Be loyal to your neighborhood
As a retail employee, I deal with the public daily, answering questions about products or services that we sell. Many times, after spending some time with these customers, they remark “Oh, well, I’ll just go across the river to save the tax.” We all know that Washington state is dealing with a huge budget deficit right now, and with a declining tax base — there’s no easy fix, and many have lost their jobs.
While driving to work, I also see many vehicles with Oregon plates. While it is not illegal to drive in Washington with Oregon plates, maybe these drivers, who, many times, are dropping off their children at Washington schools, may want to think of who comes to their rescue, protects the peace, responds to fires, paves our roads and lights our streets. Yes, Washington state.
Those of you driving south across the river to “save the tax” and those of you who live in Washington state with Oregon plates should reconsider. You are not part of the solution. You are part of the problem.
Rodney Clem
Vancouver
Reverse lanes to guide heavy traffic
Why does anyone want to add light rail to the bridge? Look at the logic of using light rail from Vancouver — it doesn’t work because just about everyone who would want to use light rail would have to drive to a transfer station. Most of our population doesn’t live within walking distance of downtown and would have to drive to get close enough to catch the light rail. Just how is that helping?
What we need is to build a third three-lane span which would change direction based on the time of day. Pittsburgh has done this and it works well. After this span is built, the other two spans could be dismantled, the piers salvaged and add on enough concrete to build up the spans so that the drawbridge can be removed.
After all three spans are completed, we would have six lanes going in the direction of traffic, reversing in the evening, and eliminate the need for any 12-lane structure. By reusing the piers and needing to build only one new three-lane structure, the cost of this replacement would be a fraction of what leaders have proposed. This has been down elsewhere; why can’t we have some logic here? We might not even need a toll.
Scott Dalesandro
Vancouver
Why $10 million for Grove Field?
My husband and I have been out of town, so I have to admit that I have not read any stories relating to the airport funding mentioned in the Feb. 19 editorial “Cheers and Jeers” about Grove Field. As I was catching up this evening, I was really beyond amazed to read about the $10 million FAA funding for safety improvements for an airport most have never heard of and even fewer of us have ever used.
While safety improvements are always important, I would sure love to read that Evergreen Public Schools or Vancouver Public Schools had received $10 million in government funding.
To “cheer” this funding for Grove Field is ridiculous. It would be far more helpful for Columbian reporters to investigate how an inconspicuous, little used airport ever received $10 million in funding from the U.S. government.
Linda Cross
Vancouver
Keep tabs on assessed figures
Could someone please explain to me how the value of your property can go down and your property taxes go up? Like a majority of the homeowners in Clark County, our property value has steadily gone down for the last four years. Now someone with infinite wisdom at the assessor’s office has figured out a way to lower the value of our property and raise the taxes at the same time. Hmm.
Also, I would like to inform all homeowners in Clark County to check the square footage of your home for which you are being taxed. We just gained 66 square feet in our basement we never had before, compliments of the county assessor’s figures. We have never added any square footage to any part of our house.
One year they even went so far as to add a third level. That was a nightmare getting them to refigure our property taxes for that year.
It is up to every homeowner to be sure you keep tabs on your property description and therefore keep our assessor’s office honest.
Sharin Heinrich
Vancouver
Pass measure to raise core standards
America’s education system has been consistently falling behind in terms of educational competitiveness with other countries. A recent study found that only 23 percent of graduating high school seniors had the skills necessary to pass a freshman-level college course in a core subject.
As a result, 40 percent of college students have to take at least one remedial course. Not only does this take valuable time and money from students who could be putting their resources toward a degree, it puts a significant strain on taxpayers. Essentially, Americans are paying for these children’s high school educations twice.
As a high school graduate, this issue is important to me. Although I got good grades all through high school, I cannot be certain that the advanced classes I took will prepare me for university academics. One of the goals of high school is to prepare students for college, and that goal is failing.
The Common Core Standards Initiative is the answer to these problems. Despite critics’ belief, this is not a national government takeover. The states set the standards and teachers determine the curriculum. These standards will provide a higher quality of education in our public schools. Encourage our representatives to vote “yes” on Washington state House Bill 1443.
Jade Stocks
Battle Ground
Let open debate evolve
I just finished reading the Feb. 19 Columbian story “Leavitt ready to cut off open mic sessions” and would like to make the following suggestions: First, our mayor is easily intimidated. He would do well to depersonalize what he perceives as conflict and instead focus on the data. People have different ways of disagreeing. I suggest he not make it mean anything. Instead, listen to the content. Second, robbing people of their public forum will only lead to rebellion. Look at history. Let people speak and learn from what they say. Third, I encourage our mayor to be aware of his language. I assume he uses words like “squealing” to discount the messages of his detractors. I hope I’m wrong.
Finally, don’t make martyrs out of molehills. I have learned a great deal by reading about and listening to public discussion on the CRC. This project will evolve into the perfect outcome as long as the debate continues and logic prevails. Let the collective and outspoken wisdom of good hearts and clear thinking do its work.
Jennifer Sohn
Vancouver
