Support USPS despite recent spotty delivery
I am sorry to write this letter, but I must. In the greater Grand Street (South Park) area, we have had our share of mail delivery problems but recently the quality of U.S. Postal Service has deteriorated to the point where it is intolerable.
Let me present a few examples of what is happening. At the end of July, our regular mail carrier was removed from our route. Delivery is made by different substitutes who arrive any time between 3-6 p.m. Leaving outgoing mail for pickup is a gamble, so I now take it downtown myself. Netflix sent me two discs that were scheduled to arrive on July 30-31 but have never arrived. When I reported this to Postmaster Stephanie Teets (via e-mail because the Postal Plaza phone goes unanswered), she told me that my mail slot was empty. I fear they were incorrectly delivered to another address. Netflix sent me two more discs on Aug. 4; one arrived Aug. 7, and the second was apparently delivered by a kind neighbor on Aug. 11.
One Grand Street neighbor received a whole bundle of packages and letters addressed to the same house number on Wilson Avenue! Two days ago, I received all my next door neighbor’s mail. I have heard several similar complaints from others about the increasing incidents of lost, late and misdirected mail.
If one neighborhood in Morgantown is having so many postal delivery issues, what must be the volume of problems at the national level? Given Trump’s opposition, our mail service is in grave danger! Many people plan to vote absentee in the November election, but how can we be sure our ballots will arrive safely?
We must all speak up to protect this service. We must demand a dependable, quality postal service and a new Morgantown postmaster as well.
Walter C. Labys
Morgantown
WVU, city, state have solid COVID plans in place
I am most impressed by the detailed set of guidelines and policies now in effect regarding the upcoming fall semester at WVU. It is thorough, reasonable and implements consequences for those who fail to comply
on-campus.
Our county officials and the Monongalia County Health Department remain closely involved with the governor’s COVID-19 policies and requirements. The city has also passed emergency ordinances related to protecting the safety of its residents during this pandemic.
From friends and members of the Morgantown community, I hear much concern — if not outright alarm — about the potential infection dangers arising within our local bars and restaurants where, according to CDC and WHO reports, many clusters of infections have occurred due to both physical proximity (lack of social distancing) and the incompatibility of wearing a face mask while eating and drinking. Accordingly, the CDC has issued detailed guidelines that address these concerns and propose evidence-based ways to mitigate some of these risks. (Internet search: Considerations for Restaurants and Bars COVID-19 CDC.)
Our state government has in place some of the provisions from the CDC guidelines, but are there consequences for those establishments who fail to comply? I would expect that our WVU, city and county leaders will make these establishments fully aware of these guidelines and provide to the extent possible any resources (informational and otherwise) necessary to implement them.
Remember the enemy is the virus and it isn’t in control unless we mitigate its spread. The bottom line remains: Whether our local bars and restaurants will follow guidelines to the extent possible; whether the city and county governments, business organizations and, of course, the WVU leadership encourage and continue to encourage these safe practices, which protect not only the customers of these establishments but also their employees.
Stanley Cohen
Morgantown
All WVU COVID cases should count in Mon
I am writing about the current cases associated with WVU and Monongalia County. I feel that it is irreversibly damaging to my community and our safety. The fact that WVU is being allowed to count only cases based on their filed address is beyond ignorant. There are thousands of WVU students living in my town at this very moment that have a home address listed in another state.
I have personally seen parties being thrown already with a hundred kids and no masks! I can tell you right now that cases will skyrocket in Monongalia County. However, under the current guidelines and through WVU policy, it is entirely possible that virtually only one-third of those cases will be counted in my community due to addresses. This is not only dangerous for health and safety but careless. If any WVU student tests positive for COVID while living in Monongalia County, I do not care what address they have on file, they should count towards the overall count in my county.
The community, the state and my city deserve the respect and safety of correct data and not misinterpreted data that is skewed towards what the university want to see. I will be in close contact with the university daily to continue this conversation because it is both valuable and necessary.
Megan Butler
Morgantown
In support of Petsonk for attorney general
Sam Petsonk is running for West Virginia Attorney General against incumbent Patrick Morrissey. This is easily the most important race in West Virginia this election. And Petsonk is the good guy here.
Petsonk is a labor attorney who has consistently fought for workers and the underdog.
Morrissey has filed a lawsuit that attacks core federal health protections.
The opioid crisis — Petsonk supports the use of long term recovery programs for those with opioid use disorder. Morrissey’s lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will cost West Virginia millions of dollars. Without those federal dollars, West Virginia cannot provide addiction treatment to those who need it.
Morrissey is challenging the constitutionality of the ACA. A repeal of the ACA would harm rural health clinics, cost the state 16,000 jobs and $1.08 billion in federal Medicaid funding. The 150,000 plus West Virginians who gained health insurance through the ACA’s Medicaid expansion could lose their coverage.
Preexisting conditions — Petsonk will protect health care coverage for folks with preexisting conditions. Folks will lose this coverage with Morrissey’s lawsuit.
Health care coverage of children up to age 26 — This is part of our federal law and is already paid. Morrissey is fighting this.
Black Lung clinics — Petsonk supports these clinics where federal health care laws have greatly expanded black lung benefits to miners. Morrissey is attacking them.
School based health centers and federally qualified health centers — Petsonk supports them. Morrissey is attacking them.
Seniors — Petsonk will fight for seniors and their retirement security. Many West Virginia seniors rely on Social Security because they don’t have retirement savings.
Consumer protection — Under the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, we will have a strong advocate in Petsonk.
Wouldn’t it be better to protect our health care coverage? Get treatment to those with addiction? Support protections for workers, consumers and retirees?
Then vote Sam Petsonk for attorney general this election.
Elizabeth M. Sneathen
Morgantown
Kudos to the academics and boos to the yobs
Kudos to Dr. Corey Farris and his colleagues who have taken proactive measures to further protect the WVU community; however, I still need to be convinced these measures will protect Morgantown as a whole.
Although WVU students may be “segregated” by rules and regulations while on “campus property,” what happens when said individuals are off campus property? Some students — not all — have deliberately chosen not to adhere to WVU guidelines implemented by Student Life. I refer to such students as “yobs.”
Yobs have chosen to believe they are above the law and therefore these guidelines do not apply to them as “paying guests” to our community. Yobs have no concern of the impact their wilful misbehavior has on Morgantown’s public resources (fire and police). Money would be better spent on “child minders” to police these “kids” 24/7 and keep them at home to study virtually.
As a product of the sixties and very much a progressive, I never imagined I’d become my granny, morphing into both a narc and NIMBY. I guess that comes with age and wisdom on the background of a pandemic.
True academics are welcome. Yobs are not. Your rental agreement and tuition can be refunded and you can be shown the door. We do not need you to survive. You are draining our valuable resources not adding to them. We are all stressed enough. We don’t need the “yob culture” adding to the equation.
Char Pyles
Morgantown
WVU alum condemns off-campus parties
Last Saturday night, there was a large party off campus. Lots of drinking, laughing and noises at 1 a.m. I believe that it was in the townhouses where Stewart Street turns into Stewartstown Road. I just hope that these party goers were practicing being socially distanced (probably not).
I am a WVU alum and I have been here all summer visiting my family and not had any issues until last night. WVU students are moving back and the parties begin. Classes haven’t even started, but the parties have. Is WVU going to be responsible for the spread of COVID-19 with their pure neglect of the social distancing standards placed by the CDC, the governor, etc.? Why did WVU think that they had to bring the students back to campus when many classes can be handled online with virtual learning?
Kamie Hagedorn MacRae
Stephens City, Va.
