Disabled riders need Ben Franklin Transit and other Tri-City Herald letters to the editor

Ordinary folks ride transit buses

As a regular rider of Ben Franklin Transit, I would like to remind Clint Didier about who rides buses in our community. There’s children, students going to classes, parents, working adults, the elderly, the disabled, all walks of life. And yes, some of us might be on lightly traveled routes, but if that’s the only way we have to get around; it’s an essential part to our livelihoods.

The idea that every bus must be bustling with people doesn’t reflect how mass transit can work in our community. We’re spread out, some neighborhoods might have only a few riders at a time, but if you can’t get from your neighborhood to the bus system, why have it? Please, stop using this example of empty buses as a way to de-fund a service many in our community find essential, especially at a time when gas prices are spiking.

Chris Lindhartsen, Richland

Learn how to halt child abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is important to raise awareness of child abuse within our community. During COVID-19, many kids were at home doing remote learning and could not report to teachers or school personnel. Last calendar year in Benton and Franklin counties, there were 384 interviews conducted about alleged child abuse. This does not include cases that go unreported.

Community members can show support. One way to become involved is to simply talk about the issue of child abuse in our community. Bringing this issue to light can help others be aware and protect the children around them. If you suspect a child is being abused, report it! Reporting does not necessarily constitute a proven fact — it is raising a question about the condition or state of a child.

Another way to get involved is to attend our Community Education Night happening in April. This will be a virtual zoom event this year, and will include parent education. This will be held on April 28 from 5:30-7 p.m. All are welcome to attend. For updated information, please follow us on social media pages.

For information, call SARC at 509-374-5391.

Denise Martin, Pasco

Negotiations might have avoided war

I find it interesting that Russia is using warfare to try to gain control of Ukraine, but 155 years ago the United States acquired Alaska from Russia by buying it for $7.2 million. I’m assuming that is the civilized way of changing control of land these days. If the Russians did not want to pay for it, they could have made other arrangements, like negotiating various commercial benefits with Ukraine. It worked for them in 1867. Why not today?

Jerry Greenfield, Richland

Watching Fox gives him whiplash

Yesterday (3/17), I was watching FOX News and was told that Biden was a “bad” president. But, the reasons seem to contradict each other.

Laura Ingraham in her monologue reminded us of what Reagan had said, and that, “We (via Biden) are spending too much money and shouldn’t arm Ukraine …. it is giving them a false sense of hope, and they are only going to lose anyway. Sending them weapons will only cause more to die.”

Sean Hannity in his monologue (like Ingraham), also quoted Reagan, and said Ukraine desperately needs our help. So what we (via Biden) are sending them is not near enough.

As for Tucker Carlson, he thinks both of them are wrong.

“Democrats in Washington (i.e., Biden) have told you, you have a patriotic duty to hate Vladimir Putin.… Anything less than hatred of Putin is treason.”

So, Putin and Russia aren’t that bad, but Zelensky and Ukraine are?

Curiously, Russian media is now encouraged by the Kremlin to “use as much as possible ...broadcasts of ...Tucker Carlson.”

See “Tucker Carlson shills for Putin while his colleagues are killed in Ukraine.” (Los Angeles Times, March 18).

D. L. (Andy) Anderson, Richland