Kansas City pool closes due to green water, revives memories of past pool issues | Opinion

It’s not easy

Dear Mary Williams-Neal Community Center Pool kids : I feel you. Green pool water. Yuck! (June 27, 2A, “This KC community pool closed after turning bright green. Here’s why & when it’ll reopen”)

A similar thing happened to us boomer kids who used the Budd Park Pool in the Northeast — except the pool never closed because of it. It was supposed to be green. An ugly, dark, what’s-lurking-in-there green. It was one of the banes of my 1950-60s childhood.

But we showed up in droves. Everyone had to go through a freezing cold shower (lots of screaming) and then step in a warm mixture of something to kill whatever you might be bringing in on your feet, I guess.

I hope your pool water is beautifully blue. Have a great summer.

- Susie Bruns, Kansas City

Juneteenth joy

Hats and “chains” off to Old Mission United Methodist Church in Fairway. The congregation, choir and faculty hosted a rousing and magnificent celebration highlighting Juneteenth, the emancipation date for enslaved Americans.

Oleta Adams and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra offered vibrant, world-class musical entertainment. Old Mission’s choir blended standard hymns seamlessly with African American gospel flowing with brassy jazz influences — fabulous.

There were personal, heartfelt dialogues regarding race and culture among visitors, staff and community leaders, as well as call and response from the pulpit back to the congregation. After more uplifting words, music and prayer, 100 or more gathered on the lawn to enjoy a picnic.

This remarkable event was most unusual in that it was hosted by a predominantly affluent, white community. Well done, Old Mission.

- Edward G. Bohannon, Overland Park

Debate debacle

Thursday’s presidential debate (the felon versus the feeble) was a horrible display of two candidates who are not qualified to run this country. Finger-pointing, lies and name-calling was all I heard from start to finish. Donald Trump never fully answered a single question, and sleepy Joe Biden looked dazed and confused.

It was a total embarrassment that shows nothing but vulnerability for our country moving forward. I was so disturbed by what I saw and heard that I had a hard time falling asleep. God help the leadership for this great land of ours.

- Greg Schoen, Lenexa

About the nukes

The president, as commander in chief, has the sole final authority to order a launch of nuclear weapons. It is balanced somewhat by the Uniform Code of Military Justice to follow orders “provided they are legal and have come from competent authority.” Donald Trump’s problems with cognition, emotional stability, judgment and understanding of and respect for the military make him unfit for this authority.

Recall the 2017 reckless exchange he had with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un about who had the bigger button to push for a nuclear strike.

Recall the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi phoned Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about Trump’s authority for nuclear decision-making under the circumstances. Milley assured her the nuclear arsenal was secure because the military was “ not going to do anything illegal or crazy .” Consider what could happen during another Trump presidency if a military leader of Milley’s standing were not in place.

As a nuclear decision maker, Trump would present an unacceptable risk to the global ecology and civilization as we know it. He is therefore unfit to be president.

- Mike Miller, Roeland Park

Complex nonsense

Across the nation, people are saying no to more taxes, especially those that go to special interest groups. Almost everywhere a sports complex is built with public money; economic benefits that lawmakers promised have not materialized. The voters are seeing this in tandem with the amount of taxes they already pay and are saying no, as they recently did in Jackson County.

A question voters have is: Why should I pay for a private business enterprise, especially when it can afford to pay its employees millions of dollars a year?

Missouri and Kansas are now taking the vote away from the people and moving it to the lawmakers. Politicians from both states know that building a sports complex for a private business under current economic conditions would have only a marginal chance to pass (especially after recent large increases in Jackson County property taxes).

This issue might become sensitive for both states’ voters. Taking the vote away from the people to support developers and special interest groups might present incumbents challenges at the ballot box this November — and give new candidates opportunities.

- Michael Mendez, Basehor

Transit needs

I have learned that Raytown is eliminating RideKC routes 28 Blue Ridge, 29 Blue Ridge Limited and 63 63rd Street , and 399 Raytown Flex. These no longer will stop within city limits. I use these routes for my basic transportation, grocery and pharmacy necessities.

Raytown is exercising its lack of morals by discriminating against those of us who have limited resources to meet our needs.

- Thomas Parker, Kansas City