Cheers: To Family Therapy Court. The success of this special program in Clark County Superior Court is demonstrated by a recent grant of nearly $2 million. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded the money to the local program, which seeks to help parents abstain from drug and alcohol abuse while creating stable homes for their children.
Family Treatment Court was launched in Clark County in 2006, and officials report that 93 families have successfully completed the program. Currently, 15 families are enrolled, and organizers expect that number to grow to 35 by September 2018. As with any government expenditure, it is essential to question the need for — and the effectiveness of — the program. In assessing the Family Treatment Court, the comparison should be the cost of having children grow up in unstable homes. The federal grant serves as an endorsement of the local court’s efforts.
Jeers: To candidates who don’t vote. A recent story by Columbian reporter Will Campbell took a look at the voting records of candidates on this year’s ballot for local office. How a person voted is private, but whether they vote is a matter of public record.
As Anne McEnerny-Ogle, a Vancouver city council member, candidate for mayor, and consistent voter said: “Voting is one of those wonderful rights that we have. Why would you not vote for something? It’s one way to express yourself. That’s what democracy is all about.” Not all candidates have demonstrated the same diligence when it comes to casting ballots.
Cheers: To progress at Hanford. The main processing plant at Hanford Nuclear Reservation is coming down, representing a step forward in the cleanup of the nation’s most contaminated waste site. Hanford, on the Columbia River about 200 miles upstream from Vancouver, was key to the United States’ development of nuclear weapons in World War II. Now it is an environmental trouble spot.
For decades, the federal government has largely shirked its duty to clean up Hanford, endangering residents of both Washington and Oregon. Decades of work and billions of dollars are still required at the site but, for now, removal of the main processing plant represents a little bit of progress.
Jeers: To cutting in line. It is no secret the morning commute across the Interstate 5 Bridge is a burden to drivers — and that it’s getting worse. As a story by Columbian reporter Dameon Pesanti detailed, that bottleneck of a commute is exacerbated by drivers using arterial streets to try to jump the queue. The tactic jams streets designed for local traffic and slows other drivers making their way south on I-5. As one transportation official said, “You may be saving yourself some small amount of time, but you’re impacting everyone else.”
Congestion in downtown Vancouver has hampered C-Tran stops and freight mobility while impacting residential neighborhoods. In the long run, the backups reinforce the need for an I-5 bridge replacement. In the short run, drivers need to be more considerate of other motorists and downtown residents instead of trying to jump ahead in line.
Cheers: To a booming economy. The state’s latest labor market report says that Clark County added 1,200 jobs in June and that the local unemployment rate of 4.9 percent is the lowest since 2000.
“It’s a good month again. Pretty diverse job growth, very strong overall,” said regional economist Scott Bailey. While that growth is a good sign, national statistics demonstrate there is plenty of room for improvement in wages. The economic recovery will not be complete until it touches a larger percentage of the population — but at least things are moving in the right direction.
