Cheers: To the Port of Vancouver. Judging from its recently released annual summary, the port continues to be an important economic driver in Clark County. Approximately 78,000 Subaru vehicles, 600 wind turbine components and enough copper concentrate to manufacture components of 1.4 million electric vehicles highlighted last year’s activity.
“Our strategic approach of diversifying our business lines made 2024 one of our strongest financial years yet, supporting nearly 20,000 jobs and generating $2.9 billion in regional economic benefits,” CEO Julianna Marler said. On top of that, the port also started development on Terminal 1 next to the Interstate 5 Bridge. A little more than a decade ago, officials were pursuing development of an oil terminal at the port, a proposal scuttled in part by public opposition. Cheers go to managers and workers who have helped the Port of Vancouver create the Clark County economy of the future.
Jeers: To pausing an environmental review. Federal officials have paused a review of Columbia River hydropower, a review that could help determine the future of dams along the Lower Snake River. The dams are a source of debate, with advocates saying their removal is necessary for the survival of salmon in the Northwest.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation insist the pause is routine. But the Trump administration’s willingness to bury information and ignore facts suggests that the pause could be permanent. In order to make a well-informed decision about the dams, the review should be completed.
Cheers: To community involvement. More than 100 people attended a recent La Center school board meeting, with many commenting on a policy regarding students’ preferred pronouns. The Columbian has weighed in editorially regarding the policy, but that is not the issue here.
The important thing is that the public is getting involved in an issue involving civil rights and education policy. As the district’s superintendent wrote to the school board: “We firmly believe that a student’s well-being is best supported through open, respectful collaboration between schools and families.”
Jeers: To an undersized venue. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, deserves kudos for holding town halls. She also deserves kudos for patiently putting up with interruptions from discourteous audience members last week in Vancouver.
But jeers are warranted for staff members who once again chose a too-small venue for the public event. In January, Perez appeared at a library meeting room that held about 50 people; this time, there was room for 270 chairs. In both cases, the crowd greatly exceeded capacity, leaving many constituents unable hear what their representative had to say.
Cheers: To Sandra Fachiol. As shared in a recent Columbian article, Fachiol has an inspirational story to tell. The 22-year-old is the reigning Miss Clark County despite not fitting the stereotype of a pageant winner. “I’m not thin, I’m pretty heavily tattooed and I’ve been very open about living with mental illness,” she said. “I think people’s perception of me does not align with someone they would expect to do pageants.”
Fachiol is using her tenure to work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwest Washington and raise awareness. She shares her experience with local high school students and educates them about the importance of seeking help. “A lot of mental health conditions go unacknowledged, which means they go untreated,” Fachiol said.
