We found ourselves in need of help. And Tri-Citians stepped up to give us a hand | Opinion

Tri-Citians help crashed travelers

Last Saturday, two Tri-City residents — I know them only as Tiffany and Craig — vacationing on the Oregon Coast with their young children, came across two stranded motorists — my partner and me, visiting from Montana — who had just wrecked our car in a one-car accident on Highway 101.

Tiffany and Craig stopped not once but twice to make sure we were unhurt and to offer us assistance. So often in these divisive times, it’s easy to focus on what divides us, and to find reasons to not reach out to strangers to help. Thank you, Tiffany and Craig, for being Good Samaritans and representing the best of the Tri-Cities!

Susan Hay Patrick, CEO United Way of Missoula County, Missoula, Mont.

Bogen drawing broad support

I write in strong support of Brian Bogen, a nonpartisan candidate for governor, whose candidacy is gaining significant momentum across our state.

Bogen’s recent fundraising success, which placed him among the top three gubernatorial candidates in his first month, highlights the growing recognition of his campaign. With a background as a successful business leader, dedicated volunteer and committed environmental steward, Bogen brings a wealth of experience and a pragmatic approach to governance.

Bogen is distinguished by his commitment to bridging partisan divides and focusing on solutions that benefit all Washingtonians. In contrast to the divisive politics of today, Bogen advocates for strong educational opportunities, a values-based budget prioritizing public safety, education and the environment, and making Washington a competitive business environment on both sides of the state.

Bogen represents a refreshing departure from the current two-party system, offering voters a chance to support a leader who prioritizes unity and effective governance over partisan rhetoric. As voters, we have an opportunity to elect a leader who embodies integrity, inclusivity, and a genuine commitment to progress for all. I urge my fellow citizens to join me in supporting Bogen for governor.

Tony Christensen, CEO, Christensen Inc., Richland

• Amy Barber, West Richland, also submitted a letter in support of Brian Bogen for governor.

Newhouse a strong supporter of dams

I’m a longtime reader of the Tri-City Herald, and I’m usually impressed with letters from other readers, but I recently came across one that just didn’t sit right.

Someone from Basin City claimed that Dan Newhouse talks about China more than he talks about the dams, our southern border, the economy, crime, etc. and that is not true.

I’ve been reading Mr. Newhouse’s weekly email blasts for a while, and I can confidently say that he can prioritize multiple things at a time, as a good member of Congress should.

I’ve read about laws he’s making to stop Biden from tearing out our dams (an issue he’s talked about at length), his visit to the border, the work he does on the appropriation committee to make sure local projects are funded, and how he’s working to stop the Chinese government from importing drugs and buying our land.

That letter was written in bad faith and littered with lies, so I needed to set the record straight. Have your gripes with Dan, but he’s been representing us well and I’d rather have him working on real issues that matter than someone who has no credit in Congress when we need it most.

Ryan J. Jacobs, Richland

Take Night Out in all neighborhoods

National Night Out is an annual campaign that promotes police and community partnerships. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Through neighborhood camaraderie, we can make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live.

Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.

For more information on how your neighborhood can get involved, please visit your city police department’s Facebook page or website. Also, be sure to visit the Support, Advocacy & Resource Center’s (SARC) website, Facebook and Instagram pages for more information about crime prevention and advocacy services available in our community.

Denise Martin, Pasco

W. Richland pot shops sadden me

Being the owner of a local teen and adult substance use disorder treatment agency and a licensed substance use disorder professional for 35 years, the possible opening of marijuana shops in West Richland saddens me.

The Tri-Cities has a huge drug problem that not only affects those caught in the web of addiction, but also families, employers and citizens alike. The enormous price paid for this problem is widespread.

And don’t believe the area pot store owners proclaiming it’s impossible for minors to buy products on their premises. I know for a fact that many do.

Why would a small and peaceful community muddy the waters and bring a drug proven to cause mental and physical problems to many who consume it? Have we not already seen the harmful effects of alcohol on our streets? Why endorse another dangerous drug? And financially it makes no sense. The dollars in taxes that the city receives are small compared with the perils pot will bring, not to mention criminal activities that come with these types of stores.

Let’s use our common sense and keep pot stores out of West Richland and Richland. Believe me, we’ll all be better off in the long run.

Gary Somdahl, Richland

More facts need careful checking

Much of our population does not research the validity of what they read, see or hear. They establish a bias in their attitudes and opinions based on their everyday experiences, then reject everything that does not match this bias. This leaves them open to accepting what they want to believe. They lack the initiative to research the information they receive via the printed and broadcast media and social media, and their interactions with family, friends and coworkers. They have become thoroughly comfortable in their biased opinions and outlook of the future, thus becoming victims of their bias.

Trump, the MAGA and right-wing members of the Republican Party in Congress take advantage of this inherent bias in seeking their political gains through false conspiracies and outright lies — a practice proven to be successful. The Democrats are not innocent but practice it much less.

What can be done to cause this majority to reject their bias? Probably nothing short of enacting laws or a constitutional amendment that makes it a crime to promulgate anything in the printed and broadcast media as well as social media that is not fact-checked. This will never happen because the Constitution dictates freedom of speech, even when it subverts democracy.

Jim Tow, Richland