Cheers: To drug prevention measures. When Washington voters approved legalized marijuana use for adults, they were promised that efforts would be made to prevent use by minors and to support educational programs. Now, the Liquor and Cannabis Board is adding a “Not For Kids” label to marijuana edibles, including a bright red hand making a “stop” gesture.
The move is a wise one, particularly for protecting young children. Youngsters are not going to inadvertently light up a joint if they find one in the home, but they could mistake a marijuana edible for a harmless snack. Meanwhile, the state must remain diligent about providing drug education programs.
Jeers: To Jerry Oliver. During a recent public meeting, the Port of Vancouver commissioner said he would meet with the human resources manager to discuss the search for a new port CEO, and he recommended that staff pass along details to other commissioners. Oliver then was informed that this likely would constitute a serial meeting and be in violation of state open meetings laws.
For most people, open meeting laws can be convoluted and difficult to follow; but most people don’t have a job that requires them to adhere to those laws. Port commissioners already have come under scrutiny for the secretive negotiations that led to them signing an agreement for a large oil terminal at the port, and one would expect them to proceed with caution when it comes to open meetings. The laws are important for ensuring responsive and responsible government, and Oliver should know better.
Cheers: To the Safe Communities Task Force. The group in charge of combating gang activity in Vancouver recently reported to the city council that the young people they work with are attending classes more frequently and are having fewer altercations with law enforcement. As program coordinator Josh Beaman said, “(Part) of the issue is the kids and families we work with don’t feel like they belong to a community.”
Fostering community is essential in every city, and Vancouver is wise to take a proactive approach. Gang activity is impossible to eradicate, but it can be diminished through strong, coordinated efforts. Efforts to keep youth engaged must start with parents, but it also requires community involvement.
Jeers: To oversight at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. We long for the day when we can lend a cheer to progress at Hanford but, alas, today is not that day. Employees this week engaged in a work stoppage because of persistent complaints about chemical vapors escaping from tanks holding nuclear waste at the site.
For decades, the federal government has been negligent about performing court-ordered cleanup at the nation’s most toxic waste site, which is near the Columbia River about 200 miles upstream from Vancouver. In recent months, more than 50 workers have sought medical attention after smelling suspicious odors. It is past time for the federal government to establish a proposed secure national nuclear repository in Nevada and protect Washingtonians by cleaning up Hanford.
Cheers: To Vancouver’s downtown library. Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the city’s central library, which has been a success in terms of both service and architecture. Libraries can be essential community gathering places, providing meeting spaces as well as educational opportunities.
The main library, an 80,000-square-foot building at 901 C St., will host a variety of events Sunday to commemorate its anniversary. There will be an ice-cream social outside on the lawn from 1 to 4 p.m., and live music inside the building from 1 to 3 p.m.
