Fracking is everyone’s problem

Fracking has been framed as a regional issue, a rural issue in other words, a not our issue. The INDY‘s story on the natural gas companies approaching Durham residents really shows why it’s important for everyone to be concerned about fracking (“They can’t fracking wait,” July 23). This dangerous drilling process will affect North Carolinians whether they live inthe city or out in the country, whether there’s a well pad on their property or a pipeline running through their town. We can no longer afford to think that fracking is someone else’s problem. Fracking threatens the water quality and health of all North Carolinians.

Amina Bility, Durham

Outside the other day, my hot, tired 3-year-old asked for water. I spilled some on the ground, and he became distraught. “Wipe it up!” he cried. So much of parenting is fuzzy, I was glad this answer was clear: “I can’t.”

Spill water on the ground, you can’t get it back or wipe it up.

Proponents of fracking in NC want to inject millions of gallons of water containing dangerous toxins into our ground, but they say they’ll get it all back up and stored away safely.

Fracking toxins injected into the ground will go into our children’s water and crops. Right here in our state if we let them. I couldn’t help my son by wiping up the water I spilled on the ground, but I will protect clean water for our children’s future.

I don’t have time to storm the Legislature. I’m writing this at my kid’s gymnastics class. Many parents are busy taking care of their kids and volunteering in their communities. But meanwhile, our water, and therefore our health and our home, is being threatened. Let’s protect our home and our kids’ future. Visit http://tinyurl.com/l2rerxn to sign a petition, contact your representatives, visit http://tinyurl.com/ls65x4z for hearings where you can voice opposition, and contact Environment North Carolina or other environmental organizations to volunteer to do more.

Lisa McDowell, Durham

Poetry lies its way to the truth

Re: “McCrory’s mean joke: A poet laureate who’s barely a poet“

Our governor chose a new laureate,

A decision we should excoriate:

About poems, he’s a dope,

Arthe knows only Pope;

Embarrassed are we in McCrory’s state.

Jim Neilson, Raleigh

Re: Velvet Cloak

Aaron Lake Smith’s article regarding the shameful business dealings of the Smoots was a real eye-opener (“Velvet revolution,” July 31). I have attended many wedding receptions at the Velvet Cloak and have been absolutely appalled by the decline of that grand old building.

The Velvet Cloak could have been very affordable housing for those in need of such accommodation. Instead, the Smoot “Greed Machine” turned it into a legacy of shame and a genuine black mark on the city of Raleigh.

Also, as a retired USPS employee, I am very angry to read of the misdirection and mishandling of mail. It is a federal crime to engage in that activity. The postal inspectors should be notified by the current residents and their attorney. All postal employees take an oath to uphold the sanctity of the mail and to never allow anyone else to delay, steal or otherwise compromise this service.

If the Smoots cannot be brought up on any other charges, the postal inspectors should be able to make them see the egregious error of their ways.

Nancy Jones, Raleigh