Thanks for very useful map of power line routes

I do not know who in The Baltimore Sun’s graphics staff figured this out, but I just want to extend a thank you. What a helpful and clever design The Sun’s Steve Earley used to untangle the Public Service Enterprise Group’s web of disaster maps illustrating routes for the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (“Maps: See potential paths of Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project power lines,” Sept. 17).

The illustration made it so easy to click on a clearly identified route and look at it without all the other nine routes confusing you. You would think the multi-billion-dollar PSEG could have done that instead of offering a spaghetti plate of tangled options — but I think we know why they did not, as confusing the public can be a strategy!

Thanks so much.

— Jackie Vaughn, Upperco

Hogan would make a great senator regardless of his party

I am disappointed that you published a commentary by Marc Springer, an attorney in Massachusetts, telling the voters of Maryland not to vote for former Gov. Larry Hogan (“Remember, Trump wants you to vote for Hogan in November,” Sept. 23). The only reason he could give was that Hogan is a Republican.

Larry Hogan is a very independent Republican. His vote in the U.S. Senate will represent the people of Maryland and not how his party leaders want him to vote. The reason that former state Sen. Bobby Zirkin so strongly supports him is he realizes that he was a great governor and will be a great senator. Hogan’s opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, will vote how the Democratic leadership and her mentor, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen tells her.

It is interesting that the front page of the same issue of The Baltimore Sun, there is an article describing how Alsobrooks received undue property tax breaks (“Angela Alsobrooks says she didn’t know she was saving thousands from improper property tax breaks,” Sept. 22). She did not pay her fair share for many years. I urge the people of Maryland vote for the person and not the party. It is very clear to me that Hogan is the better candidate, and he will be a thoughtful, independent voice of reason in the Senate.

— Harold Mendelson, Pikesville

Time for Israel to stop the war

I think it’s about time that President Joe Biden and members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate get together and tell those in Israel’s Knesset and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they stop this war (“A war with Hezbollah may be looming. Is Israel prepared?” Sept. 23).

How? I don’t care how, but this war in Gaza will never end. Too many from both sides must come to the conclusion that constant destruction and deaths will suffer. I am Jewish, not a citizen of that country, but if those leaders there continue to pursue more death, it will destroy both countries.

— Art Shefrin, Pikesville

Candidates should make affordable child care a priority

As we approach the upcoming election, it is imperative that candidates up and down the ballot prioritize child care (“Child care more expensive than rent in some large metro areas,” Sept. 23).

The average cost of child care for two kids is now higher than the average cost of rent in all 50 states, pushing 40% of families with young children into debt. The average annual cost of infant care in Maryland is $15,335 — that’s $1,278 per month. Maryland is ranked 7th out of the 50 states for most expensive infant care.

As a single mother living in Talbot County (a known child care desert on the Eastern Shore) who is responsible for paying my mortgage, $80,000 in college loan debt and putting food on the table for my son, I worry every day how I am going to make it financially to pay for child care until he reaches age five and can enter the public school system.

During this election season, we hear candidates talk about putting families first, but we need real policy solutions that ensure that families like mine aren’t forced to drown in debt.

This shouldn’t be a partisan issue: 89% of voters want candidates to have a plan to help working parents afford high-quality child care, underscoring the broad, bipartisan support for addressing the child care crisis.

I urge U.S. Senate candidates Angela Alsobrooks and Larry Hogan to commit to prioritizing childcare in their first 100 days if elected. It’s time for our leaders to answer moms across the country who are calling for affordable, accessible and quality child care. Our families, businesses and our children’s futures all depend on it.

— Julie Leitch, Wye Mills