Amend and adapt

Regarding the news report “Little Free Library may close its door on Selby”:

It may be “little” and its books may be “free,” but these words in no way diminish the influence and rich treasures a Little Free Library offers. As they have been “planted” and their numbers have increased in St. Paul from over a decade ago, Little Free Libraries have captured the hearts of most people, and the ire of a few. Occasionally a complaint is presented to our City Council objecting to the placement of an LFL; usually when it is on a public boulevard instead of private property.

Case in point is a Selby Avenue LFL on a pedestrian-unfriendly street with heavy vehicle traffic. LFL steward and property owner Greg Trentman appeared before the City Council last week to argue the placement of registered LFL #96307 (that’s 96,307 registered LFLs world-wide, as of our COVID years). According to the March 22 Pioneer Press article, Greg has until July 1 to remove the LFL. Unfortunately, the only place to relocate it is on a retaining wall which would make it inaccessible to wheelchair users (might the American Disability Act be invoked here?). In the meantime, if the LFL stewards chose, they could pay a $250 encroachment fee in order to keep the library where it is.

I haven’t totaled the number of Little Free Libraries in St. Paul. Those registered can be found on the LFL website map. Unregistered LFLs offer free books to read and return; they just do not appear on the official world-wide map. Some also offer sustenance for the body as well as for the mind and soul. Occasionally LFL users will add a piece of clothing, seed packets, a toy, or a few coins for bus fare.

Being a steward of LFL #93 since 2011, I can attest that our library has been a destination stop, as well as an oasis between arterial roads and bus stops. LFLs, being at walkways and easily accessible, serve as conversational places for neighbors, links between passers-by and residents, making eye contact and exchanging friendly words — creating safer neighborhoods. At our #93 a young rapper has found books of poetry; three young teen girls and I had a discussion of sexuality; books on home improvement and books in Spanish text are picked up quickly; an 8-year-old read a book with me on “Life Values,” and a 9-year-old filled her backpack with romance novels. When I asked if she was reading them, she opened one and said, “No. But when I do this,” moving her finger along a line of text, “I feel like I’m reading.”

I’ve lamented over time that our state and city leaders too often fail to see and consider how their decisions intersect and affect real lives of real people. Fortunately, Council Member Jane Prince recognizes that St. Paul City Council exists to represent people and their interests. Interests evolve in our society; when possible and feasible, codes need to be adapted to reflect residents’ needs. When Greg Trentman suggested the Council might amend the City code to permit certain structures such as Little Free Libraries on boulevards, Jane was listening to the will of the people and expressed a willingness to adapt.

— Sage Holben, St. Paul

The military and mental health

I have to admit, I’m getting a bit tired of people talking about people like me … mental-health-diseased, suicidal. If you want to know what’s going on with us, ask.

I’ve had major depression/anxiety all my life, but was not medically diagnosed until I was in my 50s. Since our disease is inside our minds/psyche there is nothing external to see, nothing internal to easily test. Our disease is frightening to most people; they don’t understand it and they can’t fix it.

Guns are used for suicide because it’s the only product we can easily access in America and it is guaranteed to work. Because of our gun laws in America, almost anyone can purchase a gun. I can walk into a store as a 73-year-old white-haired woman and tell the sales clerk I need a small handgun for protection. Once the gun is mine, no one monitors what I do with it.

It’s been statistically proven that men prefer guns and women prefer drugs when committing suicide. The military is overwhelmingly male. The men and women who enter military service may come with stable mental health, but can be broken down by the regimen of the system, physical or mental abuse inside the system, or the duties they are required to perform.

There are many types of mental health disease that can lead to suicide. There is a phrase “situational suicide” that is sometimes used when someone does not have a history of mental health disease, but faces a trauma/crises they cannot manage. There will never be enough medical personnel to help all those who need it. I would suggest that our military leaders also focus on the internal dynamics of the system that can push folks “over the edge” into suicide. That’s something the military has control over and could greatly impact all service members.

— Nancy Lanthier Carroll, Roseville

Benefits of eliminating the tax on Social Security

So here’s my new way of thinking about the benefits of the elimination of taxing Social Security:

1. Government savings. No need to have state employees “track” those six-month-and-one-day folks who snowbird in states where there is no tax.

2. Snow birds wouldn’t stay away for six months (and one day). They would be home more frequently — in Minnesota — and spending their money here — which would add to Minnesota coffers.

3. This is an opportunity for the Democrats and Republicans to both call this a win for all Minnesotans regardless of household income.

4. Let’s do this!

— Lisa Hanson, Stillwater

Abolish the front-plate law

Minnesota Statute 169.79 Subd 6 states “If the motor vehicle is any kind of motor vehicle other than those provided for in subdivisions 2 to 4, one license plate must be displayed on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle.”

I personally have observed numerous new and used vehicles both on the road and in parking lots with no front license plate displayed. Most of the vehicles not displaying a front plate are new high-end vehicles, i.e. BMW, Porsche, Audi’s, Land Rovers, Mercedes, Corvettes, and especially Teslas. I estimate seven out of 10 Teslas do not display a front license plate. In fact, new Teslas sold in Minnesota do not provide a license plate holder on the front of the vehicle. Now I am observing older vehicles that do not display a front license plate.

Where am I going with this subject, you ask?

I have a hunch that the police officers and state troopers have more important things to do than stop someone with no license plate and might be accused of profiling.

I am asking Gov. Walz to abolish Statute 169.79 Subd 6. Eliminate the display of a front license plate. By abolishing this statute, just think of the metal that could be saved making that front license plate on all the cars in Minnesota, all the pollution in the making of that steel plate, and the plastic mounting device to hold the license plate (more pollution and it’s a fossil fuel product).

So let’s get with it, Gov. Walz, it’s time to get rid of statute 169.79 subd 6 and adopt the no-front-license statute like the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and yes, even President Biden’s state, Delaware.

— Ron Videen, Inver Grove Heights