Letters: Supreme Court case, GOP walkout, gateway redesign, food labeling, helping seniors

Supreme Court case has massive implications for environmental protection

The legal system is a crucial factor within the environmental movement. With a slam of its gavel, it can give change to whole landscapes, pollute drinking water, and destroy human life.

A new Supreme Court case Sackett vs EPA is leaning toward a disregard for the environment as a whole, by dangerously putting property rights over already established environmental laws. The case relies on an intersection between federal regulation of wetlands, and property rights, which was brought to national attention by the Sacketts couple, who sued when they weren't allowed to build on their land, as it was a protected wetland.

This came to a head when brought to the Supreme Court, as there was unanimous agreement in favor of the Sacketts, but were split on what this meant for the EPA's fundamental guidelines. The case is so profound because of its massive implications for environmental protection, and especially wetlands. It makes it easier for individuals and businesses to delay urgently needed environmental action, and this can be devastating because as we have seen in situations with East Palestine, wasted time can kill.

It also limits the EPA's authority over wetlands, allowing property owners greater ability to engage in potentially damaging activities without the needed oversight. This increases the risk of habitat destruction, pollution and harm to ecosystems that rely on wetlands for biodiversity and ecological balance.

Alex Libby, Bloomington

Resorting to politics

“Their lack of preparedness to discuss and their clear apprehension to utter a word as it pertains to border security policy was not just an oversight, it was intentional. It was a political decision,” Sen. Todd C. Young (R-Ind.) said after a recent classified briefing on the status of the Ukraine war efforts that had Republican senators walk out during the session.

Shocking that any party would resort to politics when faced with critical decisions facing our country. Certainly the Republicans would never dream of doing such a dirty deed. Except for book banning, drag shows, women's health care, Hunter Biden, Black history, voting rights, military promotions, sexual orientation, religion, Disney movies, and DEI to name a few.

Nice try, Todd.

Jeff Kaden, Bloomington

New submission doesn't represent city well

It seems that the designers of the monolithic eyesore have responded to its rejection by submitting, as a welcome to Bloomington, the other extreme — a prehistoric ruin from Scotland. Neither of these designs represents Bloomington well at all.

Juliet Frey, Bloomington

See the design:After monolith fiasco, Bloomington proposes new design for northern gateway

Funding, staff needed to help Adult Protective Services

I am not sure the public is aware of the massive job Adult Protective Services has in this county and other surrounding counties. Look up what they do. They are awesome.

There are so many elderly who are not cared for properly, suffering in their homes. I have also seen a major improvement in nursing come care, so they are not to blame. This problem of not enough funding and staff will only grow as the population continues to age. ...

I implore county and city officials to bank funds and to hire more staff and to provide an increase in services including perhaps a volunteer call center after hours. Or at least set up a mechanism for the public to donate. Hope this helps someone.

Roy Graham, Bloomington

Food labeling legislation needed

Most of us know the quandary. There’s something in the pantry that’s passed the date on the label, and we wonder “cook or trash?”

Often as not when things are iffy, into the trash it goes.

This quandary is more than just a household issue. The U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that 31% of our nation’s food supply, equaling 133 billion pounds and almost $162 billion, goes to waste from stores and homes, while over 12% of Americans will experience food insecurity at some point during the year.

The Food Date Labeling Act (S.1484, H.R. 3159) is bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing this unconscionable waste by creating a standardized food dating system with just two labels: "BEST If Used By" to communicate a food product's quality or "USE By" indicating a food product's shelf life.

Such labeling eliminates the confusion we face at the doors of cupboards, and it diverts packaged foods from the landfill to local food pantries and regional food banks.

This holiday season, as you put special dishes and weeknight meals on your table, offer your voice as a gift to our community. Join Indiana Bread for the World as we encourage Rep. Erin Houchin to co-sponsor this common-sense legislation.

Adrianne Meier, Bloomington