Wildlife can’t survive, but preservationists have gone silent amid urban development | Opinion
Go wild
Everywhere I look, I see dead deer, possums, raccoons and more. Also, more and more construction projects are clearing trees, brushy areas and other areas that provide places for wildlife to survive. There are fewer and fewer places for animals to go.
I do not hear nor read about wildlife preservation groups protesting developments — no wildlife impact surveys and reports. Where did the preservation activists and other groups disappear to? Where are the concerns for what development does to wildlife? So many of these construction projects fail, resulting in empty buildings occupying space that could have harbored wildlife.
Dead buildings, barren yards, no water streams or creeks. Developers desecrate the land.
Take the huge tract at Bannister Road and Interstate 435, where a mall went out of business, then structures were built for Cerner Corporation just south — and it’s all dead space now.
So, where are the wildlife preservationists, those voices crying in the wilderness? We continue to allow land to be cleared for soon-to-close businesses.
One good thing, although small: Kansas City passed a moratorium on new gas stations this year. Come on, people — get concerned.
- William A. Ingram, Kansas City
Their own terms
Multilingual learners (previously known as English language learners) in the Kansas City area face significant systemic educational challenges. Although multiple solutions exist, implementing and expanding dual-language instruction programs that honor students’ home languages offers the most promising path forward.
Our districts must prioritize educational equity, helping students achieve English proficiency and reclassification within their first five to seven years in U.S. schools. This goal becomes more attainable when we leverage, rather than suppress, students’ native-language skills.
Districts should expand two-way dual-language programs offering academic instruction in the languages spoken by our English learners, particularly in their own communities. This approach supports language acquisition while preserving valuable bilingual abilities.
Many English learners remain in English-only classrooms that diminish their emerging bilingual abilities, while their English-dominant peers increasingly access bilingual education opportunities. This inequity must end. Schools at all levels must prioritize language acquisition and multilingualism as core educational values.
By embracing these changes, we can create an educational system that celebrates linguistic diversity and prepares all students for success.
- Elizabeth Ault, Roeland Park
Harry’s vision
We just observed the 75th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman signing the Unitary Plan Act. This legislation approved the building of wind tunnels for research that led to improved national defense, aviation and manned space travel up to and including the NASA space shuttle.
As a concerned citizen, I think far too many Americans are unaware of this. Scientific breakthroughs from space travel affect our everyday lives. Smartphone cameras use technology developed by NASA. We can call 911 only because cell service works via satellites. The U.S. launched its first satellite in 1958.
Scientific research about weightlessness in space and bone loss led to knowledge about osteoporosis. NASA has contributed to the development of many medications. The legislation Truman signed helped pave the way for the multibillion-dollar space industry.
Thank you, President Truman. We salute you.
- Patty Petet, Independence
Streetcar fiction
Let it be known: The world’s slowest roller coaster, also known as the KC Streetcar, has made it south of Union Station. But don’t get too excited, because thus far, they are just testing their brand-new single-point-of-failure system.
And so, as I recently saw a streetcar sit idly 150 yards past its former terminus while a nearly empty city bus drove nimbly past it and onward up the hill, I had to laugh.
Maybe I just miss my childhood, when playing pretend wasn’t so expensive. It reminded me of an old joke: You know what a streetcar is? A bus that can’t turn.
- Gordon Gilges, Kansas City
Parents’ needs
There is a critical need for comprehensive postpartum wraparound services in Kansas City. The transition to parenthood is a profound life change, yet many new parents feel isolated and overwhelmed. By integrating mental health support, routine assistance and resources for balancing life with a newborn, we can significantly improve outcomes for families in our community.
Postpartum mental health is often overlooked, yet conditions such as postpartum depression can severely affect parents and their infants. Accessible mental health services are essential to address these challenges early. Additionally, practical support — such as meal delivery, child care assistance and household help — can ease the burden on new parents, allowing them to focus on bonding with their child.
Furthermore, educational programs on infant care and self-care strategies can empower parents to navigate this new chapter with confidence.
Investing in these services not only enhances individual family well-being, but also strengthens our community as a whole. It is time for Kansas City to prioritize holistic postpartum support, ensuring that all new parents have the resources they need to thrive.
- Chelawnta Lewis, Kansas City
