Lexington loves its parks. Let’s support them with a dedicated fund. | Opinion

Green spaces

For the last 45 years I’ve listened to the heartbeat of our city through the laughter of children in playgrounds and the quiet voices of parents and seniors seeking solace in leafy paths. As a retired nurse, seeing our community flourish in all our public parks fills me with warmth.

Parks are more than just green spaces. Studies show that access to parks reduces stress, increases physical activity, and fosters social connections – all important ingredients for a thriving community. For children, parks are crucial for development, fostering creativity, imagination, and healthy play.

These benefits are at risk. Without a dedicated funding source, our parks will continue to deteriorate. That’s why I urge you to consider the ballot referendum for a dedicated park fund and support our campaign, Parks Sustainable Funding. The proposed funding mechanism is fiscally responsible and fair, ensuring long-term viability for our parks.

Think of the possibilities: refurbished playgrounds, accessible walking and biking paths, sport courts and vibrant neighborhood parks, not to mention the health effects of trees and green spaces.

Remember, a healthy park is a healthy community, and a healthy community is a vibrant one. Together, let’s make Lexington stronger, one green space at a time.

Victoria Meyer, Chair, Parks Advisory Board, Lexington

Hax column

How many voices will it take to bring back the insightful, measured columns by Carolyn Hax? I will start the petition now.

Linda Angelo, Lexington

Beautiful park

Paris and Bourbon County did the right thing with the park dedicated to Secretariat. It is in a magnificent setting with many plaques around the life-sized statue explaining Secretariat’s lifetime career. A night-time viewing with benches for visitors is a must see. A good example of an excellent project completed with private funds and the hard efforts of many dedicated people.

Tom Dixon, Lexington

Education access

According to UNESCO, 250 million children around the world were out of school in 2022. With the impact of school disruptions caused by COVID-19 still being felt, access to education is a problem that is only getting bigger. U.S. leadership is needed to help get us back on track.

The first thing that needs to happen is for Congress to pass the READ Act Reauthorization. The READ Act, passed in 2017, is a proven policy that builds strong partnerships and delivers results, particularly for girls and young people in conflict-ridden nations. Reauthorizing that law for another five years would boost U.S. leadership on global education to ensure all vulnerable children have access to quality education.

Every child deserves an education. It has profound beneficial impacts on children’s lives that lasts long into adulthood. I urge our members of Congress to pass the READ Act Reauthorization Act now.

Lynn Brewer, Lexington

Candidate concerns

If the 2024 presidential race is a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, I believe voters should be much more concerned with Trump’s mental health than Biden’s age.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville

Real election issues

As I read newspapers, listen to NPR news, and other information sources, I am constantly wondering why people are actually comparing former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in terms of likability and other emotional pros/cons. Over and over, I hear people expounding on Trump’s energy and oratory while worrying about Biden’s age and quietness.

This election is not about the economy (which is good), the border crisis (which is a problem), or the Israeli/Hamas crisis. This election is about Trump’s desire to make himself a dictator. He is constantly letting us know that his playbook is to seek revenge against those who have maligned him; advance the interests of white rich people; ruin this country’s position in the word; and pardon himself from his lawlessness.

This election is only about one thing: PRESERVING OUR DEMOCRACY.

James Ware, Lexington

Republican collusion

Ever since former President Donald Trump was impeached, the Republicans have been determined to get revenge by impeaching President Joe Biden. The problem for them is that they have no basis on which to proceed. So they made up stories involving the President’s son Hunter and his position on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. The problem is they have no evidence. But that didn’t stop them. As U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said, “We have plenty of theories but no evidence.”

Nevertheless they have been holding hearings for two years. They waxed eloquent about a secret witness they had who would “blow the lid off the Biden/Burisma case.” But when the time came to produce this informant he couldn’t be found. Perhaps he never existed. Their other ace was former FBI Agent Alexander Smirnov who alleged the President accepted bribes. Now we find out that all the information he gave to Comer came from the Russian Intelligence agencies. So Comer and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) appear to have been colluding with a source who was being fed derogatory lies about Biden by Russia! I think there is a word for such collusion!

Jim Porter, Danville

Carlson interview

Tucker Carlson recently interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin. The interview was so undemanding of Putin that he later complained it was too easy. Carlson, in case you have forgotten, is a former political commentator for Fox News. During his time at Fox, he was an apologist for Trump’s fraudulent claim of voter fraud, and he voiced baseless conspiracies about Dominion Voting machines. Carlson left in disgrace when the release of private text messages revealed a different side. Carlson knew he was uttering false statements about Trump and Dominion; he spoke disparagingly (“I hate him passionately”) about Mr. Trump as well as using sexist (calling women “yummy”) and racist language.

