Regarding the Oct. 14 story, “Washougal City Council reaches no consensus on oil trains,” it’s appalling to read Councilman Dave Shoemaker believes stopping oil trains is “out of the question.” Out of the question is living (or dying) in the explosions. Are you willing to throw dice, hoping the accident occurs in Vancouver or the Columbia River Gorge instead of here? Don’t you also have kids/grandkids that go to schools within steps from the tracks? Do you hate salmon nor care about the Columbia River system and the impact a derailment will have in the Gorge?
It’s a fact, the more cars, the higher risk, even if they were only carrying bananas. We can be a dead community with a single accident with Bakken oil. Our safety should be at the forefront of everyone’s concern. Oil trains can and must be stopped.
Shoemaker’s comment, “I don’t think we should tell the railroad, ‘You can’t come through here.’ ” Really? Think again. If you believe BNSF will win this battle, the city council should be negotiating for them to buy our town before it is a charred ghost town after a derailment. Washougal is small, but you/we must act large and in the best interest of the entire state and our community on this issue. No more oil trains.
Carol and David Johnson
Washougal
