We are saddened to hear about the recent TV tip-over incident involving 6-year-old Julian Demarce, who passed away after a reported 190-pound CRT television fell on him at his home in Willmar, Minn. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident; child injuries and deaths from furniture and TV tip-overs are common. In fact, one child dies every two weeks, and every 30 minutes an injured child goes to the emergency room from a tip-over incident, most of which occur in the home.
Through improved safety standards, anchoring and education, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) hopes to save lives and stop injuries. Follow these tips:
• Anchor older furniture with inexpensive anti-tip brackets found at most hardware and baby stores.
• Immediately install anti-tip devices sold with new furniture.
• Only place TVs on furniture designed to hold a TV.
• Anchor TVs to the wall, and if you are unable, tether to furniture.
• If you are unable to anchor the TV at all, place it on a low, sturdy TV stand.
• Take unwanted TVs to a local recycling center.
Our thoughts are with Julian's family during this difficult time. The CPSC's Anchor It! campaign, anchorit.gov, is a call to action for parents and caregivers. If we can prevent one more tip-over death or injury, it will be worth it.
Marietta S. Robinson and Joseph Mohorovic, Bethesda, Md.
The writers are commissioners of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
HWY. 610 CORRIDOR
Connection demonstrates a persistence of vision
On behalf of the North Metro Mayors Association, we want to express our congratulations to the cities of Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park. They merit recognition following the Oct. 20 ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating the connection of Hwy. 610 to Interstate 94, a project that has its origins in the foresight of city leaders as far back as the 1960s.
The city councils along the 610 corridor, from Maple Grove to Blaine, protected much of the right of way for decades. They stuck to their vision of a better regional transportation system and we all benefit today.
The cities implemented their large vision in sections. They found partners in the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the counties, the Minnesota Legislature and Congress.
They persisted, with a lot of help from their neighbors, including Champlin, Osseo, Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mounds View, Hennepin County and Anoka County. Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park earned the right to celebrate the latest piece of the puzzle. It's desperately needed to serve the thousands of new jobs and houses that have erupted in the 610 corridor since the vision first took hold.
But we aren't done yet. Connection of Hwy. 610 does not mean the project is completed. There is still another $45 million in state, county and city funds needed to complete the city and county road improvements needed to make the west-end connections work efficiently and safely. The "TH 610 Completion Project" is but one of several large projects in the northern suburbs and one of many across Minnesota waiting for funds that currently are not in the pipeline. Action by the 2017 Legislature is essential to timely completion. Persistence still matters.
Kathi Hemken, New Hope, and Dave Bartholomay, Circle Pines
The writers are their cities' mayors.
THE CAMPAIGN
You can find out who's behind those mailings and calls
Our Edina household recently received two large, glossy mailers attacking state Rep. Ron Erhardt, the DFL Party candidate running in Minnesota District 49A. The small print named "Driving MN" as the source for the mailers. We then received a "robocall" from the same organization. I had never heard of it, so decided to track it down on the internet. I found "Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board" (http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us) then clicked on "Political Committees and Funds," chose "View Reports," and searched from the alphabetic index.
I was able to see that Driving MN is a political action committee solely financed by MADA Service Inc. — the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. The report showed the officers and listed the auto dealers around the state who donated. The MADA PAC started 2016 with $189,000 available to influence elections around the state. I wondered why it was meddling in an Edina election? Did Erhardt vote against its business interests or did they fear he might do so in the coming legislative session? Why not identify themselves instead of hiding behind a shadowy entity with a misleading name?
If you have received political mailers or phone calls from unknown sources, look them up, as I did, to see behind the curtain employed by people not willing to stand and declare.
Phil Johnson, Edina
MILITARY ACTIONS
'Shadow war' is unacceptable
It was surprising to read in the Star Tribune that the U.S. sponsored and directed an invasion of Somalia in 2006 using Ethiopian troops, and that extensive military operations are now being conducted to combat Islamic soldiers. ("The U.S. shadow war in Somalia," Oct. 16). The questions to ask are what we are fighting for and under what congressional authorization.
Few Americans know about the 2006 invasion to overthrow the Islamic Courts Union, which had brought government back to Somalia. But seemingly the U.S. thought that entity was allied with Al-Qaida, thus sponsored the invasion. But it was brutal, and a military group developed named Al-Shabab ("The Lads") developed to fight off the invasion.
Now, according to the article from the New York Times, the U.S. is doing extensive bombing, sending out SEAL teams to do assassinations, and even doing "enhanced interrogation" of captured soldiers.
The War Powers Act was put in place to make certain that going to war made sense and was widely supported. It would be nice if the government explained why this cruel and costly warfare is necessary. It isn't enough to label everyone we don't like as being "terrorists" and proceed with unexplained warfare.
Gary Farland, Minneapolis
THE WORKPLACE
Social illness on sick leave
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has filed suit to halt an ordinance that would require businesses to offer sick time to employees (front page, Oct. 15). The ordinance, slated to go into effect next July, would grant full-time employees the opportunity to earn up to 48 hours per year of sick time.
Six days — that is what the Chamber of Commerce is fighting about — an individual being able to earn up to six days of sick leave in one year. Are we such a selfish, stingy nation that the thought of granting employees the ability to earn six sick days warrants such outrage and revulsion? Or are those employees supposed to work through the flu or find someone to take care of their sick child, or else risk loss of pay that their family needs?
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce should be ashamed of its stance on the sick leave policy. I know I am.
