Letters for Oct. 16: Shutdown unlike any other for US federal workers

Federal employees
My husband and I are retired federal government employees. My daughter-in-law is a federal government employee. We’ve seen shutdowns come and go but never have I experienced the kind of vitriol and threats toward government employees like this administration has heaped upon anyone who doesn’t bow down to them. The fear and disgust federal employees are dealing with is beyond anything I ever had to face.
I support the Democrats’ efforts to protect health care for all who need affordable choices, but maybe it’s time to let supporters of President Donald Trump feel the pain of what they are supporting. Let the subsidies cease and see if they still think the Republicans care about them.
Julia Walters, Portsmouth
Jay Jones
In my early law practice in the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney office, it was my esteemed privilege to have practiced with Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones’ grandfather, Hilary Jones Jr. You could not find a more skilled and ethical practitioner, whose warm personality and sense of humor garnered him the respect of every judge he appeared before. He also played a role in my personal upbringing when I appeared in a case with Hilary Jones Jr. and Hugo Madison before a difficult, no-nonsense judge. The judge saw that I had grown a mustache and told me that I could not practice before him until I shaved it off. I respectfully responded, “If you require me to shave it off, you will have to tell Hilary and Hugo to do likewise.” He looked at them and withdrew his mandate.
I also had the privilege to practice with and appear before Jay Jones’ father, Jerrauld Jones, a former Circuit Court judge, and his mother, Lyn Simmons, a current Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge. With all said, I am very upset and disappointed over the recent chain of events that have occurred in Jay Jones’ campaign for Virginia attorney general. His comments about a former Republican House speaker and wishing harm on him and his children are reprehensible.
If Jay Jones wins the race, it will be because of early voting. As important as it is to make a complete change in Virginia politics, Jay Jones has not done himself, his family or the Democratic Party any favors.
Tazewell Hubard, Norfolk
Due process
Recent polls reveal that more than 60% of Americans disapprove of the handling of deportations by the Trump administration. These actions are coming to Virginia as evidenced by the detention camp in Farmville and by the governor using the Virginia National Guard to assist ICE. This year Virginia has seen more than 4,000 detentions of which 57% had no criminal records, according to news reports. We can expect to see traffic checkpoints targeting people of color; unidentifiable, masked, men with guns appearing to kidnap folks off the streets; and U.S. citizen children possibly separated from parents.
How is the commonwealth going to respond to these increasingly aggressive tactics? In keeping with “see something, say something,” one should be ready to call 911 to report any observations of suspected kidnapping. Our next governor and members of the General Assembly will also need to respond.
This will be particularly important in the current Virginia House of Delegates District 89 race. The Republican candidate, Mike Lamonea, is a retired ICE special agent whose campaign literature highlights his support of mass deportations and intent to ban “sanctuary” cities in the commonwealth. Lamonea needs to be transparent with the voters regarding his support of the current ICE tactics and the impact of these tactics on the ability of law enforcement to work with local immigrant communities while ensuring that due process is afforded to all.
Tom Banford, Chesapeake