Letters to the editor

>Short leases, more problems

John Hoff is naïve to think mandating the option of nine-month leases in the University area will solve any problems ("Yearlong leases hurt students, economy," May 31). 

Yes, it's hard to find people who will rent for only the summer. So what will landlords do when faced with the likelihood of three vacant months? They'll raise the rent for the other nine months. Thus a student will pay nearly the same for nine months as for 12 but get three fewer months of occupancy.

And what of the student whose nine-month lease expires in May but who wishes to sign a new one in August? If the landlord finds a tenant in May who wishes to commit to a full year, should that tenant be turned down so the apartment can be "saved" for the returning student?

The University already has nine-month housing options available. They're called dormitories. Do we need more of them and/or do we need to make them more affordable? That is the proper question to debate.

August Berkshire

Minneapolis landlord

Other options

Yearlong leases may hurt students in some ways, but nine-month leases would damage the economy even more.

When John Hoff speaks in his May 31 column, "Yearlong leases hurt students, economy," he mentions how the economic productivity of our state is damaged by dropping out of college. Yet the enumerate number of rental facilities in the area would never be able to provide housing if they were to be required to have an empty unit for three months of the year.

If the Legislature mandates a nine-month lease option, every lease in this area would be raised to cover the time when the unit would lay dormant. Otherwise, there would be a much lower number of housing options and thus preventing the vast number of students from attending the school in the first place. Doesn't this seem like it would damage the economy more than a few students not "reaching their potential."

While I find it quite a leap from "having" to sublet to stoners to dropping out, there are plenty of other options for students. The University has nine-month leases in almost all of their on-campus housing. These options allow students who return home for the summer to have a place to live for only the nine months they are on campus.

For those who choose to live outside of these options, they can stay on campus themselves. They can take a summer course, work to earn next year's tuition oranything else they'd like.

By not offering a nine-month option, near-campus housing ensures that they will be able to turn a profit while also helping to keep a near dormant area lively while many have left for the summer.

Kyle Lundequam

University alumnus

Water fluoridation

Once again, Minnesotans have been deceived.

When our health authorities decided (on our behalf) to fluoridate every municipal water supply statewide in 1970, their decision was based on poor science and political pressure. If such a measure - perhaps appropriately titled, "Do you support untested involuntary medication via municipal water supplies" - were put to a public ballot referendum today, you can bet it would get quickly defeated.

Most of the world has rejected fluoridation. Only America, where it originated, and countries under strong American influence persist in the practice. Less than 5 percent of the world's population is fluoridated and more than 50 percent of that population lives in North America. Shouldn't Americans be slightly curious to the reason why leading developed countries including Germany, Japan and China outright ban fluoridation?I would like to know if our health officials read these same reports,yet drew a much different conclusion.

Logistically, community fluoridation is a disaster. Although few Americans even drink water from the tap anymore, less than 1 percent of all household water used is consumed, leaving the remaining 99 percent to water plants, flush toilets or wash dishes. If fluoride was meant to enhance our teeth, doesn't this illustrate a lesson in futility?

Look up water fluoridation on the Internet and give me a call if you still support its inclusion to our water supply.

Jason Krueger

Fluoride Action Network, Minnesota representative