Leave position vacant
I supported the promotion of Eric Holmes to city manager, but after reading about his need for a communications manager/public information officer at an annual salary of $75K-$93K, I think I made a mistake. As stated in the Jan. 6 Columbian story “City seeks expert in public relations,” this new hire will bring the number of city employees assigned to public information to four — and when city officials need to share information or are afraid to defend a decision, I’m sure they will just go out and get a consultant like they do when they need to hire for a new position.
I just cannot believe how out of touch city officials have become. Holmes says this position is needed to “help get information to and from the public.” Maybe Holmes needs to pay better attention to citizen communication at city council meetings, letters to the editor, and comments on The Columbian’s blog. Holmes stated the position already exists but has been vacant for several years. Obviously, Holmes predecessor, Pat McDonnell, knew what he was doing.
Duane Burckhard
Vancouver
Might be right time for advice
One could argue that the very fact that the ill-advised Vancouver City Council and city government is looking for a high-priced public relations person during severe economic times means that they probably need one.
Lee Lathrop
Vancouver
Require recheck of driving skills
When I moved back to Washington 22 years ago after a long absence, I had to pass the same test as a teenager to get a Washington state driver’s license, despite a lifelong, unblemished record and a current license from another state.
I’ll soon celebrate my 80th birthday and, last week, had to renew my driver’s license. I signed my name, read one line of letters on a chart, paid the $25 and had my picture taken. That was it.
Like most other 80-year-olds, I am sure I’m a perfectly good driver. Never had an accident, had one moving violation in a rural Virginia speed trap 40 years ago, but I have 80-year-old eyesight and reflexes. My insurance company, which seems to know something the state doesn’t, makes me pay the same rates as a teenager.
It would be irksome for us 80-year-olds (or 75-year-olds?) to take some sort of test, but passing it would reassure us and our families, and flunking it might make the highways safer both for those who flunk and for other drivers.
George Cheek
Camas
Alternative flexibility applauded
The Columbia River Crossing image created by architect Kevin Peterson on the Dec. 12 front page has considerable more merit than the eight-story monstrosity for which over a hundred million dollars has been spent on studies and design. The upstream alternative, according to architect Peterson, would be less expensive. Removal of the current two I-5 bridges will be very expensive. Peterson’s design leaves a considerable amount of flexibility. His plan could very well solve the Hayden Island issue and create 12 to 14 lanes of traffic by leaving the current two six-lane bridges as south bound bridge crossings and Peterson’s upstream proposal as northbound traffic. This would actually create a third bridge crossing, which is badly needed.
All bridges need repairs several times through the years of use, and including severe vehicle accidents, traffic needs to be occasionally rerouted as experienced on I-205 bridge repairs this past summer. It does seem the plans, prior to the architect Peterson plan, have a very pragmatic approach to the needs of the metropolitan growth.
Frank H. Funk
Vancouver
Left-wingers’ attack is disgusting
I am completely enraged and disgusted at how the left-wingers and their comrades in the mainstream media and Democratic Party have taken the shooting tragedy in Arizona and turned it into a political tool to advance their radical agendas! These people have stooped to an all-time low.
The New York Times, without evidence, without even knowing the shooter’s name yet, blamed conservative radio hosts, Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party. Outrageous. Whenever we have an act of domestic terrorism, such as the Fort Hood shooting, we are told not to rush to judgment. And now when an avowed anti-religious leftist, whose stated beliefs are the polar opposite of any conservative movement anywhere, takes the lives of innocent people, instant blame is placed on conservatives?
I have always had faith that the average American could see through the lies and figure out what the truth was. That there was something greater we aspired to as a nation. That despite our many failures and mistakes, we were a beacon of hope to the world. I beg all of you to resist these forces that would extinguish that light by spreading lies and engaging in unconscionable political deceit.
Mark Simpson
Vancouver
Threatening tactics must stop
Information regarding the tragedy in Tucson is still sketchy, and it’s not clear what motivated the assassin. One thing is clear, however. The embracing of the political tactic that dehumanizes people and seems to promote violence must stop.
In 2010, Sarah Palin’s campaign showed incumbent Democrats who she felt needed targeting for removal from office. Her website showed these people in the crosshairs of what I presume to be a gun. She used terms like “bull’s eye” and “Don’t retreat, reload!” as rhetoric regarding these races. One of the targeted incumbents was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Now an aide in her camp is rigorously defending Palin’s motives, saying that these were never meant to be gunsights but something more like indicators found on a map. This is ridiculous. I believe the intent was abundantly clear.
I don’t solely blame Palin for this incident. There’s plenty of it to go around. Politicians are quick to blame the media for the adversarial atmosphere in local and national politics, but the truth is, many on both sides of the political aisle have embraced and perfected it.
I can only hope that this tragedy serves the purpose of knocking sense back into the American public. We mustn’t accept such poor behavior from our leaders.
Eric Bjorkman
Vancouver
Removal from board too severe
Wow, it appears the “good ole boy” system is alive and well on the Vancouver City Council. If I really told you how I feel, I would probably get put in jail by the “speech police.” Giving Jeanne Stewart a slap on the hand should have sufficed as enough reprimand, instead of removing her from the C-Tran board. I am not happy with the direction this council is going, and I’m wondering who is really in control, Tim Leavitt or Jack Burkman.
Mary Bardonski
Vancouver
