Letters: Trump tweets, dam controversy, handicap spots and more | Jan. 22

Tweets, golf no substitute for work

If weaponry were the only measure of a nation’s greatness, the United States would certainly stand tallest among nations. However, the buffoon presently in the White House has so diminished our stature as the world’s leader that other nations presently ignore our guidance in every aspect of government except military action. In that aspect, other nations are still likely to seek our participation, but only to provide blood and treasure to restore or maintain tranquility in hot spots around the globe.

We should probably be amused by the tsunami of tweets that Trump offers as his mode of governance, but it’s apparent that golf and tweets leave no time for the study and consultation that provide the information demanded by authentic leadership. Assigning schoolyard nicknames to adversaries and playing golf are not equivalent to the work actually needed to guide critical judgments.

By the way, every measure of economic strength makes it apparent that, among others, job creation and stock market growth were far better under Obama than they have been under Trump. And the “Trump boom” that required a massive tax cut for the rich and a $1 trillion deficit is just an illusory boom on the verge of collapse.

Dam controversy never-ending saga

It is interesting that we are still debating whether to remove the Snake River dams. The four Columbia River dams below the Snake River were completed between 1937 (Bonneville) and 1971 (John Day). So they have been in place for more than 80 years. The Snake River dams were built between 1901 (Swan Falls and 1982 (Gem State). One would think that in that time the salmon would have vanished if they were going to. The four dams being considered for removal (Ice Harbor, Dower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite) were completed between 1961 and 1975. And salmon are still swimming in the river. It looks like the systems put in place for the salmon have been very effective.

If the dams are removed, the questions become where do we get the electricity to replace the lost energy and what effect will it have on the agriculture that depends entirely on the water the dams provide? The total electrical capacity of the four dams is 2,376 MW, which is approximately twice the power generated by Columbia Generating Station at Hanford, which provides enough electricity to power all of the Seattle area.

Handicapped spots filled with snow

When my husband had to go three months without a knee last winter, he returned to work with a walker. His re-orientation to working in the Hanford area was met with snow shoved into the handicapped parking spots in the parking lot in front of a federal building.

Because of that, he had to find parking far away and walk quite a distance on ice to get to the building's door. During his disability, we found that this was not only the case out in the Hanford area, but also in front of other federal building streets and in private parking lots.

If you hire someone to clear your parking lot or streets of snow, please make them aware that handicapped parking spots are not places where you can dump snow. They are there for people who need them.

2020 hopes for City of Richland

I hope:

1. The citizens of Richland continue to be the friendly, kind and generous folks that I’ve known since 1988.

2. That voter turnout continues to increase.

3. That citizens take more interest in the city’s laws (City Charter) so we can strengthen our challenges against the city management and City Council violation(s) of the charter.

4. Richland citizens will continue to fight against uncontrolled growth and degradation of Richland’s unique assets.

Benton County

No entity other than the Richland City Council oversees city compliance to its charter.

1. I hope that in 2020 Benton County commissioners identify a compliance officer to monitor the Richland city management and council compliance to its charter.

2. City management and City Council – Integrity and Transparency

I hope:

1. Our council doesn’t embarrass us by re-electing the current mayor.

2. Someone on the council will take a stand and expose the current city management‘s and council’s non-compliance to the charter, and pursues corrective actions.

3. The city stops spending/supporting non-essential growth projects and focuses on our essential infrastructure, health and safety needs.

4. Our Richland growth/infrastructure needs are integrated to avoid the escalating cost and infrastructure conflicts.

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Trump tweets, dam controversy, handicap spots and more | Jan. 22."