Letters: Lee Boulevard, face masks, police support and more | June 21

Keep the name, honor new Lee

A year ago, the Tri-City Herald wrote about a local man’s request to the Richland City Council to rename Lee Boulevard in order to eliminate our local “monument” honoring the Confederate general. Soon after, the Herald published my letter in support of changing the street name.

A year has passed, and my how times have changed. While the street name still stands, the rest of the country is confronting the lingering monuments to the Confederacy and its war against the United States. It’s high time that we in Richland deal with our monument to Robert E. Lee.

It is not necessary to change the street name itself, which would create a headache for every home and business on that street and countless maps. Instead, we can change the dedication to a more worthy engineer with the name of Lee.

I’ve not made the effort to search within the ranks, present and past, of the Corps of Engineers, but I expect we could find a Lee whose life and reputation are worthy of dedicating our Lee Boulevard. It would be great if that engineer were a woman, and a woman of color. After all, it’s the 21st century.

Editor’s note: Lt. Gen. Clifford Hodges Lee served from with distinction from 1909-47 during both World War I and II in the Army Corps of Engineers.

Another plea for renaming Lee

I am writing to reiterate my suggestion that Richland wake up and rename Gen. Robert E. Lee Boulevard to Barack H. Obama Boulevard.

Honor Gen. Mattis with name change

A simple solution to renaming Lee Boulevard in Richland would be to change it to Mattis Boulevard after General James N. Mattis. He is a native son of Richland, military leader extraordinaire, and a decent and caring human being. While there is already a Mattis Drive in South Richland, I am not aware of any rules that would prevent a Mattis Boulevard.

Name street for C.J. Mitchell

I’ve always found the street names in Richland curious and unique, with many being named after people from the Corps of Engineers, mostly obscure. I had no idea who the street was named after growing up here, or even as an adult. Having a main street named after Robert E. Lee, while he qualifies as a Corps of Engineers person, we should ask what we are commemorating and memorializing.

People are complaining that it erases history, however should we be memorializing a key person who attempted to break up the United States? Is that the history that people are so enamored of commemorating? I think the time has come to change the name of the street.

My nomination is to rename it for C.J. Mitchell, the patriarch of one of the very few early Black families in Richland, and someone who was an integral and beloved part of the community. A new sign could be created that commemorates the original name and provides a more balanced description of R.E. Lee, why it was changed and the history of Mitchell.

Suggestions for officers to honor

Although I was born and raised in Richland, with the exception of George Washington Way, I never knew who the streets were named after. It was the ‘80s or ‘90s before I learned that Haupt Avenue was named after a Union officer in the Civil War.

I agree with the person who suggested keeping the street names but changing the people they honor.

In place of Robert E Lee, I suggest Lieutenant Walter Hatch Lee. He graduated West Point in February 1901 and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. He was Killed in action in the Philippines in June 1901.

In place of Gustavus Smith, I suggest Maj. Gen. William Farrar Smith. He graduated West Point in 1845 and was assigned to the Topographical Engineer Corps. He was with the Union Army in the Civil War and served as the Chief Engineer in the Army of the Cumberland.

Change the existing street signs to honor these men. Add their names to the Behind the Name listings on the City of Richland website with the reason for the change.

The time has come to stop honoring those who took up arms against our country to perpetuate slavery.

Justice system offers no peace

It is understandable, “No justice No peace!”

African Americans and the darker-skinned members of other racial/ethnic groups have suffered enough from the racism in our justice system.

In 1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said “… a black man has ‘No Rights’ that a white man was bound to respect…” The horrific murder of George Floyd continues to make this point. And America will not be great again with a justice system that maintains its commitment to this racist ideology.

Without attention-getting disorderly (non-violent/property-destroying) protests, unjustified police killings of black people have and will continue to be officially ignored, minimized and/or forgotten.

Peaceful protests, i.e., authorized marches, censored letters to-the-editor, three-minute comment opportunities at city council meetings all prove insufficient for addressing racial issues. Unfortunately, disorderly public protest is governments’ new required minimum for citizens’ major grievances to be taken seriously. Current Tri-Cities’ inspiring and peaceful protests exceeded this new minimum.

Keep Tri-Cities out of protests

I am a firm believer that the citizens of the Tri-Cities should *not* protest! I think it does this region a fine disservice by creating confusion, concern and overall general unrest; due to the current state of volatility revolving around protesting. I propose that the citizens shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon of protesting — yet they should remain reserved in their behavior such that the community may remain calm for the most part.

The message that they (protesters) want to convey is fair, however I do not believe this region to be a major player in the movement to reduce “systemic racism.” We have already seen the major peaceful protests around the United States and we have seen the not so peaceful ones; they have clearly captured the world’s attention. That should be more than enough of a message, I say!

