Informed voting
Re “The Bible has its place, but not in public schools” (Other Views, July 21): Keeping in line with the Rev. Albert G. Butzer III’s column, and knowing him personally, I strongly agree with his position on religion not being part of public education.
It surprises me the people of Louisiana and Oklahoma would want their students subjected to the sex, violence, incest, etc., one finds in various books of the Bible. But then I suppose, like it says in the Bible, depends on whose ox is being gored, a paraphrase from Exodus. Because these same people are the ones who want to remove books “they” find objectionable, we should make sure we vote for people like Sharon Felton for Virginia Beach School Board. Felton will be a calming voice to the banning of books in our school libraries. Felton has the experience, the knowledge and the education to be a welcome addition to the School Board.
Be careful, investigate and know for whom you are voting. Every election in November is important and deserves your diligence before you check that box.
Susie Rixey, Virginia Beach
Cat trapping
Rescue groups need to recognize that it is necessary for Animal Control to do feral or stray cat-trapping when citizens need help with this problem. Too many people do not provide proper care for their personal cats. Hence, why do these rescue groups think Hampton has hundreds or thousands of citizens willing to assume responsibility of providing care for a feral cat colony on their property?
Hampton allows these rescue groups to have registered colonies, yet they want to impose only their way of addressing a problem on everyone else. Hampton has the right idea of cat-trapping being a necessary service.
David Seely, Hampton
Cat overpopulation
A group of local animal welfare organizations, rescue groups and concerned citizens recently spoke before Hampton City Council opposing Hampton having an Animal Control employee do cat-trapping and advocating trap, neuter and return as the only way to address the feral and stray cat overpopulation in the city. I respect this group’s position, and it should, likewise, respect a citizen’s or business’ choice to have a feral or stray cat trapped and not returned to its property after being spayed or neutered.
Animal Control is not canvassing neighborhoods and randomly impounding healthy outdoor cats but will respond to a citizen’s or business’ request for help with feral or stray cat-trapping and subsequently impound the cat.
Hampton’s city code already allows for the trap, neuter and return strategy that the group is advocating and requires registration of the cat colony, to include: providing documentation of support by surrounding neighbors, assuring the responsibility for feeding, providing emergency veterinary care to cats in the colony, sterilizing and vaccinating the cats for rabies, and having a licensed veterinarian to tip the cats’ ears for identification purposes. These requirements are not “extreme” but aim to protect cats in a registered colony.
Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting should be commended for addressing the need for Animal Control to do cat-trapping.
Pam Withrow, Hampton
Appreciated
Thank you to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for its recent research findings on our older adult community. Its work brings much-needed awareness to the value that seniors bring to our economy, families, community and workforce, which has been largely overlooked until now.
Equally important is its spotlight on critical issues such as the need for affordable senior housing to prevent homelessness among older adults, eliminating senior hunger, ensuring access to transportation and addressing the detrimental effects of social isolation on even healthy and active seniors. This information will help us build a more inclusive and resilient community for everyone.
Steve Zollos; chief executive officer, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia; Chesapeake
Harris
As a proud Navy veteran, I fully support Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Our country is facing an unprecedented threat to our democracy. We need, and deserve, a leader who can stand up and fight for our basic values, and that leader is Harris.
Like veterans, Harris is deeply committed to defending the Constitution and our freedoms. From protecting voting rights to reproductive freedom, she has held the line against convicted felon, former President Donald Trump’s anti-freedom agenda. As a former prosecutor, Harris is uniquely equipped to hold Trump accountable for his criminality and corruption, and her strength and grace under pressure will draw a sharp contrast with Trump’s chaotic and reckless style.
Harris shows a deep respect for those who served. Instead of using veterans as props while calling us “suckers” and “losers” behind our backs, Harris has championed expanded Veterans Affairs benefits and housing assistance for veterans, and proposed a fix for the “other-than-honorable” discharges that have resulted in benefits being unfairly denied to hundreds of thousands of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Her commitment to our community is unwavering, and she will continue to fight for us as president.
Let’s honor our service by supporting Harris. She will protect the freedoms we fought for and ensure a brighter future for all Americans.
Heidi Dragneff, Navy veteran, Virginia Beach
