Letters to the editor: Low-income housing, Lisa Sanchez, deadly war, reopening
Low-income housing
The progressive politicians are at it again! Bait and switch: offering low-income families a 4-bedroom home that is, at best, no larger than a 2-bedroom home.
Buying a home is an asset, that will provide security against increasing housing costs and, if taken care of and improved, will increase in value. What are low-income families being offered?
They are not buying the land, the land is owned by the Trust, consequently, the most valuable part of a home is not owned by the “owner.” They are limited in any improvements they can make and the equity they can accumulate.
An opportunity to buy a 4-bedroom, 2-bath mobile home on the donated land could provide low income families with 45% more space for 25% less cost and they and those of us who care for their well-being would not be gaslighted into believing that they were actually buying and getting the benefit of buying a home.
William Haller, Boise
Lisa Sanchez
Lisa Sanchez stated she did not have a child out of fear that it would be killed by white people. A writer was “Brought to tears”! Not because of the real possibility in Sanchez’s statement, but because Sanchez’s “sweeping generalization has no basis in fact in regards to where she lives.” It was “divisive and hurtful”. Much more divisive and hurtful is the reality of systemic racism in our country. Black people are murdered by white people in nice neighborhoods as well as not-so-nice neighborhoods. Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery? Lisa Sanchez invited us into her world. As a white mother of four grown children, I never, in my wildest dreams, worried that a child of mine might be a target, be feared, be hated, because of his or her skin. What a terrible thought! I would venture that most women of color have that thought pass through their minds, however briefly, as they think about becoming a mother. We each need to do something in this fight in our country, so no person of any color has to fear for their life, or the life of their child, because of the color of their skin. Do something!
Diane Schwabe, Boise
Deadly war
The United States has been invaded and is in a state of a deadly war against an invisible enemy to which everyone is vulnerable. The battlefield is wherever people are gathered. The U.S. government needs to protect its citizens from the virus invasion by pouring money into defense, just as it did for three years in World War II. But in this war the defense is financial support to its citizens, especially lower income citizens, so that we can afford to fight with our only weapon at this time — isolation.
Republicans are quick to defend freedom, even in other countries. So we need “Freedom on the March” for Americans to be able to fight this war with and from the safety of our homes. The sooner we go on total government-supported lockdown, the sooner we will win this war. Republicans in government, consider this investment as a wartime loan to Americans for the freedom of American lives and lifestyle and therefore a healthy economy.
Mike Winter, Boise
Reopening
I cannot follow the logic of reopening. People unemployed because of COVID-19 get no more unemployment, they must return to work now. Schools must reopen, in person, in August. But in November, it won’t be safe yet to hold elections, so they should be postponed. Someone, please explain this to me.
Claudia Moberly, Middleton