Opinions for and against Richland School Board member Audra Byrd and other Herald letters
Veterans thank Kennewick Elks
Every other Thursday morning a group of local veterans gather, at Sterling’s on Queensgate, and have breakfast together (Veterans Stammtisch). On March 10, representatives of the Elks Lodge #2755 came to our breakfast and announced that they were picking up the bill for all of our breakfasts. There were 37 veterans. This was completely unexpected, though very much appreciated by all.
Our breakfasts are open to all veterans. We gather at Sterling’s on Queensgate about 7:30 a.m. but starts filling up around 7:15. Our next breakfast will be on April 21.
Thank you again to the Elks Lodge #2755, Kennewick.
DH Wicks, Richland
Why do Russians still back Putin?
How is it possible that Russian citizens are so immune to truthful information about Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine? He has controlled the public narrative and filled it with lies to justify his “make Russia great again” campaign.
The Republican Party’s ability to convince 2/3rds of their voters they won the last Presidential election should give one pause. Putin gave Republicans the edge they needed to win the 2016 election as they have aligned interests. Why else?
Putin enjoys the unbridled power one-party government delivers, and Republicans openly aspire toward it. They’ve made strides using fascist tactics of lies and voter disenfranchisement. They chose not to even attempt to court the support of a majority of voters. Millions more Americans voted for the Democratic candidates in the last two presidential elections.
Our voting system is rigged, all right, going back to our Constitution’s establishment of the Senate to appease slaveholders. #BlackHistory
Please use your votes to end, or for now hopefully reduce, the threat the Republican Party presents to our democracy. True freedom here is near its end as Republicans scramble to politically control leadership offices down to school boards (ineptly so with (Semi) Bird and (Audra) Byrd in Richland).
Emmett Ivar Husa, Richland
We remember what you did
The hypocrisy just keeps coming. (Rep.) Dan Newhouse recently posted that he supports Ukraine.
Please recall the history. Trump, with the finesse of a Mafia Don, tried to extort Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for false dirt on Hunter Biden in exchange for not withholding military equipment that had been approved by Congress. Zelenskyy stood up for his country and democracy and said, “No.”
When word of this shakedown became public, articles of impeachment were offered to The House of Representatives. Newhouse voted to NOT impeach Trump. This vote said, “It’s okay to extort another nation by withholding military weapons which they need because they are right next door to Russia.”
Newhouse even boldly wrote that he was “standing with Trump.” Where are we now, Dan?
Ukraine is fighting for its very existence with the arms that Newhouse “stood with Trump” to withhold. Those arms are part of the grit and determination that is allowing Ukraine to hang on to its sovereignty.
And now Newhouse says he stands with Ukraine. Such balderdash.
“With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Newhouse, along with the other 170 or so GOP representatives who voted “no,” are partly responsible for this mess. We remember what you did.
Richard Reuther, Kennewick
Thanks to couple who paid for meal
We would like to thank the couple who dined near us at Anthony’s in Richland the night of March 30. After our meal, we were dumbfounded when this couple picked up the tab for our meal. We were celebrating my birthday and they must have overheard us. In these last two years of isolation and with what’s going on in Ukraine, it’s been difficult to stay positive. What a nice refreshing way to return to some sense of normalcy and belief in human beings. Thank you, and yes, we plan to gladly pay it forward.
Ed and Anita Jeffs, Kennewick
Are prison staff unvaccinated?
The article in Sunday’s Tri-City Herald, “Washington state’s worst prison outbreak is in Franklin County. Inmates and staff sickened” was informative but missed part of the story.
It reported that to date at Coyote Ridge Correction Center (CRCC), 1,357 inmates and 530 staff have been sickened by Covid-19 . Also stated was that statewide 17 prison inmates have died as well as 4 prison employees. What isn’t reported is that under the Washington state prison system process, all new prisoners are first sent to the Shelton facility for around two months to determine their further incarceration site, first being quarantined for two weeks. Prisoners then transferred to other facilities such as CRCC can only be infected by staff (unvaccinated and/or untested?}.
While close quarters does lead to rapid contagion, first the Covid-19 must be introduced by prison staff. Please report on how many staff refused vaccination and how testing of staff is conducted.
Nadine M. Highland, Richland
Byrd must be held accountable
The Tri City Herald’s recent editorial about Audra Byrd’s recent and repeated violation of state law is spot on about being “appalling” but should have gone further to have demanded Byrd be criminally prosecuted and immediately removed from the Richland School Board. Her arrogance and duplicity as she repeatedly violates state rules demand action. Not enough room on her phone to save texts? Save them to the Cloud prior to deleting them.
But then again, it’s hard to believe this is really the issue, given how she also bragged in one text about her plans to delete it. Let’s remember that these rules are in place to ensure a clean, transparent democratic government, something Byrd has demonstrated she has little interest in upholding. So shame on us if we think somehow now she’s going to start respecting the law. It’s time for much stronger actions and accountability. Our children deserve nothing less.
Eric Nicholson, Richland
She’s a fan of Richland’s Byrd
Thank you so much, Audra Byrd, for serving faithfully on the winning Richland School District Board. You succeeded in getting masks an option for students and parents, which was a fight for two years.
I was in Spokane when you were in the news as a district that the school board had guts to fight for the parents’ and students’ rights, and you were considered a hero by the people who were discussing it and they were complaining not enough school boards fought for their parents and students.
A big thank you and we all think very highly of you. Especially the fact that after all that time and frustration you didn’t even use any foul language to the powers that be. Amazing job, you should look into a higher position as you certainly deserve it. We all love courage and I am sorry for the hassles and barriers you had to fight along the way and now that it is over and you won, being bullied.
Marcia Isakson, Pasco
Offended by anti-gun letter
The letter from Mr. Kent was absolutely insulting and unnecessary! I don’t know what provoked him, but I have carried a firearm most of my adult life (and I’m getting to the age some would call “old”) and have only intimidated two sets of people with my gun, both of whom were suggesting bodily harm to me, and one bear. No shots were fired at the humans and the gun never left its holster. Just its presence de-escalated their intents. It took three shots to turn the bear but all in front of its face, so it was not harmed either. I don’t get his call to have to go to Ukraine to be a patriot. If I were a Ukrainian, then that would make sense. No, Mr. Kent, I think I’ll remain a patriot to my country, the U.S.A., and will continue to carry my firearm as to protect myself and maybe the sheep, such as yourself, who are too afraid of these tools to even protect yourself, much less any of your human com-patriots! God bless!
Robert Spencer, West Richland