Letter to the editor: Take a closer look at western Chatham

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To the Editor:

I want to thank Rep. Ted Budd for his recent visit to Siler City to honor the late Mayor John Grimes. I think it’s important that our congressman visits the area he represents. But I do think Rep. Budd has a lot more to learn about west Chatham, its economy and how he can better support us in the U.S. House.

He seems to think that the recent individual recovery checks of $1,400 mean nothing to an area where the average income is about $37,000 per year (as of 2019). The American Recovery Plan, which he voted against, ensures parents receive $3,000 or $3,600 per child (depending on age) in an expanded child tax credit. According to city-data.com, 26.3% of children in Siler City fall below the poverty rate. That’s over one in four children!

But Rep. Budd states that COVID health restrictions are the only thing holding back our economy. I hope the congressman continues to visit western Chatham and speaks with the people who work at the chicken plant, not just the owners. I hope he visits Jordan-Matthews and Silk Hope Elementary. I hope he goes to Chatham Hospital and sees COVID vaccinations made possible by the federal government working with the state. Then he can ask them what Medicaid expansion would mean for rural hospitals, which was fully paid for in the bill he voted against (and which state GOP leaders still refuse to accept for N.C.). Unemployment benefits, small business loans and rental assistance have helped us, but he voted against those. So please return Rep. Budd, and you’ll also see what the proposed American Jobs Plan will do for rural broadband and other infrastructure here in western Chatham too.

Phillip Hunter Gilfus
Snow Camp