Herald letter writers weigh in on Kennewick school levy, drugs and pot sales in Pasco | Opinion

Levy invests in students’ futures

As a lifelong resident of Kennewick, I am proud to live and work in a community that ensures a quality education for more than 19,000 students every year. I have multiple children in the district, and they have received opportunities to thrive from birth to graduation. This is possible because of levy funds investing in the future of our students. Funds provide critical enhancement programs like behavioral health supports, Advanced Placement classes, security and safety officers, professional development, music programs, athletics and so much more! This funding goes beyond traditional education to surround our students with supportive adults who invest in all aspects of their growth and development.

I encourage you to educate yourself about the upcoming levy. This investment will sustain the great strides we have made to support our students and the opportunities that open doors to their great futures. It is important that we as a community do not view this levy through the lens of whether we can afford it, but more importantly realize that we cannot afford to thrive without it.

I will be voting yes for our students and our community, and I encourage you to as well. Every vote matters!

Brian Ace, Kennewick

Keep pot sales outside of Pasco

Open letter to the Pasco City Council: As a lifelong resident and former employee of the City of Pasco, it grieves me deeply to see our City Council sell out to the marijuana lobby. There is absolutely nothing good that can come from allowing the sale of pot in the city. I can remember all too well when Pasco was looked down upon as the worst drug- and crime-ridden part of the Tri-Cities. The city staff and council have worked hard since the 1970s to overcome that stigma. Why do you think we need to accommodate one of the drugs that helped label us that way? Believe it or not, there will be a stigma that will come with bringing marijuana stores to Pasco.

To condone the sale of pot by our city sends the wrong message to our young people who already find it too accessible. Ask any middle school or high school employee about the use of this drug by their students. It is not too late to vote NO to keep legalized drug dealers out and show some Pasco Pride in being a cut above the norm.

Paul Whitemarsh, Pasco

Stay focused on drug crashes too

According to an article on Jan. 18, legislators are considering a bill to lower the blood alcohol level from .08 to .05. The reasoning behind it is the increase in traffic fatalities from 591 in 2020 to 602 in 2021. The article goes on to say that 30% of the fatalities were alcohol-related and 39% were due to those under the influence of drugs.

Are these the same legislators who thought it wise to legalize nearly every kind of drug known to man including heroin and fentanyl? Using their numbers, more people died from drug-related crashes than those that were alcohol related, so why are legislators not focusing on the obvious? I am fully onboard with ways to get more drunk drivers off our streets, but I also think stopping drug-related traffic deaths should be more of a priority.

Louie D. Smith, Pasco

Support KSD levy

My wife and I chose to move to Kennewick School District 20 years ago to raise our two boys and be part of the community. Forward to today, our boys have both finished college. But the path getting through college was made possible, in part, due to the great teachers, activities and facilities they had in our Kennewick schools.

I am thankful my children had the opportunity to participate in the music programs throughout their school years; it was a source of learning and personal growth. Along with learning to read music and perform, it taught them commitment, work ethic, leadership and friendship skills.

Today, the Kennewick School District needs our support to maintain the quality instruction and programs that make our schools great. The kids need more than just the teacher in the classroom to be successful. They need reasonable class sizes, para-educator support, intervention and enrichment instruction as well as extracurricular activities, whether it be music, sports, clubs, to be well-rounded individuals who can be successful adults.

Please join our family by voting yes on Feb. 14 for the future of our community.

Steve Howland, Kennewick