I do not suspect any rest anytime soon around the issue, but I would like to see our area not get involved with such.

Cuban embassy attack was serious

On April 30, 2020, a terrorist attack against the Cuban Embassy occurred in Washington, D.C. Though no one was killed, Cuba has every reason to demand an exhaustive investigation of the facts from the U.S. government. This includes necessary measures be adopted to prevent a return to times of spilled innocent blood, to put an end to the country’s hostile policy, verbal attacks and actions that encourage such behavior.

The following suggestions seem appropriate:

1. Respect for international law and the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of Cuba. Outdated U.S. blockade policy requires a political solution. Congress has the authority to recognize long overdue change of course and lift sanctions against Cuba.

2. Reverse wrong-headed antagonistic decisions that disrupt negotiations and friendly diplomatic ties with our Cuban neighbor. Today’s global economy should join political and economic relations through science and technology regardless of past differences in ideology.

3. No more Cold War division. Every effort toward cooperation with the medical and scientific community of either country must be made. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no international borders.

4. The world owes a debt of gratitude to the Cuban medical profession for its service. Yes to peace and fraternity.

Don’t count on Trump remedy

There is now a consensus among doctors and medical experts that the taking of hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure or cure for the COVID-19 virus is possibly very dangerous. A multitude of potential side effects could occur, including serious brain damage. Yet our president has recently announced he has been taking the drug regularly with no repercussions. This may not be a data point that can be counted on.

Our new normal: follow safety rules

“How do we stay safe?” I hear this repeatedly! Yes we want to get back to normal .... gym three times a week, community center for books, puzzles, good Sunday breakfast — where I do not cook! But also look forward to seeing our great-grandchildren as adults!

Face masks, wash hands a lot and one of those gizmos (no contact temp check) is required before entering our home, and when we visit family, same thing. Only takes a heartbeat and could make the difference. Feel uncomfortable with this, get over it!

School programs don’t work for all

I had to quit my job to homeschool my kids during COVID-19. I, and parents like me, should be reimbursed at least half the tax money it costs to have our children publicly educated if this continues.

The Kennewick School District remote learning platform during lockdown has been unacceptable. I realize not every child has the resources to communicate with their teacher, making it even more vital to make sure our kids are back in school in September.

I have an 11-year-old son diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and anxiety. He had a 504 put in place this year to aid him with various learning difficulties related to his diagnoses. Because of KSD’s rule that no child should receive individual instruction during this time of remote learning, my son with a 504 couldn’t receive the help he needed from his teacher in order to boost his math grade. We had to figure out how to teach him ourselves.

How is it okay for a child who requires extra help in the classroom not to receive extra help when learning remotely?

Tri-City police deserve support

While reading and listening to reports of the protests being held in Tri-Cities, fortunately without the rioting, I heard a comment that people are afraid to call police for help and contacting them is frightening. This is unfortunate and misguided thinking and belief. The Tri-Cities’ metropolitan law enforcement agencies are one of the best in the state. From all agencies, sheriff’s departments, city police departments and the area State Patrol office, the officers handle their duties and responsibilities with professional care.

As demonstrated, for our departments the activities of enforcing the laws are often combined with positive events and work in the communities that gives back to the citizens. I have experienced many interactions with the various departments from my past professional work in this market and have found law enforcement officers from leadership to patrol units to have high expectations for this area. I am encouraging the people who might have a negative attitude toward law enforcement officers to review and readjust their thinking. In our cities and rural areas, our men and women who wear the uniform and badges truly do try to serve and protect. They deserve your support.

Run Gen. Mattis as an independent

It’s not too late! Gen. (James) Mattis could run for president as an independent. He has the visibility to make a difference. More important, he has the integrity and the trust of the people. His recent condemnation of President Trump should be a wakeup call to all of us. We have grown complacent and just laughed or groaned as Trump has torn apart our country.

It’s time for all of the voters to stand up, regardless of political affiliation and vote for our country, not our party!

We are American first, something we cannot afford to forget!!

Officers in schools needed for safety

The alumni promoters of the petition to remove police officers from the Richland schools need to consider that their safety as former students was undoubtedly underscored by police officer presence in their school buildings.

I cannot speak for Richland.

In Kennewick, where armed teenagers are killing each other on the streets and in our parks and bringing their anger and violence into our schools; the carefully defined and orchestrated, collaboration between the Kennewick School District and the Kennewick Police Department continues to be absolutely vital to ensuring the established safety at Kennewick schools and school playgrounds.

Wear masks, get back to normal

To the great people of the Tri-Cities: Please start wearing masks and using social distancing. We need to get back to a somewhat normal town. Too many small shop owners are losing everything; we need to get Stage 3 or better soon. If we don’t, we will never get our towns back. Thanks.

This story was originally published June 21, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Lee Boulevard, face masks, police support and more | June 21."