Letters to the editor: Global security, school budgets, county prosecutor
Global security
With the rising concerns about national defense during this critical time, Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act on July 23. While I appreciate their actions for our heroes and our people, I don’t think increasing funding for national defense is the best solution to the safety of democracy and our nation.
There are threats to our national security that cannot be solved by national defense alone. Global pandemics, foreign poverty issues and refugee crises should receive much more attention. It is unwise for the Trump Administration to propose a devastating cut to the International Affairs Budget, and the ICE announcement regarding international students lately has severe damage to the U.S. image on the international level.
The United States will continue to be viewed as selfish and petty if no action is taken to improve our international relations. Hence, I urge the leaders to pay more attention to improve the U.S. reputation on the international level. Supporting the International Affairs Budget and other legislation such as global health security definitely brings strategic benefits to the United States at this moment.
Chi Nguyen, Boise
School budget
As a member of West Ada Education Association, I feel it is imperative to share this message with our community patrons. In the midst of current unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, the West Ada School District is facing another imminent crisis: a lack of financial resources. In May, the district ran a levy for supplementing school programs. Uncertainty of financial obligation and lack of clear communication as to the levy’s importance might have caused it to fail. Unfortunately, this levy is more than 5% of the total budget for the district, $14 million. Also, with 5% holdback from the state, this has placed West Ada School District in a financial shortfall. Tapping into rainy day funds will allow the district to put a band-aid on the financial bleeding, but it is not a long-term solution. The levy will be put before voters once again on Aug. 25. Doing “more with less” is not unusual within education, however doing much more in the middle of a pandemic with considerably less funding than needed will stretch even the most innovative educator. Please vote yes for the levy on Aug. 25.
Deborah Rowland, Meridian
County prosecutor
The recent story in which Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts canceled her meeting with Black Lives Matter, is reminiscent of my own interactions with our district attorney. I reached out to her multiple times in pursuit of justice. After all, according to their own code of ethics, ‘the primary duty of the prosecutor is to seek justice within the bounds of the law, not merely to convict.” She refused to meet with me.
I find it ironic that Ms. Bennetts canceled her meeting with Black Lives Matter to avoid being “bullied.” My experience has been that the imbalance of power lies in the prosecuting attorney’s office. While violence and destruction are never acceptable, people tend to resort to these means when they feel helpless to find a better solution. Whether or not Ms. Bennetts thinks she already knows the answers, community members should be heard. Isn’t seeking out the whole truth inherent to the office of the prosecutor?
Prosecutors have very little accountability. They have personal immunity from any wrongdoing, and they do not have to answer to anyone...except the voter. Until we as voters decide to do something about it, Jan Bennetts does not have to listen to anyone.
Vicky Shubert, Eagle