The loss of newspapers should concern us all

After reading the recent letter to the editor, “How giving small businesses an advertising tax credit could help save local journalism” (Feb. 15), I would like to state the following.

The decline in the number of newspaper subscribers and readers seems to be a barometer of the changes that continue to take place in our nation. That is in relationship to how Americans receive their news.

One must ask, as newspaper readership continues to decline, what effect will this have? For example, how do we as a people continue to grasp the importance of keeping up with local, national and world events without a variety of free and independent newspapers to compliment the new electronic age?

Today in this the 21st century, there are numerous ways to receive the news. There is television, radio, the internet and even more. However, the decline and demise of newspapers should be discussed and evaluated for the good of our republic.

This country cannot afford to see newspaper after newspaper go into oblivion because of a lack of advertisers or subscribers. A nation without a variety of free, local and independent newspapers cannot continue to be a vibrant, informative and cohesive democracy. Without the support and freedom of the press, the United States in time could be vulnerable to a non-democratic existence.

— John A. Micklos, Baltimore

Orioles spring training begins, along with hopes for heroes like ‘Scraps’

As The Baltimore Sun heralds the opening of Orioles spring training, it brough back memories of my childhood hero, Orioles catcher Clint “Scrap Iron” Courtney (“Finally ‘buzz’ worthy: Orioles sensing different energy in first post-rebuild spring training,” Feb. 18).

I was 12 in 1954 and in neighborhood baseball, they had made me the catcher. I was continually embarrassed when my eyeglasses flew off, as I whipped off the wire-caged face mask to chase pop foul balls. After I learned that Scrap Iron Courtney was the only bespectacled catcher in the MLB, I had my hero archetype as I went to the Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day with my Dad.

“He was the first big league catcher to wear glasses,” The Sun reported, “which made him look like ‘a frog looking up through a 50-pound block of ice,’ slugger Boog Powell said.”

In the third inning, I watched Courtney hit the first major league home run in Memorial Stadium, and then the O’s went on to beat the Chicago White Sox, 3-1. Applauding the bulldog of a catcher called “Scraps” as he grinned and circled the bases with his thick glasses in front of 46,354 cheering Baltimore fans allowed me to realize that the world was pure, sweet, just and beautiful.

Well, for a day at least.

— Stan Heuisler, Baltimore

Will Andy Harris say anything to get elected?

Dan Rodricks recently asked a question we’ve been asking for a long time in his Feb. 10 column, “Dan Rodricks: A fellow congressman asks a question for the ages: ‘What’s wrong with Andy Harris?’ ”

We were gerrymandered into Maryland’s 1st Congressional District to be misrepresented by Harris in the last election after a few years of being well represented by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Every time there is a new outrage, we ask, “What’s wrong with Andy Harris?” But there are no answers.

The congressman’s parents are immigrants. America has been good to him and his family, and this is how he honors America and constitutional democracy?

Harris is a Johns Hopkins-educated physician who prescribed Ivermectin for COVID-19. He has voted to cut SNAP benefits despite widespread poverty in his district. Will their children go hungry when the benefits stop? Will they vote for Harris anyway?

Why do people in the 1st District keep voting for Harris? Does he actually believe all the stuff he spouts or is he an opportunist who will say anything to get reelected?

— Barbara Johnson, Towson

Best fix for mental health care is expanded treatment

I keep reading and hearing about how Maryland’s new governor and legislature want to build a “world-class” mental health system in the state.

Wow, what a bunch of hypocrites. The last time I looked, the Maryland General Assembly legalized marijuana, legalized sports betting and allowed liquor stores and pot dispensaries to remain open during the pandemic lockdown. We all know that addiction is one of the leading factors in all mental health cases. I will bet that their new state-of-the-art system will consist of setting up a hot line, putting ads on television and billboards and no increase in residential treatment services. This is what they always do because they get media coverage and the people who really need help get nothing. The solution is very simple. Maryland has numerous closed psychiatric hospitals (Rosewood, Spring Grove and Springfield) and most likely empty buildings at our military bases. Turn those facilities into inpatient and outpatient treatment campuses that would be able to treat all forms of mental health issues.

Without new, affordable treatment services, everything else is just doing the same things over and over but expecting different results. Now that’s insane.

— Mike Gimbel, Lakewood Ranch, Florida