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Opinion
The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
News / Opinion / Editorials

In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Tackling homelessness; safety

The Columbian
Published: January 27, 2025, 6:03am

Cheers: To dealing with homelessness. The Clark County Council is revisiting a request from the city of Vancouver to help fund the region’s largest homeless shelter. Last year, county officials balked at a request to use revenue from a mental health sales tax to help pay for the proposed shelter. Now, councilors are reconsidering the idea and say they will have an answer soon.

Dealing with homelessness and its underlying causes — particularly a lack of mental health care and a pressing opioid crisis — requires cooperation between the county and local cities. It is an issue that impacts the entire region. While questions remain about the project and require due diligence on the part of county officials, new Councilor Wil Fuentes effectively summed up the situation by saying, “We need to support this project and stop pretending that this isn’t a critical issue.”

Jeers: To accidents involving pedestrians. Twice within 24 hours last week, a pedestrian was critically injured when hit by a vehicle in Vancouver. In both cases, police said, the driver remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment.

Nationally, the rate of accidents involving pedestrians has seen a sharp increase in recent years. The causes, officials say, are a combination of both careless driving and irresponsible pedestrians. Drivers and walkers must remain attentive and cautious in order to keep our streets safe for all.

Cheers … and jeers: To the Cougar Food Pantry. A pantry at Washington State University Vancouver has expanded from a storage closet to a facility including refrigerators, food preparation equipment and shelving. The pantry provides basic needs for undergraduate, graduate and nursing students.

“No one’s successful in their class if they’re worried about where their next meal is,” said Eric Scott, campus senior director of engagement and well-being. While the expansion of the pantry is laudable, the need for it is lamentable. An increase in food insecurity throughout our community demands attention and action from elected leaders.

Sad: The death of Tom McVie. The longtime Vancouver resident, who spent years as a coach and scout in the National Hockey League, died recently at the age of 89. McVie is best known locally for bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver in 2011.

One of the perks of winning the Stanley Cup is that every member of the championship organization gets to spend a day with the famed trophy. McVie, who was a scout for the Boston Bruins at the time, used his day to bring the Stanley Cup to Portland’s downtown and to Vancouver’s Mountain View Ice Arena. In Vancouver, more than 500 fans stood in line for a moment with the trophy. “The people of Vancouver and Portland have been so good to the McVie family over the years, I really want to share this with all of them,” McVie told The Columbian. “Isn’t this just awesome?”

Cheers: To Washougal development. It is a long way from fruition, but a proposed development at Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal sounds promising. The company hopes to create a mixed-use development featuring commercial, industrial, recreational and residential uses on 63 acres in the city’s downtown.

The land surrounding the long-standing mill is owned by the company, and the proposal calls for a 15-year development plan. “This is pretty exciting to be able to move forward,” City Manager David Scott said. “Pendleton has been iconic in our community for a long time.” Modernizing Washougal’s downtown is essential for a thriving community.

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