Improve the walking experience
My fellow Vancouverites, please take the following quiz to see if you can make our wonderful city just a little more livable.
Question 1: Do you have a sidewalk in front of your house?
Question 2: Do you have a tree in your front yard?
Question 3: Can everyone taller than a toddler walk on that sidewalk past that tree without either stepping into the street or taking a branch to the face?
If your answers are “yes,” “yes,” and “no,” please take the time to trim back those branches.
The weather is getting nicer (finally!) and with this one simple act, you will greatly enhance the walking experience of your neighbors and visitors to Vancouver.
Theresa Kelsay
Vancouver
Don’t cut firefighting budget
Recently I had the honor of participating in the Vancouver Fire Department Community Academy for 27 hours as a firefighter.
After five hours of intense training in basic fire skills we were each driven to a fire station to become part of the crew participating in fire calls for the next 22 hours.
When calling 911 you expect a quick response. Many of us are not aware of the low staff level our 10 fire stations have.
City Hall is considering cutting firefighters to balance the budget. I don’t understand how planning a waterfront expansion when we currently have plenty of empty retail and office space makes any sense. The safety of our city should be paramount. Without sufficient firefighters, trucks and paramedics one disaster is all it will take to turn Vancouver into shambles.
We’ve already lost an EMT truck, now to cut 25 firefighters and one station — do the math. I am missing the logic of City Hall’s decision. I’d rather have a full fire crew than a fancy waterfront to compete with Portland, wouldn’t you?
Susan Page
Vancouver
Flashing red lights can be confusing
I am wondering: What is happening with the stoplights around the Hazel Dell/Felida area? There are two lights on Hazel Dell Avenue that seem to be permanently red flashers for four-way stops. And then, the other day, I found another light on Andresen Road flashing red for a four-way stop, too. All three of these lights are done up with the fanciest lights with turn signals and all. I cannot understand why we’re wasting our money putting in these fancy lights and not using them. They are confusing, after so many years with them in normal operation.
I am surprised there haven’t been many accidents.
Jennifer Pope
Vancouver
Blame deflected; taxpayers will pay
It is curious, but not surprising, that if you or I dump a few gallons of oil on the beach, we face a large fine and possible jail time and a criminal record.
As far as I can tell, British Petroleum is not yet being fined daily and none of their decisionmakers is in jail or even facing jail time.
Also, the politicians of the past decades who allowed the dilution of regulations and enforcement will not be held responsible. No, I’m afraid BP will end up paying a fraction of the actual cost and we, the taxpayers, will take on the huge bill for decades to come (in the form of economic bailouts to those affected and the government agency costs).
All those who profited from the policies that led to the spill will not be identified and will not pony up. They are presently using the radio and TV “news” shows to deflect blame and attention from themselves.
It seems to be working just fine for them.
Steve Rapalus
Ridgefield
Provide solutions by pursuing peace
This down economy drags on as shown by unemployment and business closures. President Barack Obama’s plans pale in comparison to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s job programs. As promised, Obama did manage to jolt the Afghanistan War, so we are spending big time in the Middle East that’s taking money away from us.
Our schools need money, our cities need money, and our states have a shortfall.
I have had to scramble to change routines.
My beautician stopped working at a salon and now works from home. My automotive repair service suddenly closed. The Human Resources Council, which provides power chair medical rides for the elderly, received only half their grant. A round trip from Cascade Park to Salmon Creek went from being free two years ago to very expensive now. I notice other businesses closing.
Congress grants more money for wars and caters to banks and corporations.
Advanced-degree graduates work as janitors, if they’re lucky.
This sad situation is compounded by British Petroleum’s negligence.
Historian Howard Zinn said it’s not right to respond to terrorism by terrorizing other people. He also said the economic system under which we live needs war and makes war inevitable.
Stop the violence. Join peace visibility on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. at the library corner on East Mill Plain.
Genevieve Kortes
Vancouver
Headlights add safety
Freeway driving is always extremely dangerous to begin with, so why is it so terribly difficult to turn your headlights on while driving, especially in the rain? With all the spray that kicks up and the fog — and conditions the rain creates— turning on headlights should be automatic.
Some newer cars have the “lights on” feature day or night but older cars don’t. With headlights on, it takes away the “ghost car” effect, which is the worst danger of all.
Glenn Alan Pierce
Battle Ground
Gorge casino idea loses strength
When is the city of Cascade Locks, Ore. going to take down the sign on the east side of town that reads, “Saving our Schools — Welcome Warm Springs, Welcome Jobs”?
The high school is gone and they did nothing to prevent that. It has been more than 10 years since the casino proposal first reared its ugly head and there is no definitive release date for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Now, both candidates for governor of Oregon have stated that they oppose Native American off-reservation casinos. The Port of Cascade Locks and the city need to quit wasting the little resources they have for this horrendous proposal.
The misinformation propaganda train is losing its momentum. Plan B is long overdue for this beautiful little Gorge town.
