Disabled drivers need to have parking options

As a person who has a handicap parking placard, I read with interest about HB 2408.

I use only the van-accessible spots when I am unable to find a regular handicap spot. If the Legislature wants to limit those spaces to vans only, fine. But that will result in fewer spaces for people like myself.

This new law should also include adding an additional handicap space for nonvans. Please don’t take away something that is needed without allowing access to another space designated for us.

— Diane Wenz, Phoenix

Celebrating the benefits of free school breakfast for students

This week marks National School Breakfast Week, which celebrates 51 years of an incredible program.

Since 1966, the school breakfast program has provided millions of meals each year to kids in public, charter and private schools all over the country.

Here in Arizona, where one in four kids is food insecure, the program couldn’t be more valuable. Just last year, over 1,600 Arizona schools took advantage of the school breakfast program and served Arizona students over 50 million meals.

Teachers say school breakfast improves focus and participation. And studies show that school breakfast leads to a child achieving an 18 percent higher score on standardized math tests, missing fewer days of school and being at a lower risk for developing childhood obesity.

During a time when our country seems more divided than ever, let’s celebrate something we can all agree on: School breakfast works!

— Chris Boyd, Child/Youth Outreach Manager, Association of Arizona Food Banks,

Phoenix

Aging vets should be given more health-care options than just VA

Many of those who do not get VA care when they want it could just as well go to Medicare, so why don’t they?

I believe the VA should be redirected to provide care only for those veterans who recently left military service, especially those with mental problems, who really do need care due to service-connected health issues.

The rest of the vets, who have health issues from non-service related issues, should be directed to Medicare or put on it if they are not on it already.

I do not feel the VA should be in the day-to-day medical care of these vets as their normal aging occurs. I am a vet and I use Medicare and my own private health insurance for my health issues; I have never used the VA.

— William Eich, Sedona

Don’t use machines as an excuse to eliminate photo enforcement

Rep. Travis Grantham’s bill to outlaw photo enforcement on all local roads is based on his belief that photo enforcement violates the Sixth Amendment, which gives the accused the right to confront and examine a witness.

He thinks it is better to have police officers on the road. Have he and his supporters considered that, using this logic, these officers could not use photo enforcement or even their speedometer, as they too are machines? Rep. Grantham must think an officer’s estimate of the speed of a vehicle is more accurate.

I have a simple question for Rep. Grantham and other supporters of the bill: If you were called into court to prove that you each are the duly elected representative of your district, what evidence would you offer that is not in some respect created in whole or in part by a machine?

Voting machines cannot be cross-examined, but we have accepted their reliability for decades. While you cannot cross examine a machine you can cross examine the operator, the designer and manufacturer to prove its reliability.

— Ronald Clabaugh, Surprise

Let’s mitigate food waste by giving extra to those in need

I read the lead article in today’s Republic with a mixture of sadness and encouragement.

On one hand, it’s tragic that we can toss out so much when so many go hungry. On the other hand, it’s great that The Republic is going to work on emphasizing how to reduce food waste in the home. Making people more aware will help. So, here’s a question. I have heard of programs in other area’s that “rescue” prepared food from commercial settings — restaurants, company cafeterias, institutions — and delivers it to homeless shelters for disbursement.

This allows the homeless to eat some really good food and saves energy and resources by not having to cook meals.

It did require the involvement of the health department, and only used “sealed” trays of cooked food (no partial trays are allowed because of health issues) but it was a way of capturing nutritious food rather than having it thrown away at the end of the day for lack of interest in that particular menu item.

Maybe The Republic could investigate whether this is possible in Maricopa County, or even Arizona as a whole.

— Steven Schlosser, Scottsdale