s change our political tactics

To people who steal others’ campaign signs: You are only demonstrating how little faith you have in your candidate.

No supporters should be stealing signs. Let’s keep our democracy and elections clean. There needs to be (at least) two parties.

Also, campaign ads should discuss the issues and not use tired talking points, fear tactics and misrepresentations.