Migrants not to blame for fentanyl crisis in this country
The opinion piece about fentanyl poisoning our children written by Virginia Krieger and Lora Ries is true for the most part. It is definitely a public health crisis.
However, I have a problem with one paragraph. The authors insinuate that the drugs are coming across “our open southern border” with migrants. These drugs have been coming here for years. They come in trucks, automobiles, planes and boats. There was just a story recently of a flight attendant caught in San Diego with three pounds of fentanyl strapped to her body.
It is not the poor families of asylum seekers or other migrants trying to cross the border who are the cause of this epidemic.
Susan Swedler, Naperville
Southwest’s problems need more than ‘doubling down’
Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan apologized many times for the meltdown of the airline’s December schedule, which caused the cancellation of about 16,000 flights and affected perhaps one million travelers.
Southwest offering to cover expenses for the inconvenience is expected. In his Dec. 27 video message, however, his words to “double down” were disappointing.
Mr. Jordan said, “The tools we use to recover from disruption serve us well 99% of the time, but clearly we need to double down on our already existing plans to upgrade systems for these extreme circumstances so that we never again face what’s happening right now.”
Double down on their previous inadequate corrective actions will most likely result in another set of inadequate corrective actions. In the last few years, Southwest passengers have experienced minor meltdowns because of the airline’s outdated 1990s scheduling program.
Additionally, for years pilots and staff have repeatedly communicated to leadership that the outdated scheduling program needed to be upgraded. If I were on the CEO’s staff, I would advise him to stop saying we are doubling down and say, “I have established a blue ribbon committee of independent experts to report to me to determine the root causes of this meltdown and determine why previous corrective actions were ineffective. Additionally, I will post that blue ribbon committee report on the company website.”
Without these actions, I am not confident Southwest will be able to restore public confidence and regain the loyalty of the Southwest travelers, of which I am one.
Joseph P. Drago, Naperville
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