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Letters to the Editor

The Supreme Court has an ethics problem

The Supreme Court has a serious ethics problem, and the latest revelations about Clarence Thomas should be alarming to every American. For 20 years, Thomas has accepted high-end, luxury, all-expense-paid vacations around the world from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. And he never disclosed any of it to the public. What’s more, he also sold three properties to the billionaire and never reported it on his financial disclosures. The vacations are blatantly unethical, and not reporting the real estate sales is potentially illegal. Supreme Court decisions impact every facet of ...

Hold Justice Clarence Thomas accountable

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas defends trips financed by “dearest friends.” ProPublica reported that the long-serving justice accepted expensive trips from Harlan Crow over decades despite federal law requiring the disclosure of most gifts, prompting Senate Democrats to call for an investigation (Reuters, April 7, 2023). Only the U.S. tax returns of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his “dearest friends,” Harlan Crow, can verify the proper use of these gifts made over the decades whether legally required to be disclosed or not. You can help and make a ...

Hard work ensures local elections are secure

The Alpena County Republican Party invited their State Chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, to speak after their recent business meeting. There’s nothing unusual or untoward about this. Karamo gained notoriety last year when she voiced her election security concerns, seemingly standing in agreement with election deniers that President Biden was not legitimately elected. The paranoia and fear concerning the security of our country’s elections is unfounded – over 60 court cases showed insufficient evidence of election fraud. I’m concerned that Karamo’s personal agenda may have a ...

We need city to enforce cleaning up the junk

Mr. mayor and council people, Why is there not anything being done about all of the eyesores around town? I’m speaking of cars parked on sidewalks, old couches in plain sight, junk of all sorts in plain sight. Nothing is ever done about it. If you make city ordinances, then why do you not enforce them? Also, the landlords who own rental units make no attempts at all to clean up their property, nor do they tell the tenants to clean up their messes. I believe that, if you put more attention and cave in to the locals who voted you people into office and not always trying to impress ...

Stop ignoring the obvious north side problem

The recent article discussing the challenges of north side businesses in Alpena ignores the obvious deterrent to residential foot traffic and economic development — Decorative Panels Inc. (DPI). As a new property owner on the north side, I am disheartened by the community’s inaction in addressing the foul smell emanating from DPI. When I first arrived in Alpena, I was impressed by its natural beauty and the warmth of its residents. However, the persistent odor that pervades our area is pushing me towards regret. My family and I have become accustomed to checking wind conditions to ...

Elected leaders need to strengthen SNAP

While families in our area are struggling with the rising costs of food and trying to provide healthy meals for their children to eat, extremist Republicans in Washington, D.C. are proposing massive cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps)—the key program helping millions put food on the table. Republicans have introduced legislation that, for the first time ever, would subject parents or grandparents with children seven years or older to a harsh time limit of three months of SNAP if they cannot meet burdensome work requirements (right now, adults ...