I learned that an SUV went around a South Shore crossing gate just last evening. All five people in the vehicle were killed when the train collided with the car. That sad story reminded me of a time I went around the gate in Mishawaka. This was several years ago. It was dark. A Mishawaka police officer pulled me over. I still remember the respect and kindness in his voice when he told me that a friend of his was recently killed doing that same thing. I have not gone around a crossing gate since.
Wishart Bell
South Bend
Defeat this bill
Bill 52-25, to be considered by the St. Joseph County Council on July 8, wants to strike from the county’s tax abatement ordinance all references to what the ordinance refers to as “historically disadvantaged groups, such as minorities, women, and the disabled.” It strikes not only the need to “encourage the hiring, promotion, and retention” of these groups, but also the definition of minority in the ordinance and the need to keep track of minority employment.
However, when we still see, in many companies and other institutions, a lack of representation of historically disadvantaged groups, it seems that something is wrong. Discrimination still exists. It may be intentional. Or it may be that hiring officials rely on personal connections, or methods with which they are familiar: advertising venues, hiring networks and places to recruit that already reflect past discrimination. In such cases, extra efforts to find qualified members of those groups seems to be warranted.
And when companies come to the County Council for a subsidy from county taxpayers, it is quite legitimate for the council to require them to adopt methods that give all county residents a fair shot at representation.
I urge the County Council to defeat this bill.
Marty Wolfson
South Bend
Empathy
President Trump suddenly seemed to realize that his deportation policy is hurting farmers. Also, coincidentally, he said it affects the hospitality industry (i.e., the Trump hotels, golf courses and even Mar-a-Lago). When his policies end up hurting him personally, he seems to develop empathy for how his immigration policies may need to be adjusted.
Karl Kopec
Granger
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Tragedy at train crossing sparks a memory | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor / South Bend Tribune
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