After watching the video of the first robbery that took place in Minneapolis and reading about the second one I have a few thoughts.

My first thought is that if a 15-year-old person commits this type of crime, the public should be able to know who they are. If someone that age is out committing crime like that, they should be charged and treated like an adult and that includes having your name and face plastered across the news and paper.

My second thought is a sad one: What on earth is a 15-year-old kid doing out committing this kind of crime? What must their life be like? How sad that makes me.

And my last thought is: If we can’t get control of some of the things that are happening out there, what kind of world are we leaving our kids and grandkids? This scares me more than anything.

Cathy Ferrazzo, Mahtomedi

Two-party shortcomings

People really miss out when they vote party lines with the two major political parties. The stubbornness of being a party loyalist gets in the way of true democracy and true public service.

Politicians are not public servants. They are politicians with their own personal political agendas that put political parties first above and before the best interests of the people they are elected to serve.

I will also add that if you think that you are punishing a third-party candidate by not voting for them, that’s not the case. You are punishing yourself and others by denying them true public servant representatives who make the people their priority.

Margaret Sletten Behrens, Maplewood

For older homeowners, too

I strongly support Tarrence Robertson-Bayless to be our Ward 4 City Council member in St. Paul. I compare his background with the incumbent. She has taken money from all over the country. Tarrence is ONLY accepting contributions from our neighborhood — no PAC money.

Tarrence has an amazing work ethic and is able to listen and listen thoughtfully. He has not given me the usual political glib answers but answers the question asked.

I and other home owners have tried to contact the incumbent. She does not reply or is dismissive. She has made it clear that older homeowner are not within her radar although our increasing property taxes support her in so many ways. She wants our property taxes but only is interested in youthful renters — it is on her website. She talks about high-density housing and many believe there is affordable housing included. Sadly she does not mention that they lack affordable housing. The new, market rate apartment blocks are not affordable for someone who has to hold down two to three jobs. Related Articles Sainted & Tainted: Sign thieves were operating on their own misguided beliefs

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I care that my tax dollars are thoughtfully used but currently they are being used frivolously in a way that benefits a few of the in-group. We need a Ward 4 representative who is for all of us, not just a few friends. That is why I am voting for Tarrence Robertson-Bayless.

Stephanie Digby, St. Paul