Politicians are using Richland School Board meetings to campaign, and other Herald letters
GOP campaigns at RSD meetings
Richland School Board meetings have become quite the popular campaign stop lately. The board has allowed at least six men from a single political party to take up public comment and meeting time to advance their own political goals. The board changed the system for public comment at meetings, where those who would like to speak would sign up online ahead of time. However, at the May 10 meeting, Vice President Kari Williams allowed candidate Jerrod Sessler of Prosser and Micah Valentine of Kennewick to speak, without having signed up.
During another recent meeting, the board gave impromptu, off-agenda time to candidate Brad Klippert and Rep. Matt Boehnke, both of Kennewick, for a photo op that lasted more than 20 minutes.
Also, candidate Corey Gibson of Selah and his campaign manager made campaign speeches during the community’s limited public comment time.
None of these men are Richland parents, guardians, residents or other RSD stakeholders. This violates the board’s rules for public comment, as well as its own Code of Ethics.
RSD should put an immediate halt to allowing its board meetings to be used as a campaign tour stop, and stop the politicization of our school district.
Molly Petersen, Richland
Who will pay for turbine disposal?
One thing that barely gets mentioned when these ginormous wind and solar farms are being hastily foisted upon “Flyover Country” is what is going to be done when the non-recyclable windmill blades and solar panels quit producing due to old age (general lifespan is 10 years). There are already huge cemeteries for burying the blades. More land will be needed for this instead of for something productive, like growing food.
What about the solar panels? Who is paying for them when they die? The farmers making money now better beware when they rent their lands for these monstrous fields of ugly horror. If they are (likely) abandoned in place, what will be done? More bankrupting of the state and nation and inflation-causing federal superfunds created? The landowners, state and federal government better ensure that the companies building these things have bonds assured in the agreement to cover those costs, plus to cover the inflated costs in 10-20 years!
Robert Spencer, West Richland
The trampling of women’s rights
Women’s rights seemed to be on the chopping block again. According to the leaked draft ruling, the Supreme Court proposes to overturn Roe v. Wade. While Democrats are concerned about women’s rights; Republicans are concerned about the leak itself. The right-wing white supremacists of the Republican party have merged with the evangelical Christians. As a result, misogyny has been fostered and promoted by politicians, religious leaders and media pundits. This proposed ruling exemplifies the deep disdain for women’s power over their own health related decisions. To have a child or not to have a child is a personal and private decision by a woman.
There is little to no consideration for the social and economic impact on women. As Sister Joan Chittister pointed out “your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born, but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there.”
The right to an abortion is a woman’s right. It must not be taken away.
Suzanne Feeney, Kennewick
This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 6:15 PM.