Letters to the Editor for March 9

Steve Nybroten

White Salmon, Wash.

Always racist?

Open letter to the young man who recently assaulted a Buddhist monk in Hood River, calling him a F-ing Muslim:

Were you born ignorant and have just stayed that way, or do you actively work at being ignorant, not to mention racist?

Bev Elsner

White Salmon, Wash.

Yes to STRs

Any and all STR (short term rental) owners, who have in good faith paid Hood River’s required taxes at first conception, and complied with prior rules and regulations, have earned their right to be “grandfathered in,” not for just five years, but until the owner has decided not to continue, whether as a STR or an annual renter. The groups of families, small clubs, business members, and family reunions are not interested in a hotel-motel experience or they would have called them first. Out of town or state visitors expect, and appreciate, a quiet, comfortable, well-furnished home away from home to communicate, socialize with friends, or for small business meetings. Without these accommodations, these folks will be going elsewhere for rental housing to suit their requirements.

These visitors are great for local economy. While they enjoy scenery, visiting local shops, eateries, water sports, art galleries, etc., you name it, they shop locally, each day they are here. They are law abiding guests from afar, who appreciate a homey place to spend a few days or weeks.

Lois Neufeldt

Hood River

Manage land

As a member of the Hood River Stewardship group, I am puzzled by some of the letters to the Hood River News about the proposed Polallie Cooper project. Our collaborative group is made up of mostly locals from a variety of backgrounds and interests. Many of the letters complain about the extensive clear cutting that the Forest Service is trying to get away with. Others complain about watershed values being destroyed. The Hood River Stewardship group studied and discussed what to do in the area and recommended treatments to the Forest Service. Our recommendations were made before the Forest Service came up with their alternatives for managing the planning area.

Reading the documents that the Forest Service mailed out about the proposed actions reveals that most of our recommendations have been taken into consideration. There will be no clear cutting! For the most part there will be no large trees removed. Only the thinning out of the smaller trees that contribute to ladder fuels and nutrient competition.

The main objective of the recommended treatments were to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire and reduce the stress on the stands of old growth trees from overcrowding by the understory trees.

I am puzzled if the writers of these above mentioned letters actually read what was being proposed or were fed misinformation by others that have an agenda. The Stewardship group proposed treatment in areas near dwellings or near domestic watersheds. Our collaborative group wants to ensure that good management of our watershed is done before it burns up.

A severely burned watershed doesn’t provide clean water for people, fish or agriculture.

Rick Ragan

Hood River

Vote Sanders

The Washington State Democratic Caucuses are coming. It’s a chance to explain to people that Bernie Sanders is the candidate who walks his talk. Go and point out that he alone proposes to break up the big banks. Explain that Clinton has not ruled out increasing the Social Security retirement age. Sanders was a civil-rights activist in the 1960s and has a consistent record of supporting racial justice, women’s equality, and opposing the invasion of Iraq. He proposes to empower workers with a living wage and to put Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and to confront climate change by making the United States a leader in renewable energy.

See you Saturday, March 26 at the middle school in White Salmon or the grange in Goldendale. I’ve heard that democracy is not a spectator sport so get out and participate.

Ray Klebba

White Salmon, Wash.

STRs needed

I’ll bet no commissioner or city council member campaign said, “If you vote for me I will limit your rights, eliminate existing jobs, and pass regulations that prevent future jobs and deny the use of private property.” Before them sits new regulations that promise to do these very things.

Twenty-five years ago in Hood River, there were no jobs, windsurfing, white river rafting, festivals, wineries, breweries, or lavender farms. Today, the Chamber of Commerce promotes blossoms, lavender, harvest, wind, beer, wine, pears and festivals, WAAAM Fly-in, County Fair, Fourth of July, First Fridays, Pray for Wind and Snow parties with 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 guests per weekend.

Where are they gonna stay? The eight hotels probably have 500 to 600 rooms. That leaves 1,000 to 2,000 people sleeping in the streets. There is high demand for short term rentals (STRs) during the summer for the festivals and activities the Chamber promotes.

With ever increasing regulations, we can’t welcome our guests by providing them comfortable and safe accommodations. STRs are a legal use of residential homes. Why stop the hardworking citizens from making extra spending cash? Who wants a rule that denies the use of private property? Hood River should be promoting STRs, not restricting them.

These regulations will affect your children’s future finances, preventing them from using this method to keep the family home or afford the family vacation. Please don’t inflict more regulations on a town that already soaks its visitors and citizens for every last coin in the parking meter.

Fritz Reuter

Hood River

‘Vote!’

All Klickitat County voters that consider themselves Democrats should give thoughtful consideration to participating in the Democratic nominating caucus on Saturday, March 26. The Washington State Democratic Party has precinct caucuses, as opposed to primaries, as the sole method for choosing our state’s presidential nominee. These caucuses are your opportunity to cast your vote for your preferred nominee. Washington is a Democratic caucus state, NOT a Democratic primary state. The May primary will not influence the Democratic nominee put forth by our state; instead it will be the March 26 caucus that begins this nominating process.

At the caucus, county Democratic voters will meet together in small groups from their neighborhood precincts to discuss the candidates and to vote for their preference. Additionally neighborhood precincts will choose delegates to attend the next tier of caucus at the state legislative district level. Ultimately, the results from our neighborhood precinct caucuses are filtered up to the state convention where delegates are chosen to attend the national democratic convention, in Philadelphia, July 2016.

We have all heard, and perhaps even complained about, government’s dysfunction and its inability to get anything done. Let’s remember, WE the citizens are an important part of the governing body of our country. WE too must do our job. That means becoming active participants in our democracy. Come to caucus on March 26. Listen to your neighbors’ ideas, support your preferred candidate, and make your voice heard.

Eastside precincts will meet at Goldendale Grange 288, Goldendale.

Westside precincts will meet at Henkle Middle School, White Salmon. Sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m.; the caucus convenes at 10 a.m. and will adjourn at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Preregistering for the caucus sign-in will save you time on March 26 (www.demcaucus.com/register).

First time voter registration is available at the caucus and online (weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/MyVoteOlvr).

For further details please visit www.klickitatdemocrats.org,

email demsklick@gmail.com or call 509-385-5399.

Participate! Vote! Caucus!

Linda Roland

Trout Lake, Wash.