Letters to the editor: July 26, 2019

Austin American-Statesman (TX)

Treat homelessness like

the emergency it is

Mayor Steve Adler's desire to actually do something about the homeless population is admirable. Yet his passion isn't reflected in his actions. Reverse the changes that were made to the camping ordinance in June.

Treat this problem as a natural disaster and respond with a FEMA attitude. There are volunteers all over this city who would help. Create an emergency facility. Bring in cots, bedding, food and supplies. Bring all the homeless to this shelter. Work with each person and identify their needs. If the solution doesn't exist, create it. Yes, the city will need to make budget cuts to fund this effort.

It is possible to be compassionate and clean up the tents cities.

If you want to exist on the street and trash our hometown, you're not welcome. I call Austin home. And it brings tears to my eyes to see so many people abusing it in the name of homelessness.

Martha Lefner, Austin

Blame those who hire

undocumented workers

Re: July 21 commentary, "Dems say no one's above the law -- except immigrants here illegally."

The only people truly above the law when it comes to illegal immigration are those who employ those immigrants.

Perhaps Marc Thiessen is unaware that it is illegal for businesses to employ workers of that status. That's the only reason I can see for his failure to mention that law. If the people who come here illegally could not find jobs, their numbers would drop substantially.

When Trump was asked if immigrants who entered the country illegally were employed at his numerous hotels, golf courses, etc., he said he didn't know. It would take very little effort for him or any of his minions to find out. And if any are found, fine those who are responsible, or put them in jail.

Immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally are certainly breaking the law, but they are not the only ones who are above it.

Frankie Westbrook, Rollingwood

Is Trump telling the

truth? Who knows?

Let's see: Iran and the United States are involved in a series of escalating contention. Military conflict is possible. An Iranian official stated that 17 people it just arrested are American spies. The president of the Unites States of America says that is not true. One of them is lying. And I don't know who it is.

Isn't that sad? That my own president is such a pathological liar that in an event of acute international tension like this, I cannot trust what my own president says? What have we come to in this country?

Donald Trump, our Liar-in-Chief. Pitiful. And dangerous.

Mark Truesdell, Georgetown

GOP needs to find

its heart and spine

I am sad at how our nation has developed. My heart breaks at the Republican leadership that does not lead, but follows a cruel, morally bankrupt man into anger and racism. Why don't Republicans repudiate this unChristian person?

What do these "leaders" tell their children and grandchildren, who, but for the grace of God, could be in the same spot as those poor children at the border? Where are their spines -- and where are their hearts? I don't understand.

Susan Sneller, Austin

'Acting' titles are big

in Trump government

Our government is barely functional.

The United States will soon have an acting Labor secretary, an acting Department of Homeland Security secretary with no deputy secretary, an acting White House chief of staff, an acting Customs and Border Patrol commissioner, an acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, an acting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director, an acting United Nations ambassador, an acting Food and Drug Administration commissioner, an acting Office of Management and Budget director, an acting DHS under secretary for management and an acting Federal Emergency Management Agency director (it's hurricane season!).

The Republicans are a liability that the American people cannot afford. They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. And Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Roger Williams should resign so that my generation can clean up their mess and impeach our terrible president.

Tim Naughton, Austin

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