Just follow rules already set
The following is quoted from the city of Vancouver website under City Council: “The public is invited to speak to Council on any issue related to City business,” and “asked to limit testimony to three minutes.” The process needs to be rewritten with clear purpose and procedure.
I agree that listening to the same people talk about the same subject at every Monday evening council meeting is irritating and monotonous and a cause for others’ lack of attendance and viewing. Some of these people also push themselves into neighborhood association meetings to promote their agenda.
First, let’s limit the open mic speakers to those who live in the city limits. Let the Portland people stick to Portland City Council meetings. I don’t agree with turning off cameras; the cameras are not the problem. So come up with a procedure that is clear and fair to all who attend the meetings and implement the three-minute rule.
Paula Person
Vancouver
Columbian’s stances inconsistent
Regarding the last statement of the Feb. 12 Cheers & Jeers about a $30 annual Discover Pass for state parks: “But it is a shame that here is one more state service that the middle-class taxpayer will find more difficult to afford,” I find it hard to agree or sympathize with this statement. But also recognize that I have a limited perspective, and when I see something I don’t agree with, I want to understand the perspective that this remark comes from so that I can learn and hopefully grow.
I have not agreed with The Columbian’s stance against most any kind of tax, including the one on candy and bottled water. But given that The Columbian seems to be against taxes and raising revenue for the state, why do editors consider it a “shame” that the state now needs to cut services and sees that it can no longer cover the costs of state parks? Also, why do editors feel it is a “shame” that middle-class taxpayers will find it more difficult to afford to go to parks? What about low-income people? What is your perception about them?
So who do you think should be ashamed by this situation?
Victoria Clevenger
Vancouver
Refreshing slice of purpose served
Recently I had the privilege of having breakfast at a local restaurant in Salmon Creek. The restaurant had turned the breakfast service over to the Ridgefield speech and debate club as the students were earning money to help the club go on speaking trips and bring home more trophies. I was so impressed with the club members. They did all the serving, seating, cleaning up the dirty dishes and always with a smile, one sip of coffee and there they were ready to fill your cup. We could not have had better service. We even got to hear some of the members show us what they did in the speech and debate.
The newspapers and TV broadcasts are full of young people stealing, doing drugs, etc. It was so wonderful seeing this group of high school young people working so hard to keep their club going. A big thanks to all the club members and their teacher.
Hazel Stiff
Vancouver
Laird is an intellectual lightweight
It has become an undeniable pattern for Columbian columnist John Laird to forego rational discourse in favor of name calling and insults. (Feb. 20 column, “Local ankle-biters are filing their fangs.”) Such condescension is the unmistakable hallmark of an intellectual lightweight whose manifest intent is to obscure truth with vitriol.
Never mind the voters of Clark County soundly defeated light rail in a referendum: referendums are self-lapsing like souffles, are they not? Laird and his elitist allies on the Columbia River Crossing intend their judgment should prevail over the will of the people.
I am reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s remark, to wit: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.” The fact that a mean-spirited second-rate intellect remains at the editorial helm of a newspaper is a mystery to me.
Thomas R. Higdon
Vancouver
Column about ankle-biters was right
In his Feb. 20 column, “Local ankle-biters are filing their fangs,” John Laird has laid out most logical reasons why the I-5 Bridge needs to be replaced. Anti-toll activist David Madore is just a corporate CEO trying to buy votes and politicians to get what he wants without regard for what is good for Clark County and the rest of us. I fully agree with Steve Stuart on his initial assessment of Madore. (A Feb. 20 Columbian story reported “Stuart says sorry for ‘crackpot’ comment.”)
This project should also include an upgrade to the old railroad bridge.
Steve Engard
Ridgefield
‘The Couv’ is another bad idea
Recently there was a reported sighting of a UFO over Vancouver. Perhaps it was a mapping ship from Google officials. They heard Washington state might have a new city called The Couv. Then they heard it was just a story in The Columbian by a reporter-editor who thinks 150,000 people and affected businesses changing their addresses is a good idea. He must have a Chicago-style hot dog stuck sideways in his brain. The word “couv” sounds like an inlet at the ocean. He needs some chili to go with that hot dog to get the thought out of his system.
Bruce Dowling
Vancouver
U.S. being surpassed in achievement
A reader once commented about the simpler times when gasoline was 25 cents per gallon. He forgot to mention that gasoline contained lead. Then some bureaucrats came up with this silly Clean Air Act.
Then there’s that Clean Water Act thingy. Though the bay next to my hometown on Puget Sound became a Superfund cleanup site. I never brought home the flounder and sole from the bay, once I noticed all those ulcers and sores.
Of course, the salmon and smelt are gone now too.
We were No. 1 in science and math back then. Outsourcing, that innocent term for increasing profits for CEOs and stockholders and gutting the Middle, had not happened yet. Millions of people were not unemployed; at least not in my hometown.
American math and science scores are surpassed by Ireland and the Czech Republic (I’m Irish-Czech; awesome). Both have socialized medicine, that is, both have universal health care. All Europe west of Poland is the same. Even more disturbing, though, one of our creditors (China) is the same, as is India. Think about it. The two primary countries the jobs have been outsourced to are also two of our biggest competitors.
This is idiotic. Am I missing something?
Jim Comrada
Vancouver
