Letters to the editor Oct. 19
Hunter making progress on housing
As a retired downtown business owner, I sympathize with local businesses that have struggled to deal with our increasing homeless population. Homelessness is not only devastating for the individual experiencing it, but also causes a great deal of negative impacts for the community as a whole.
That is why I’ve appreciated Ryan Hunter’s unique voice on the Kalispell City Council.
Rather than engaging in short-term proposals that only serve to shift the homeless problem to a new location in the city, Ryan is committed to proactively working with community partners in identifying long-term solutions that address the housing, mental health and addiction services these vulnerable people need.
Ryan has past experience working on housing and homelessness issues and currently serves with the local Collaborative Housing Solutions partnership in developing and implementing a long-term plan to end homelessness.
Homelessness is a complex issue with no easy solution, but by re-electing Ryan Hunter for Kalispell City Council, we will have a strong voice in elected office advocating for the hard work necessary to make forward progress on addressing the issue.
— Margaret Lekander owned Wheaton’s Cycle in Kalispell from 1976 to 2021
Soft on crime
What seems to be the issue in the Flathead Valley with putting criminals in jail or even putting people on trial?
Once again, I open the paper this morning and yet another person get’s a slap on the wrist.
In June of 2022 we were sitting outside on our deck and saw a phalanx of police cars chasing a truck pulling a camper driving very erratically. The woman driving had allegedly stolen the camper and was endangering every person on U.S. 93 that evening. She received a drug charge related to that incident as she was allegedly found to be in possession of meth.
What is her punishment for this? She pleaded guilty to both charges and gets two suspended sentences. Is that how things work here in Kalispell? Commit a crime, admit you did it, and get a suspended sentence?
The message sent by the liberal judges and prosecutors in this town is flat out dangerous. Crime is on the rise here just like everywhere else in America because people are not held accountable in any meaningful way — and don’t think the lawless living in this area don’t know that.
I somehow thought that Montana was a lot like the West used to be in this country. Tough on crime, God fearing and conservitive values where folks looked out for one another.
The judges and district attorney’s here must be voted out in their next election cycle because they clearly are not looking out for our safety. You do the crime, you do the time — all of it.
Maybe one day I will open the morning paper and begin seeing articles where drunk drivers (third offense!) people who assault people with deadly weapons or beat and injure family members, etc., really receive the sentence they so richly deserve.
I’m waiting.
— Jill Williams, Kalispell