Letters to the Editor for May 23

The objection seems to be based on the fact that Nestle is a very large company that produces many diverse products. To me, that is a positive. It means that in economic downturns, it has the ability to weather the storm.

Ms. Busdieker ignores the fact that the city is not offering to sell water rights to Nestle. The offer is to sell spring water to Nestle. The city will then return water to ODFW gallon for gallon.

If there is one resource we here in Cascade Locks have, it is abundant water. Remember, we get up to 80 inches of rain a year, double what Hood River or Portland receive.

We have more water than we can use. Why not sell it at a profit so that we can afford to repair our streets, have more than 27 hours a week of law enforcement and repair our water lines, which leak 48,000,000 gallons of water a year. It’s true!

Jean McLean

Cascade Locks

Hood River News reminds letter to the editor writers that shorter is better. Concise letters are not only better-read, they are more likely to be published because limited space is available.

Almost any point can be made in 350 words or less, so this is set as an upper level for length. Letters exceeding 350 words will either be edited to 350 or returned to the writer for editing and resubmission.

Unsigned letters, letters signed with fictitious signatures and copies of letters sent to public officials are not accepted.

We limit letters on a subject when we feel it has been thoroughly aired, to the point of letters becoming repetitive.

Also rejected are letters that are libelous, in bad taste or personal attacks on individuals or private businesses. Writers must include addresses and telephone numbers. These are for identification purposes only and will not be published.

False promises

Insurance is the sale of promises. The policyholder pays premiums in the present and the insurer promises to pay claims in the future should certain unwanted events occur (death, auto accidents, sickness, etc.). Sometimes, the promise will not be tested for decades. For example, I have life insurance with an issuance date of September 1, 1975, which was purchased by my father when I was a child. At the time of this letter and forty years later, no claim has been filed.

Therefore, both the ability and willingness of the insurer to pay, even if economic chaos prevails when claims are filed, is all-important. For example, when the housing bubble burst, financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. The filing remains the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history, with Lehman holding over $600 billion.

My automobile recently was in a hit and run. I filed a claim. I took the car to a local shop for an estimate. I learned in Oregon, the insurance company does not have to provide original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. I had to pay the difference between the aftermarket parts and the OEM parts to restore my automobile to pre-accident condition. I also learned the insurer gets to decide what is replaced or repaired, even if this is against the wishes of the policyholder.

The auto body shop will not warranty things they deem to be unsafe and in need of replacement which the insurance company says “repair and not replace.”

This would almost be like me sending in “partial payment” because I did not have an accident this month. We need stronger laws which force companies to pay full cost of claims or be forced to refund past premiums up to the disputed amount.

Consumers are being defrauded by adjusters looking to reduce exposure while policyholders pay the full premium to the agent. By the time the time I have paid everything the company is not paying, I will have spent a full year’s premium in deductibles, disallowables and disputed pre-existing damages. Talk about having it both ways!

Adam Goddin

Hood River

Reporting needed

Joe O’Neill’s Letter to the Editor about the school district’s budget is excellent. But shouldn’t a breakdown of the budget be a story the Hood River News should be doing? Shouldn’t a story on the new Fed regulations on oil trains be a story the “News” should be doing? Shouldn’t the lack of Hispanic representation in local government be a story the “News” should be doing? Why are you guys reporting on a woman pretending to be the tooth fairy instead of doing some real reporting?

Al Brown

Hood River

Memorial Day

Take time to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country:

11 a.m. — Ceremony at Idlewilde Cemetery, 980 Tucker Road, includes presentations by American Legion, the Boy Scouts, dedications, an antique aircraft flyover. Veterans’ plaques, Hood River Valley High School band.

Jerry Giarraputo

Hood River

Past clear cuts

I grew up in White Salmon and support small town economies that for decades have relied on professions like timber harvesting. I enjoy the wood house that I live in. And enjoy the smell of cut wood.

Recently, my girlfriend and I went to popular hiking spot near Hood River and noticed a massive clear cut that is underway at the former trail head. As we stood at the site of this place we have recreated regularly ... the native plants, the sounds of birds, the trees ... are gone. When I see a clear cut, I’m reminded at how archaic they feel. My optimistic self wants humanity to create lumber from plastics and bamboo. Both of which are plentiful and in the case of bamboo, fast growing. I’m sorry that we haven’t moved past clear cutting as a practice and at the very least hope that legislation can be passed to require selective logging at all timber harvest sites.

Avery W. Hoyt

White Salmon, Wash.

Drive with care

Summer is coming quickly and kids will soon be out of school for the break. While my goal is to always make sure my kids are safe and courteous, they are just kids and they will inevitably chase a ball into the street or ride their bike across the street without looking. Haven’t we all done that?

I will share you a short story that has been with me about 20 years. A friend of mine lived in a nice community similar to ours, lots of active families with kids. Their 4-year-old son was out playing with his dad when a driver was going too fast and the child was short enough that the driver didn’t see him. Needless to say, my friend’s son was hit and killed by this driver. It can happen in split second.

We are all in a hurry from time to time, but please just take a few extra seconds or minutes and you could save a life. Please drive with care and be aware that there are cars parked along the streets that can block a bike, pet or child.

Melissa Martin

Hood River

Port thanks

The trail and open space projects under construction on the Waterfront today are the result of hard work and collaborative efforts of many individuals over several years. The Port of Hood River wishes to acknowledge the important contributions made by Representative Greg Walden and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to these projects. Rep. Walden and Sen. Merkley actively supported an amendment to the 2013 Water Resources Development Act that allowed trail construction to occur within a federal flowage easement along the Nichols Basin. Senator Wyden ensured that a prior commitment of federal funds for a transportation study was available for trail work near the Pedestrian Bridge. The Port is grateful to these elected officials whose assistance has helped make highly visible and long sought-after enhancements to the Hood River waterfront a reality.

Michael McElwee

Executive Director

Port of Hood River