Letters to the editor: Boise mayor, due process, rural hospitals, violence
Playground bully
In his most recent piece, “Mayor’s leftist agenda better suited for Portland than Boise,” Wayne Hoffman makes numerous non-substantiated (fictional) leaps. For example, he postulates that because Mayor McLean has a position on climate change, and/or that she spoke at a party convention, that it is not possible to “put people ahead of partisan ideology.” Apples and oranges. Hoffman cites her desire to have diversity training at City Hall as proof of a leftist agenda. Really? Hoffman connects dots like an infant with a crayon.
Closure of businesses due to COVID-19 equates to hiring of staff at City Hall? How so? A 3% property tax increase? Show me the documents rather than spewing. To quote Hoffman, “She didn’t write about that, because it doesn’t help her story…” Is it possible she did not write about it because it is not true?
Finally, show me her plan for pre-K sex-ed? No?
If no one will stand up to the playground bully, I will.
Pat Klocke, Boise
Due process
While I support justice being served for Breonna Taylor and her killers being indicted, I am shocked by what is being recommended by protesters and activists. As the case goes to a grand jury, I see many online posts calling to sign petitions and to be as vocal as possible so that her killers will be indicted. This is obstruction of justice. They are actively trying to influence a legal decision, therefore undermining the entire system of justice. Juries and judges are supposed to remain impartial in cases, yet people are essentially telling them to reach a certain conclusion. While this conclusion may be correct, it is still wrong the way they are trying to influence a decision this way. Our court system was developed for just decisions to be made, not rash ones, yet people are trying to come to a rash conclusion before the court proceedings are finished. Instead of suggesting that evidence should be evaluated and weighed, and time taken to deliberate, people are advocating for an immediate indictment. This is wrong, and in this case the end does not justify the means as it endangers the way that fair decisions are made.
Kai Thomson, Nampa
Rural hospitals
COVID-19 has taken its toll on rural hospitals throughout the state and country. Congress must step up to protect rural health care access in Idaho now. That means adjusting the terms of federal loans that our local hospitals took to remain financially viable throughout the pandemic.
Under the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs, struggling hospitals were able to receive loans based on their standard Medicare fee-for-service payments. But these same struggling hospitals are facing unrealistic repayment terms. Congress must extend the deadline to begin loan repayment and the deadline to fully repay these loans.
MAAPP repayment terms call for hospitals that have begun repayment to have 100 percent of their Medicare payments withheld until loans have been completely repaid. For rural health care providers, withholding all Medicare payments will be financially devastating. Sens. Crapo and Risch must prioritize adjusting the terms of MAAPP loans to provide hospitals serving rural Idaho greater flexibility.
Gretchen Manning, Caldwell
Violence
Who benefits from violence and division in America? We know that Trump has spoken to Putin at least seven times in the last few months, as he has ratcheted up his attacks on democracy and incited violence so that he might “law and order” rescue the country from the crisis of his own making. This strategy worked well for Putin in Russia. Let’s make sure it doesn’t work for him again.
Chuck Davis, Boise