With his practice of distorting reality, it is not surprising Carlson finds kindred spirit in Putin. Both are happy to present a white-washed, distorted view of reality. Recently, we learned of the death, and probable murder, of the Russian dissent Alexei Navalny. Should Carlson ever consider moving to the Russia he admires, he should be aware of the treatment of those who chose to criticize the Russian government. Neither the fate of Navalny nor the 21 journalists who were murdered since Putin came to power made it into Carlson’s interview.

Peter Hardy, Lexington

Trump shoes

The shoes being marketed with the “Trump” name should not be athletic shoes but hip waders like fishermen wear. We need some to wade through all the crap that comes out of his mouth and the mouths of his delusional supporters. I propose the name for his fragrances : Eau de Pooh for Women and Eau de Pooh for Men. I’m surprised he hasn’t approached L’Oréal to design a new shade of blonde hair color — Trump blonde (or is it orange). He could even have his own hairspray line, able to withstand hurricane force winds. The possibilities are endless!

Sara Wellnitz, Lexington

College football

College football is on the brink of disaster and I’m afraid it has become unrecoverable. Professional salaries without limit; recruiting based on money; freedom, even encouragement, to ignore any obligation to team; players as university “employees,” even as Union members; impact on other players who work just as hard without remuneration, including players down the depth chart and playing other sports; the freedom to move on a whim.

The rich become richer, while team, players and coaches and the rest suffer and lose their way. What used to be a gold standard, professed by most universities that these players are “student athletes” is GONE, GONE, never to return.

Listen to what Nick Saban just said, “What we have now is not college football. You hear somebody use the words ‘student athlete’… that doesn’t exist.”

My favorite sport is in crisis: NAME, IMAGE and LIKENESS.

Harry Clarke, Lexington

Gaza invasion

The Israeli invasion of Gaza is no different from the Nazi invasion and occupation of Poland. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is a war criminal.

The Jewish military is inflicting death and crippling injuries on children and their parents in Gaza by bombs, artillery shells, automatic weapons and starvation. In our world, we are permitting an ally to starve children. This is clearly genocide.

In any wars our troops have fought, they provided food to hungry children and civilians. America cannot participate in this genocide. We must stop all aid to Israel and nullify any defense treaties with Israel.

This is a bloody smear on the Jewish nation and all Jewish peoples who do not protest same. I don’t care how much in political contributions the Jewish people make to American politicians. This has to stop now. I’m not for Hamas or any other terrorist organization and have no qualms about their eradication, but Israel has now become a terrorist organization.

David O. Smith, Corbin

Tabletop issues

Suppose a community opens a new school. Should they emphasize math, history, civics, personal hygiene, etc.? Next, they must hire teachers and administrators, but they overlook such things as moral character, competence, knowledge of the subject and desire to help students. Having a nice head of hair and ability to entertain seem to be enough.

So, what am I getting at? Compare the above scenario to voting for and installing a government. Polls of voter concerns rank various issues - the economy, border security, crime, abortion, immigration, climate, etc. These are the day-to-day ‘pocketbook’ or ‘tabletop’ issues we care so much about. What we apparently don’t care about are character, competence and desire to serve the public good, which attributes may or may not distinguish those we elect to confront those issues listed above. As long as we have all of this backwards don’t expect anything good to come of it.

Ernest Henninger, Danville

Speak up, please!

Dear elected Republicans: - Most of you are well-educated and affluent people. You have had successful careers outside of politics. Why will you not speak up to deny the very dangerous shenanigans of your party bosses and donors? Former President Donald Trump is only one man. Is this bully-boy, flim-flam man, serial adulterer, conspiracy advocate, sexual abuser, whiner extraordinaire, insurrectionist, fraudulent business man and would-be dictator really the person you admire, swear fealty to, want your children to emulate? Is political power so electric, the perks so fabulous, the company so addictive that you simply cannot risk giving it up? Even if some of your voters are totally devoted to his illusionary greatness, you know better!!! Do you feel no duty to tell the world the truth in forceful and strident voices? Is this man whose major skill is making up childish nicknames for his enemies and swearing vengeance to his enemies the one you want to lead our nation?

Your disapproving whispers, denied by your votes supporting him and his agenda, are not enough. Put country over party! Let us know you deserve your position of leadership by yelling the truth from your very lofty pedestals of power. Please!

Janice Russell, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey