LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Take careful approach to coyote problem

I’m very sorry for the family of the dog “Poochie,” killed by a coyote, but it’s not entirely the coyote’s fault.

Although we don’t want to admit it, humans have encroached upon the territories of wildlife (including bears, bobcats, deer, etc.) forcing them into the public eye to search for food. When they do appear or attack, we’re all too quick to blame the animals when in fact the blame is ours.

State media has reported on several occasions the coyote problem. Owners of small animals should be aware of their surroundings and threats in their neighborhoods. I’ve heard from New London friends that coyotes have been sighted for several years.

And isn’t there a leash law? No matter where you take your animals, using a leash should be a rule. If you love your animals, keep them inside or on a leash.

I don’t own a dog, but have a cat and horse. Woods surround my Lisbon home. I’m vigilant to keep my cat indoors unless I take it out on a leash (the horse lives elsewhere). Not only coyotes have taken up residence in the neighborhood, but other predators as well, namely fisher cats. Hopefully DEEP helps folks in New London and elsewhere, dealing with the coyotes in a humane way. Claire Muskus Lisbon

Cuts send wrong message to Pentagon

Groton has a diverse student population that requires a broad and thoughtful education policy. As a host city to a military base, the Groton community must fund a quality education for all our students to keep the submarine base off any future BRAC list. Electric Boat and our taxpaying employers need a relevant curriculum taught to their future employees.

That is why Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s decision a few months ago to cut Groton’s education funding by $14 million, now $17 million, was wrong on so many levels. It’s irresponsible and shortsighted, sending the wrong message to the Pentagon, to our taxpaying employers and families.

If there’s one bright spot in Connecticut’s fiscal mess today, it’s Sen. Heather Somers. She gets it and has been a fierce fighter for both real financial reform and adequate local funding. She’s worked on an alternative budget that restores the money cut by the Malloy administration and balances the budget without tax increases. This fight is not over, but at least we have a senator who understands the real consequences if these foolish cuts from Hartford are not stopped. We have a full-time senator who fights for us like a mother bear! Jane Dauphinais Groton

GOP covers for Trump, democracy threatened

Yes and no to the op-ed “Chaotic Trump news cycle confuses public” (May 16). Yes on the chaotic and confusion-addled President Trump, but no to any confusion in the resistance.

Impeachment possibilities surfaced with the firing of FBI Director James Comey (obstructing justice?) and classified info shared with the Russians (jeopardizing national security?), but yet from day one Congress has yawned at Trump’s glaring conflicts of interests threatening the Constitution’s Emoluments clause.

You know our bass ackwards/ downside up democracy needs help. “Doesn’t affect me one iota,” you say? But the unavoidable resulting cynicism has a tremendous effect on everyone, including you. Facts? Lies? Alternative facts? Alternative lies? Inconsistencies? Contradictions?

All meaningless concepts with naked self-interest, Trump’s 24-7 motivation as a Republican Congress provides cover, more interested to extend party dominance than the country’s wellbeing.

SAD! Jay Lustgarten Stonington