Food safety bar already set too low
There was an article Feb. 27 concerning Senate Bill 373. The bill states a person can be prosecuted for photographing or videotaping illegal activity at a farming or industrial operation then distributing this information.
Sunday school teaches us: “It’s never wrong to do what’s right.” SB 373 is turning that upside down.
The article goes on to say we have law enforcement and regulatory agencies to enforce the rules. Where are they? We all know there is a vast shortage of food inspectors. The article ended with the quote, “Private property rights are sacred.”
What is sacred to me are my elderly parents and my children. I need to be sure that the food served to them is uncompromised. Many of the necessary legal changes involving the food industry came about because of the courage of whistleblowers.
Please don’t set the bar any lower than it already is. Are human lives as sacred as property rights? I guess we will see.
JOYCE SMITH Fort Wayne
Focus on feral cats misdirected
To the group planning to set traps to catch cats, have them spayed or neutered, then release them back where they were found (Feb. 13):
We have had a lot of feral cats in our neighborhood over the years. We have seen many that were struck by cars. Those went quickly. Feral cats usually don’t just die peacefully in their sleep. Some will get an infection and not be able to walk or eat properly. Some get parasites. Even those that grow old eventually can’t eat, so they slowly starve to death. We have seen old cats freezing and shaking, but we couldn’t get close enough to them until they were ready to die.
Animal Care and Control can verify what I have stated here. It’s not just the control they perform, although that is important. It’s also the care. If you really want to help these animals, you will put your resources where it will really help.
SCOTT SHADY Fort Wayne
Drawing had unexpected twist
I was a Fort Wayne Jaycee at the first home show. There were no parking fees back then.
To attract patrons, there was to be a drawing for a brand-new $35,000 home to the winner. The barrel loaded with names was rotated several times.
The Jaycee asked a little girl down front to come up and draw the winner. She drew her parent’s name. It was all fair and legal and they won.
NORMAN A. RICHARDS Fort Wayne
Keep licensing for beauty culture
Chemical cuts, chemical burns, infectious diseases, lice, fungal infections and hepatitis B or C. These and other things could happen if your barber, cosmetologist, esthetician or manicurist were an untrained and unregulated quasi-professional. At the request of Gov. Mike Pence’s office, Sen. Randy Head introduced Senate Bill 520 in this legislative session.
The beauty culture industry could cease to exist – eliminating regulation or the need to have licenses. This will happen July 1, 2017 if the 2017 session of the General Assembly fails to take action to retain their license and regulation.
Next time you go to get your hair cut, colored or styled; your new or existing nails painted, trimmed or polished; do you want someone who is trained, licensed and keeps up on the new trends and styles?
Voice your opposition to SB 520. If anything, ask that the reference to the beauty culture profession be deleted.
CLEE R. OLIVER Kokomo
Choosing the union over the students
I found your two March 4 editorials interesting – and basically 180 degrees opposite in “students first” reporting:
“A Student First Approach”: Glenda Ritz is a Democrat, a teacher (and union activist?) who says she is focusing on the students first. This is very refreshing and quite frankly surprising as Indiana teachers have a reputation for union first, not students. I hope she stays true to this philosophy despite the heat she may get from her union friends.
“Leadership issues on EACS agenda”: The Journal Gazette says “The board would make a grave mistake in taking on oversight of the 10-year-old charter school. Resources extended to the Johnson Academy … would come at the expense of EACS students.” The taxpayers who send their children to Johnson Academy also pay the taxes that pay the salaries of the EACS board (and teachers in the public school system.) Can’t the EACS board give oversight for the Johnson Academy?
Let’s put the students first, not the teachers’ union.
RICHARD J. HABEGGER Wolcottville
