Bike Parking
To the Editor:
I accompany this letter with a photo taken on Revere Street of two bicycles secured to a young sapling. Due to an absence of bike parking in the neighborhood, bicyclists are finding their own solutions.
Although a bicyclist myself and sympathetic to the plight of fellow cyclists, I draw the line at putting trees at risk. I reported a similar issue to the City’s 311 app, but they have not taken any action. I cannot blame them. Perhaps, like me, they sympathize with the bike owners.
On Charles Street, there is a single bike bollard between Cambridge and Beacon streets, outside the now shuttered Starbucks, and no facilities elsewhere in the neighborhood. Bike parking facilities are obviously needed and until provided, trees will continue to be put into service, to their and our detriment.
Deborah Holt
Our Democracy is at Stake
To the Editor:
The January 6 Capital attack on our nation wasn’t a random act by a handful of sore losers, but a premeditated and organized insurrection. Now, thanks to the hearings, there’s overwhelming evidence that Trump and his allies were at the helm of it.
We heard from former members of the Trump administration and Republican state officials about how Trump illegally pressured the Vice President, the Department of Justice, and state legislatures to overturn the election he knew he lost. And when it didn’t work, he summoned an armed mob to march on the Capitol Building in a final, violent attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
These insurrectionist candidates haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, more than 100 of them have already won their primaries. It’s up to us to do our part and vote to make sure they don’t win this fall.
Should these dangerous candidates win their elections, we could have election deniers in key seats of power, like secretary of state and county clerk, ready to overturn whatever election results they don’t like.
Our democracy is at stake. If we want to hold onto our freedoms to vote, to have our votes decide elections, and to rely on elections to keep our leaders in check, then we have to cast our ballots during the midterms this year on November 8th.
Jo-Ann Sipple