Unfettered Letters

New JoCo courthouse would uproot theater

I own and operate the Chestnut Fine Arts Center, a professional theater located on the proposed site for the new Johnson County courthouse.

I opened the Chestnut more than 10 years ago with the understanding that my property was situated in a protected area. In 2003, the city of Olathe announced a 30-year plan called “Envision Olathe,” a revitalization plan and a “tool to guide long-term decision-making to realize a shared future.” I was excited to be a part of the revitalization and thought the Chestnut was an asset and a perfect match to the long-term city plan.

The Chestnut is one of the few thriving businesses in downtown Olathe, with more than 13,000 patrons visiting our facility each year. We have more than 700 season ticket members, and 95 percent of our performances are sold out.

We are happy to provide entertainment and education in an area that has minimal opportunities, and we would like to remain in our location for many years to come.

Brad Zimmerman
Executive director, Chestnut Fine Arts Center
Olathe

‘Straight talk’ from Miami judge

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Spencer Eig should be given a medal instead of rebuke for trying to save a 15-year-old girl’s life and destiny (3/1, A-10, “Judge rebuked for blunt warning; The Florida jurist told a runaway, 15, she could become a ‘toothless, dead crack whore’.“). She had been to hell and back, through no fault of her own, making bad choices due to bad parenting. Judge Eig did her a favor by advising her where she was headed if she landed on the streets.

Judge Eig gave her straight talk, which apparently no one else has. No apology was needed, instead an evaluation of her situation and further assistance were needed.

Chief juvenile judge Cindy Lederman, who apologized to the girl for Judge Eig’s remarks, was wrong. She should have counseled her further on the realities of the life she was choosing and provided her with further social services assistance.

Josephine Byrne
Raytown

Still fighting for light rail

We are only as free as we are free to govern ourselves.

On Feb. 25 my wife will seek judicial support from the Missouri Court of Appeals for our core position. Giving a government the power to overplay its legislative hand and sweep away the results of an election it disagrees with contradicts every democratic principle this nation stands for.

In that election, 73,998 voters said yes to a citizen-led initiative that called for rebuilding the city, renewing Union Station and laying the cornerstone for a regional transit system around a 27-mile, centrally located, green-light rail spine from the Kansas City Zoo to KCI.

One year later, those 73,998 certified opinions in support of that vision were overruled by 10 opinions on the City Council.

The city lost something that day: a means to power itself into a new green era. The City Council lost something that day: the people’s trust and respect. The people lost something that day: their right to self-determination.

Many citizens probably feel the community has moved on and I should, too. But moving on from an injustice to avoid legal and political confrontation is not my style. That is cowardice.

Clay Chastain
Bedford, Va.

Closing Gitmo bad idea

President Obama’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center is a terrible mistake. To consider bringing the Islamic terrorists from that facility to the United States mainland is even worse. These terrorists are vicious killers who have no protection under the Geneva Convention and certainly no protection under the U.S. Constitution. These detainees should be tried by military courts and tribunals.

Those found innocent should be sent to their native countries. To the guilty, as their crimes are judged, let them be incarcerated or executed. To bring these people to the United States and try them in our federal court system would be nothing more than a tremendous boon to the likes of radical left trial lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bud Frye
Olathe

Poor pay for jury duty

Boy, did Mike Hendricks’ article on the Jackson County jury system strike a nerve (1/12, Local, “Crime does not pay — nor does jury duty”). This is a wasteful and poorly managed system.

Potential jurists must take off work and pay their own parking, travel and meal expenses to “serve.” The jurists are herded in a room of 200 or more and made to wait, and wait and wait. There may not be any selected from the pool, or at best, only a few. And try to reschedule for a time that could work for you and your employer? Forget it. There is not much compassion in that room in the court house.

As far as the $6 compensation for the day and 7 cents a mile, why bother? What are the attorneys making being paid to be there?

I hope Jon Nixon has success with his petition (e-mail mo.jury.fee@gmail.com). The system needs a total overhaul. There must be a better way. Some government someplace in the world has figured it out. All we have to do is find it and copy it.

Pat Carr
Kansas City

Kline disgraces legal profession

Phill Kline got what he deserves, finally. I just don’t understand why the Kansas Supreme Court didn’t make him return the documents he obtained (12/6, A-1, "Kline’s behavior called ‘inexcusable,’ but he gets to keep abortion records”).

He is, without a doubt, the worst attorney general we have ever had.

Sooner or later, I’m sure he will be disbarred or will find another line of work. He is a disgrace to his profession.

Albert C. Aamold
Prairie Village

Light sentence for killer

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the Jackson Country prosecutor’s office dropped the ball in regard to the sentencing of Robert Osborn’s killer? (11/18, Local, “Sentence in bicyclist’s death displeases family of victim; Following the plea agreement, judge orders 15-year prison term for co-defendant in slaying”).

I guess all you have to do to get off easy is make sure you have an accomplice, and then simply point the finger in each other’s direction.

The logic for not pursuing a sentence of life without parole is beyond me. Whoever set up this plea agreement should be ashamed. This is not justice; it is a joke.

Darren Bradley
Kansas City

Substance-abuse treatment

Missouri Supreme Court Judge William Ray Price (10/29, Local, “Jackson County Drug Court praised”) says that about half of the people who start in drug-court programs in Missouri make it through.

Basic statistical research cannot ignore a 50 percent dropout rate. Substance abuse is biological and psychosocial and requires clinical evaluation, assessment and treatment. Monitoring abstinence is not treatment.

I applaud the newly appointed members to COMBAT (10/29, Local, “Members chosen for COMBAT panel”) and trust they are not confused about who is in charge of taxpayers’ $18 million.

J.B. Strong
Substance therapist, Addiction Treatment Services
Overland Park

Leniency in sentencing

Although The Star’s article about short prison terms (10/12, Local, “Leniency annoys prosecutors; The suggestions by a commission are faulted as light, but judges aren’t bound to them”) revealed some interesting facts, I believe it missed the bigger issue involving sentencing.

Regardless of how much sentence is imposed, the majority of those sentenced face only a fraction of the sentence once they are received by the Department of Corrections.

With limited resources and space available at the Department of Corrections, inmates are often released early. The judge and prosecutor can do little to stop it.

I think this is why the judges impose a harsher sentence in some cases, because in reality a 40-year sentence is often only 20 years.

Kevin LaBranche
Kansas City

Add tools to tackle fraud

In dealing with financial fraud, the courts need more tools in their tool box.

First, create a national registry with offenders’ names and locations, similar to registries for sexual predators.

Second, require lifetime community service to teach them humility and respect for others and themselves.

Third, bar them from any connection with the financial world.

Hopefully, while in custody they’ll learn how to earn the salt that goes into their daily bread honestly, and that they must earn wealth the age-old way: by hard, honest work.

Bill Mace
Overland Park