Unfettered Letters

Broadband Internet access in KCK

So the stimulus will provide broadband Internet service for rural areas? How about broadband service for Kansas City, Kan., especially east of I-635?

You know all of the ads for special deals on DSL and broadband service? Don’t count on them in all parts of KCK. When I call my own phone company, AT&T, and other companies to take advantage of the offers, I am told the service is not available in my area. I am stuck with one of two cable providers who, not surprisingly, offer similarly priced packages. The rates from the cable companies are higher here than in other parts of KCK.

I sent an e-mail to my commissioner, Nathan Barnes, along with a copy to Mayor Joe Reardon to ask them why our choices are so limited. I have not received a response.

Max Cerda
Kansas City, Kan.

Speedway smoking ban

Oliver Wallen (11/14, Letters) calls the smoking ban at Kansas Speedway a joke. I could not agree with him more.

Many taxpaying, money-spending adults smoke. To virtually limit or ban their participation at the speedway as well as the great bars and restaurants in the metropolitan area is stupid. These smoking bans are not good for business or the tax base.

What happened to the saying “Smoking or nonsmoking” — especially at open air-venues like the speedway and the sports complex?

Get real.

Dave Leonard
Kansas City

Time to dismantle BPU

I agree completely with Kansas State Sen. Chris Steineger that the Board of Public Utilities should be dismantled (10/28, Opinion, “As I See It: Only solution is to dismantle BPU”). BPU officials have crowed for years about having competitive water and electric rates. Even if that’s true, the public relations price of this out-of-control, never-under-control agency has been too high.

Let’s face it: The BPU is the last big cesspool in what was the swamp of Wyandotte County. Steineger’s plan to sell the electric operations and incorporate the water operation into the Unified Government’s public works department would work.

Mayor Joe Reardon and the Unified Government commissioners should step up and complete the political and economic makeover of Wyandotte County, even if it means putting some friends, relatives and associates out of work at the BPU.

Jim Fitzpatrick
Kansas City

KCK casino should be smoke-free

Kansas missed the boat (pun intended) years ago by not allowing the citizens of the state to vote on legalized gambling.

If Kansas had built a casino on or near the Woodlands, Kansas would have been a one-of-a-kind destination. One can only imagine the jobs, tax revenue and excitement such a facility would have drawn.

Nonetheless, in spite of most our legislature’s stonewalling tactics, Kansas will finally have casino gambling. Now that we are finally headed down this path, let’s be truly creative and think progressively by sticking to our guns and banning smoking, even on the casino floor.

As an ex-smoker — we’re the worst kind, I know — I believe it would not only help our image but draw people who might not go to casinos in an effort to avoid the smoke.

David Pumphrey
Overland Park

I, for one, hope Kansas City, Kan., passes a total smoking ban that would affect the Hard Rock Casino, which is yet to be built. That would be the only casino that I would go to.

The Missouri casinos, with their smoking policy, stink.

Jim Marsicek
Lee’s Summit

KCK casino should be smoke-free

Mayor Joe Reardon said Kansas City, Kan., has to tread carefully before banning smoking in the new casino in Wyandotte County (8/22, Local, “Wyandotte County mulls smoking ban proposals”). Banning smoking might really be the way to go.

Certainly a substantial percentage of the people living in Kansas City, as well as visitors to the area, doesn’t smoke and might prefer to go to a smoke-free casino. Some gamblers don’t care one way or the other. The location, plus the other amenities in the vicinity, will draw customers.

The bottom line: A non-smoking casino might outdraw any of the other casinos.

Ken McGovern
Overland Park

KCK needs a smoking ban

Recent smoking bans in Kansas City and Johnson County have greatly decreased the number of smoky restaurants, bars and other public establishments. Currently the only major spot in the metro area that does not have a smoking ban is Kansas City, Kan. And with the Legends at Village West, it is time a ban is imposed.

The experience at the Legends would be so much better if visitors didn’t have to walk through patches of smoke every few yards due to the lack of a smoking ban.

The solution to a smoke-free Legends is simple: Designate certain smoking areas on the outside edges of the shops, like the smoking sections at Kauffman Stadium, so the harmful ingredients of cigarette smoke are contained in an area where visitors do not have to travel.

Mark Vater
Overland Park

A real Easter Bunny

Secret Santa and the Easter Bunny have now come to Strawberry Hill.

I’m a lifelong resident here. For the last few years, every Christmas and Easter morning, all of my neighbors and I find a cheery little package on our front porch filled with the goodies of the season.

This Easter morning my package contained green Easter grass, a little stuffed pink bunny, a small statue of the crucified Christ and a plastic purple egg with a tiny candy bar inside. These are usually accompanied by a little holy card of the season.

How caring and thoughtful is this person who comes out in the night or the wee hours of the morning and remembers neighbors in this way, reminding us of the “reason for the season.”

Thank you, dear person, whoever you are. I’m still trying to watch out for you to thank you personally.

Francie Sachen
Kansas City, Kan.

‘Quindaro’ is great

'We saw the play “Quindaro” at Union Station recently and it is an excellent production, depicting an important part of Kansas City, Kan., history and its place in the Underground Railroad. This story should be required viewing for students of all ages. It is well worth seeing, and the actors are extraordinary. There is still time to reserve tickets. No one will be disappointed if you take advantage of this opportunity. Bravo to the cast and all involved!

Bob and Georgia Jenkins
Kansas City, Kan.

Editor’s note: The show runs through Sunday at the H&R Block City Stage at Union Station.

KC builds hybrids, too

A letter writer encouraged Lewis Diuguid to purchase a Toyota Prius hybrid. Here is a better suggestion. Let’s encourage him to purchase a Kansas City-built hybrid. He has his choice of three: Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura or a Ford Escape. This will help support the livelihood of many Kansas City Star readers who are local Ford and GM employees.

Needless to say, purchasing a Toyota, built here in the U.S. or overseas, does little to support the area auto workers. Many of these employees, including myself, subscribe to or purchase The Star daily. The loss of my job at the GM plant would surely force me to tighten my budget, with my subscription to The Star probably being one of the first cuts.

Mike Thomas
Lawson, Mo.

Cartoon insulted KCK

A recent cartoon on The Star editorial page (1/12) insinuated that the opening of the downtown KCK Wyandotte Nation Indian casino would prompt officials to advocate a forthcoming “whorehouse.”

What an uncalled-for slam. This casino was totally driven by superseding federal law and is a true anomaly. The Star should know this because it reported on it.

Your cartoon is an insult to the voters of Wyandotte County. We would never vote through a “whorehouse” or a public official that wanted one. Our mayor, commission and county administration are better than that. Much better.

Your cartoon was an arrogant gesture of disrespect to Kansas City, Kan.

Phil Thomas
Kansas City, Kan.

In the past I have enjoyed Lee Judge’s cartoons. However, on Saturday he went too far and crossed the line with his outright insult to Kansas City, Kan.

I feel that he and the editor who approved the cartoon for print should apologize to Mayor Joe Reardon, the Unified Government and the residents of Kansas City, Kan.

Michael Carroll
Kansas City, Kan.