'We just didn't know'
(I wrote this after I returned home after attending my grandson’s funeral on July 31, 2024. He had taken his own life, even though family and friends had no indication that he had serious problems. Perhaps this can be of comfort to others in their grief, or it might encourage others to be more attuned to little things that might indicate a loved one’s internal struggles.)
Your smile and sense of humor hid the darkness that you carried deep inside, not wanting to cause pain for others. You didn’t know how much your sudden exit from life would affect all of us, how sad and lonely we would feel knowing we would never again hear your laughter and kind words or feel your special touch. You had so much to live for, so much going for you.
We just didn’t know. If we had known, we would have tried to lift some of the care that secretly weighed so heavily on your heart ― care that would explode in a low place in your day-to-day life, pushing you to take what seemed at the time a quick cure for your pain.
Our grieving hearts will heal over time, and our lives will go on, but we will never be quite the same. We will be better for having been touched by your short life. Your influence will live on through the difference you made in your family’s lives and the lives of a multitude of others who had the good fortune to know you.
We just didn't know. We just didn't know.
― Ed Koonce, Mustang
ADUs would alter neighborhoods
The Aug. 4 article about living space from Sarah Casey regarding additional dwelling units in The Oklahoman is very one-sided.
This ADU ordinance is effectively changing R1 zoning for OKC neighborhoods between NW 63 and SW 59, I-35 to Portland into multi-family zoning.
One of the reasons I bought my house is because it’s in a well-maintained R1 neighborhood with one house per lot. The R1 zoning changes will allow rental units, Airbnbs in the backyard next to your home. The proposed maximum occupancy of the ADU is 16 persons; two-story units up to 25 feet tall are allowed. Building material can be anything that meets code, including sheet metal, plywood, etc.
There are no provisions for additional parking, so whoever is staying in that new building in the backyard can park cars in front of your house seven days a week.
OKC enforcement of Airbnb rentals is through the Action Line, and you have to provide the evidence with videos, photos and other documentation. If an Airbnb is having an all-night party, the Action Line is manned 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Half of the short-term rental Airbnbs are operating in the city without permission from the city.
People can obtain permission using the current Simplified Planned Urban Development SPUD process that gives neighbors within 300 feet an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding an ADU, and the new ordinance will strip away neighbors' rights.
— David Thach, Oklahoma City
What's in your wallet?
I wonder what people who do not have a credit card or debit card will do to pay for medical services, since Norman Regional and its associates have gone cashless. They require everyone to have a credit card or debit card on file with them for co-pays for service provided, even if they have health insurance. Oh yes, there is a way to pay with a check, but I think that cashless thing includes checks, too. I think that is a possible violation of the Constitution where it is required to be printed on the U.S. Treasury bills that, quote, "This is legal tender for all debts public and private." How else are they to pay for the medical services they get?
I guess the medical profession would prefer prospective patients just all suffer and die from whatever ailment they have, thereby avoiding the loss of money from those who cannot pay with credit cards and debit cards. Of course, the liberal left will use this as a way to get single-payer health insurance instituted as an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid as once advocated by Kamala Harris. Now, that would be a congressional budget buster and really add to the national debt.
― Andre Snodgrass, Norman
Raising minimum wage would be short-term benefit
If Oklahomans vote the initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour into law, the short-term benefit to beginning and lower-skilled workers is obvious, and even desirable. The long-term consequences to the state are destructive to business growth and sustainability, and offer another boost to the inflationary dynamics plaguing the economy. And … the benefit to beginning and lower-skilled workers will be a brief one.
The example we have is California, who led the nation in legislating a precipitous increase in the minimum wage. Workers in California enjoyed a brief prosperity until the consequences of this error. The cost of goods and services rose accordingly, and within months, workers found their paychecks stretched as tightly as before the increase. Next, small businesses began to fail. With the cost of labor exceeding the value of that labor to the business, business margins could no longer accommodate the added cost without added production/value. And more recently, big businesses have pulled out of California, Chevron being the latest after Oracle, Tesla and Hewlett Packard, among others. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the minimum wage increase into law in 2016, and Forbes says that 265 business headquarters have left the state since 2018.
Oklahoma is very close to competing with Texas and Florida in attracting businesses to the state. Voting the $15/hour minimum wage into law will be a significant setback to both the state’s competitive standing and economic well-being.
― Lance Bohannon, Frederick
Consider character when you vote in November
The U.S. has always had problems, but it has offered more opportunities to people. than any other nation. Since the persecuted and tired Pilgrims arrived without papers on the shores of Plymouth, to the Vietnamese fleeing Communism, to the Afghans. Our latest immigrants are contributing to our economy and introducing their rich culture. Some of us have been privileged from the start of the nation, others have worked hard to achieve a secure place, and still others have gotten rich in illegal ways or on the backs of slaves.
Our nation has always had divisions: regional, economic, religious, ethnic and racial. A famous man once said, "United we stand, divided, we fall." This is a time to unite behind someone who stands for justice and the rule of law. What binds us is our empathy for one another and our desire to have a lawful country where everyone follows the law.
We require justice for those who are victims. Yet, no one should be able to escape the arm of law because of money or position. I know that both Republicans and Democrats believe this, but we argue over whether the trials are just or the evidence sufficient. However, we have signed a compact when we became citizens. We believe in the system of 12 jurors of peers and our rights to appeal. This protects all of us, poor and wealthy alike. We may question this, but we peacefully should abide by the results.
We have a very important election in November. The Declaration of Independence insures that all are created equal, and the Constitution ensures that we have equal rights under the law. When we choose, we need to carefully examine the platforms of the candidates, as well as their character. Any candidate or platform which tries to lessen some of us, put us into certain boxes, or gives some of us derogatory names is not worthy to rule over us.
Character is of utmost importance. All need to carefully consider who each candidate is and to vote for the best person, not just straight tickets. We need to put our nation ahead of party. Choose kind and empathetic people who follow the law and who will assure us that others do the same. Would you hire a liar, thief or mean person to run a school or company or to care for children? Why would you do so to run our great nation?
— Joe Miano, Oklahoma City
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