WS Chronicle

Lynch will make her home state proud

To the Editor:

I am pleased that the U.S. Senate has finally confirmed [Greensboro native] Loretta Lynch as the U.S. Attorney General.  She will be the first African-American woman to hold this post.

It is regrettable that Senator Burr and Senator Tillis were part of the process that held up the confirmation of their fellow North Carolinian for so long.

Mrs. Lynch is extremely qualified to carry out the important and crucial duties of Attorney General and will no doubt make our state and nation proud.

Patsy Keever, Chairwoman, North Carolina Democratic Party, Raleigh, N.C.

Day to shout, day to frown

To the Editor:

Today [April 23], after more than 165 days since she was nominated, the Senate brought U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch’s confirmation as the next U.S. Attorney General to the floor for a vote.

In a 56-43 vote, the Senate confirmed Lynch to be the next U.S. Attorney General and first ever African-American woman to serve in this role.

This is a day for shouting and celebration for America, with the confirmation of U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and a day of shame and condemnation in North Carolina for Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, who chose to vote against her confirmation.

America moves forward and they continue to move backward.

On behalf of the N.C. NAACP and our Forward Together Moral Movement, I congratulate the 10 Republicans and all 46 Democrats and Independents who voted to confirm Loretta Lynch as U.S. Attorney General.

Bringing shame to themselves and their offices, Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis from North Carolina chose to disrespect the first African-American woman candidate for this high office by voting against her. Rather than proudly introducing her and her family, who have given so much to the cause of Justice and Love in North Carolina and the nation, Senators Burr and Tillis chose to vote against her because she was going to carry out her duties to be the top law enforcement official for all.

The obstructionist strategy against Ms. Lynch — it took 166 days to bring her nomination to a vote — is shameful. The country will be well-served by our highly qualified new Attorney General.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of the N.C. NAACP, Durham, N.C.

Loretta Lynch has proven track record

To the Editor:

After nearly half a year in delays, the Senate finally marked an important moment in our history by confirming Loretta Lynch as Attorney General.

Lynch has a proven track record as a prosecutor and civil servant, dedicated to the fight for a more just democracy. Raised in the South’s dawn of integration, the daughter of a librarian and a Baptist minister, her service to our country is also informed by her personal narrative and moral conviction. The Senate made the right choice in confirming a candidate with the utmost of qualifications and a firm commitment to addressing the civil rights issues of our day. We congratulate Lynch on her well-earned appointment.

Co-Director Penda D. Hair, Advancement Project , Washington, D.C.

U. S. lucky to have Lynch as new AG

To the Editor:

The United States is lucky to have Loretta Lynch confirmed as our Attorney General. From modern-day voter suppression, to a devastating school-to-prison pipeline and escalating police militarization, the United States is confronted with issues that demand urgent attention from our Justice Department’s executive. We trust that Lynch will remain unrelenting in confronting injustices imposed on communities of color, and we look forward to seeing all that she will achieve as our Attorney General. We applaud her on this historic day.

Co-Director Judith Browne Dianis, Advancement Project, Washington, D.C.

The Advancement Project is a multi-racial civil rights organization.

The Salvation Army: Support rezoning

To the Editor:

I am writing to you because of my concern for a very important ministry in this community.  This is the ministry The Salvation Army collaboratively shares with other homeless shelter providers who care for the homeless in a way that does not duplicate, but covers every person who finds themselves without a roof over their head.

Currently, The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope for homeless families is on Trade Street. On any given day 50 percent of the residents are children.

They share the building with the Army’s re-entry program for federal offenders. Although carefully regulated, this is not the best model of service to either group.

The Army rents office space on Cleveland Avenue from HAWS [Housing Authority of Winston-Salem], and a building behind the Command is now for sale at 939 Cleveland Avenue.

It is affordable for the Army and is already configured with rooms that have bathrooms, two playgrounds for children and a commercial kitchen.

This property alone has been found to be affordable even with the addition of a needed sprinkler system & showers.

This location is near the Department of Social Services and Mental Health Services, and it is central to our transportation system, which is essential to our guests.

It could be ready in short order for the families at the Center of Hope. They would have their own well-supervised shelter at last.

We want to be at this site for only a season. Our hope is to have this safe and well-regulated home while we are looking for space and engage in a campaign to raise money to build a shelter and Emergency Assistance Office in a Command Center.  It is what we can afford now and be willing to sell later.

This is our goal for the short term. This is a PRECIOUS window of time for our ministry and therefore community.

We do our best work when we work together. Please help us continue to serve well by supporting the rezoning of the property in the Cleveland Avenue area for family shelter use.

 Lucy Paynter, Salvation Army Board Chair