Editor, The Smithfield Times:

My summary response to letters in the Feb. 28 edition of the Times:

• Lewis Edmonds (“Joint stadium for SHS, WHS?”): Team sports at the local level need to be organized and funded by private sources, not public sources. Public schools have demonstrated that they cannot produce quality academic outcomes for all students. I am active with a major state university, and they now admit that they accept students who lack basic math skills and have weak reading skills. Build your own sports stadium, but stop asking citizens to fund it.
• David Lyons (“Growth is necessary”):  The resistance of existing residents to the out-of-control development is simple. It is not hatred of newcomers. It’s math and engineering. The current infrastructure is insufficient to support the EXISTING population. Have you traveled along Nike Park Road, Smith Nick Road or Route 17 at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.? Overwhelmed even when there is no issue. How about Route 17 from Carrollton toward Suffolk and back, same timeframe? Overwhelmed. The existing population understands that their needs are being subjugated to the benefit of businessmen like you and developers. 
• Hunter Lackey (“Put principle above politics”): I encourage you to research the legacy of Dick Cheney (Liz’s daddy) in his promotion of the “weapons of mass destruction” lie that was perpetrated by the then-vice president to President George W. Bush. This narrative sent this country into decades of war that supported the defense industry that supported their family. Liz is just another member of the deep state. I witnessed her interview on Meet the Press after her primary loss where she stated that “WE will do whatever it takes to prevent Trump from ever holding public office.” Usually that language is interpreted as a threat. The Democrat machine is now marching to her orders. 

 

Warren White

Carrollton