Support Reach Act to end child deaths
As a mother, I’m thankful to have four children born healthy and given many opportunities. Throughout my pregnancy, I had routine check-ups to ensure that my child and I were healthy.
Unfortunately, millions of mothers and children around the world don’t have the same access. In fact, more than 16,000 children die daily from preventable causes, and 800 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
The good news is that thanks to U.S. leaders, we have cut in half the number of kids dying from preventable causes like malaria and pneumonia. Now it’s time to finish the job.
Thankfully, a bipartisan group in Congress has introduced the Reach Every Mother and Child Act. It would help expand solutions to end these deaths within a generation. Because the U.S. cannot do it alone, the bill would introduce new financing mechanisms to bring new investors to the table.
This legislation offers the U.S. an opportunity to fulfill its promise to help end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths. I urge Rep. Fleischmann to co-sponsor the recently reintroduced bill and give all children a strong start in life, like mine had.
Sally Faulkner, Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
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Speed humps needed for Hunt Avenue area
On more than one occasion, I have brought to the attention of the city the problem of speeding on Hunt Avenue in Brainerd, only for it to fall on deaf ears.
This is a residential area with 25 mph signs. From Spring Creek Road to a sharp right on Hunt, a three-block area, is dangerous. I have had people pass me on the left while turning left into my drive with my signal on.
I am not an old geezer looking for something to complain about. We have a serious situation, and no one cares. Speed humps, please.
Jim Wolfe
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School board owes us accountability
As parents and homeowners in Tyner, we have deep concerns about the lack of transparency in the creation of the recently approved school capital plan, particularly without opportunity for community input.
How does the school system know if this plan addresses our kids’ best interests without talking to parents, educators and homeowners?
The vote wasn’t announced in advance, leaving our many questions unanswered – questions like: How will increased traffic congestion in the Hickory Valley/Bonny Oaks area be addressed? How will it impact property values? Can the combined Tyner schools become a community school? What safety measures will be adopted to manage middle and high school students in the same space? What is our future role as neighbors to CSLA when it’s not open for our students to enroll?
We should have had the chance to ask these questions. Long-term success requires input from everyone affected to make the best decisions possible.
The last question we have, though, is for the Hamilton County community: When and how will we hold our school board members accountable to be transparent in their decision making and collaboration with their constituents? We contacted ours this week and hope others will do the same.
Tunyekia Adamson and Cydni Myers