Letters: Vote blue, dam breaching best, property tax and more | March 15

End of health team creates risk

The Trump Administration disbanded the U.S. Global Health Security team on May 10, 2018. This team had been in charge of leading the U.S. response in the event of a deadly pandemic or a bioterrorism attack.

Now, almost two years later, an outbreak of the coronavirus is occurring globally. Eighteen people have died in Washington state alone; confirmed cases total 123 as of March 9. Trump’s administration was not at all prepared for the epidemic and its response shows in the confusion that has been occurring.

A whistleblower has filed a complaint with Health & Human Services alleging that federal health employees interacted with Americans who had been quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure without proper medical training or protective gear and that HHS leaders engaged in a corrupt coverup when staff members complained.

I urge Republicans to begin providing oversight and accountability over the president’s actions. President Trump has loudly proclaimed that he will do whatever he wants. Republicans have stood idly by and let him do just that. Many of his actions are putting Americans at risk every day. It’s time to stop!

No Trump plan to stay ‘for life’

In response to Ivar Husa’s letter of March 1, what stood out to me was his claim that Trump “has declared his intention to become ‘President for Life.’”

Trump has never said that. He commented on the fact that Xi Jinping, China’s dictator, holds his position for life, which Trump said, whether genuinely or not, could be true for a future president in our own country. Trump never said that he wanted to keep his office for life.

Besides, the 22nd Amendment prohibits a president from having more than two terms. Additionally, Husa said that Trump’s presidency, “is now immune from impeachment,” and that because of this we have, “authoritarian rule.” The Ukraine controversy impeachment was a sham to begin with, there being no evidence to prove Trump guilty of wrongdoing.

Husa doesn’t understand what authoritarian rule really is, as we don’t have that in our country. Authoritarian rule exists in countries like Cuba and China, where those who disagree with the government are imprisoned or murdered, and where the government controls the economy. In the U.S., the freedom to speak when we disagree with our government is protected, and the government doesn’t control all aspects of the economy.

Two art galleries for 1 parking spot

I would like to point out, for the public’s benefit, that there is an art gallery in Richland. The Neva Scott Art Gallery www.nevascottart.com is at 511 Lee Blvd. It is just a block west of Allied Arts Association’s Art At The Park. We are a real physical location with regular business hours six days a week, noon to 6 p.m.

I had noticed that The Tri-City Herald’s 2020 people’s Choice Awards Arts and Entertainment Section does not include art galleries. We exist. Honest. And we are very entertaining, with frequently changing art shows. (Allied Arts is also amazing. See both and park the car just once.)

In November, vote blue no matter who

Should the immature person who tweeted this be President? “Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren, who was going nowhere except into Mini Mike’s head, just dropped out of the Democrat Primary...THREE DAYS TOO LATE. She cost Crazy Bernie, at least, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas. Probably cost him the nomination! Came in third in Mass. March 5, 2020.”

I heard him call Governor Inslee a snake! I’m ready for a President who represents ALL THE PEOPLE AND ALL THE STATES! In November, vote BLUE no matter who!

Rust and rocks not art, just cheap

I just visited the portofkennewick.org/publicart website and realized that most of the artwork is rusted. One is even rusted rebar filled with river rocks. How cheap can you get? The only thing painted was an anchor and it was painted black.

The arch over the bus stop at the new wine village in Kennewick is a huge mass of rusted metal and is supposed to symbolize water and wine barrels. Who wants to drink wine out of rusted wine barrels?

Also, if you drive by the new Richland City Hall, you will see water coming out of a huge rusted pipe. Who is going to want to eat in restaurants or live in a community that drinks and cooks with rusted water?

Is this really the image we want to project for the Tri-Cities?

His 2020 tax bill up by 27 percent

My property tax statement for 2020 came, and I received a surprise. Comparing the “Tax Distributions” section with last year’s bill:

County 10 percent Increase; County Admin Refund ($0.72) (no charge this year); County Human Services 18 percent increase; County Veterans 18 percent increase; Port of Benton 16 percent increase; Port of Benton 2011 A&B Bond 11 percent increase; Port of Benton Admin Refund ($0.42) (no charge this year); Richland 13 percent increase; Richland Admin Refund ($2.61) (no charge this year); Richland Community Debt Service ($6.83) (no charge this year); Richland Library Debt Service 9 percent increase; Richland Police Station Bond ($5.32) (no charge this year); School Dist. 400 Capital Projects 8 percent increase; School Dist. 400 Debt Service 14 percent increase; School Dist. 400 Enrichment 97 percent increase; State School 18 percent increase; State School Part 2 71 percent increase; Cumulative Total: 27.5 percent increase.

This was on top of a 12 percent increase from 2017 to 2018. Needless to say, I won’t be voting for any bond issues in the near future. I can’t afford them. I would also say most current state legislators desperately need to be fired

Dam breaching best for salmon

I read the summary provided for the Columbia River Systems Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement. In the draft, there were various options outlined for ways to manage the river system with regard to the salmon that use it.

Five options were studied intensively, with most providing more benefits to either people or salmon. There was no option that worked equally well for both parties. It seems it comes down to priorities.

The best option for the salmon was Option M03, which required breaching the dams. “Model estimates for MO3 showed the highest predicted potential smolt-to-adult returns (SARs) for Snake River salmon and steelhead among the alternatives.

Breaching of the lower Snake River projects would have major long-term beneficial effects to resident fish in the Snake River due to improved rearing and migration conditions.” It was also the option that was the most disruptive for us (people).

While I don’t like the idea of people suffering, I believe our (people’s) suffering would be short term. We could emerge with a new economy based on wild river recreation and our hydropower energy could be replaced with renewables. People have options. Salmon only have the option of living or dying.

This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Vote blue, dam breaching best, property tax and more | March 15."