Became Flowers fan
State Sen. Stephanie Flowers received attention for speaking in a notably forceful manner recently. I don't know her personally, but have been viewing Arkansas Legislature videos frequently online.
In February I told my own senator I'd become a fan of Senator Flowers. She consistently asks pertinent questions about why any bill is necessary and its ramifications. She doesn't make assumptions or rubber-stamp things. She's the kind of well-informed, experienced, principled legislator we need.
That hard-earned respect colored my perspective of her heartfelt outburst in March 6's judiciary committee meeting. She unleashed angry words, phrasing some points so strongly she surprised me. It was uncomfortable. She defied expectations.
Those who, like me, have watched some of her many previous hours of work likely already agree Senator Flowers benefits all of Arkansas. Newcomers should consider: Whether she spoke purely from the heart or deliberately aimed to shock, she did make her colleagues face unintended consequences that needed to be seen and perhaps couldn't be adequately communicated any other way.
She's a Democrat; I'm an independent, which I note to emphasize my praise isn't due to party affiliation. I commend committee chair (Republican) Sen. Alan Clark for always handling meetings well, including during this challenging situation. And Senate President Pro Tempore Jim Hendren (Republican too) handled the aftermath perfectly. I concur with Senator Flowers' statement Monday that the scrutiny this elicited is useful.
Kudos to all and thanks for your diligence, passion, and discretion. Keep up the good work.
TREVOR STILWELL
Fayetteville
Stop bill, protect state
A new Arkansas bill, SB492, would designate so-called "entertainment districts" across the state in cities with clusters of restaurants, bars, and venues such as cinemas. Within these areas, public drinking would be allowed.
This is but the latest in a long line of ill-conceived projects to "revitalize" areas and promote "culture." Nothing could be further from the truth. Culture is organic, created when residents move in and shape an area. True revitalization means attracting enterprising young families with children. Alcohol leads more often to de-vitalization.
Public drinking has a snowball effect. When an area has drunken people milling about at all hours of the day, other crime follows. Entertainment districts have demonstrable problems with alcohol-related crime, from fighting and sexual and domestic violence to DUI. As neighborhoods begin to appear unregulated, with public urination and loud revelry, transients are attracted and drugs and prostitution may follow. Police departments and residents bear the burden.
Who benefits if we all lose? These so-called entertainment districts could be just the first step in Arkansas toward what cities on the West Coast have already embraced, from recreational marijuana to "safe injection sites" for addicts. Despair runs roughshod over these places, with feces, spent needles and condoms, and dying Americans littering the streets as refuse.
Who do we want to be? Is a city just a nihilistic repository for the wasted, or is it something more, a nest where families and children can thrive? Stop this bill and preserve our state.
NEIL KUMAR
Bentonville
Contrary to their will
We may need Sen. Stephanie Flowers to speak on House Bills 1752 and 1753. No, seriously, how could the Honorable Rep. Robin Lundstrum think of modifying or replacing the state's minimum wage? This is not an accusation nor suggestion to accuse the honorable representative of wrongdoing, but maybe she is being influenced by some outside force. For surely a person who is elected to represent the people wouldn't do anything contrary to the will of people that she was elected to represent.
I agree with the Honorable Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The people have spoken and the law should be left as it is, changed by the people.
Former President of these United States of America Abraham Lincoln said, and I quote: "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."
FRANKLIN FURLOUGH
Little Rock
Misrepresented issue
Tuesday's editorial was a repetition of the claim made in a Feb. 14 editorial that high-tax states such as New York are "subsidized" by low-tax states. A simple Google search shows that this is just not true in spite of it being a Republican talking point.
States with high income and property taxes like New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Connecticut pay almost twice as much tax money into the federal government (despite being able to deduct those taxes prior to the new tax law) than do Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia, among others. On the other hand, those high-taxation states receive less money in federal assistance than they pay in, while the low-paying states receive more in federal aid than they pay in to the federal government. For example, Mississippi and West Virginia receive more than $2 back for every dollar they send to Washington while New York gets back 81 cents for each dollar paid in.
This isn't strictly a red versus blue state issue, as there are many variables among states such as military and other federal installations; however, the trend is clear and your editorial clearly misrepresents it.
SUSAN WESTON
Clinton
Why no pen show?
I was reading the featured weekend events in the Style section Thursday, and I was disappointed that among the "P" events listed, there was no mention of the Arkansas Pen Show being held. The event is full of such things as teaching writing, fountain pen repair and art. Michael Sull, former White House calligrapher, will be giving a lesson on flourishing. I am looking forward to the merchants where I can expand my ink, Blackwing pencil and paper supply.
Local Vanness will be there with its nationally selling ink brands.
I promised myself I will not buy more fountain pens. My husband does not believe me.
CANDI CABANISS
Monticello
Editor's note: The Arkansas Pen Show continues through Sunday at the Crowne Plaza in Little Rock. More information is available at www.arpenshow.com.
Editorial on 03/16/2019