Letters to the Editor for Nov. 1

We also have guests that are chronically homeless — our unseen neighbors.

Unlike cities that have the support systems and resources to assist those on the margins, rural communities depend on donations, churches, volunteers and other community partners to help.

I hope you will join us this season as a volunteer and supporter of the Warming Shelter. To learn more about our work, please go to www.hoodrivercares.org.

Rev. Anna Carmichael

Hood River

Duck gospel

Quoting: “Galoshes 12:1-2.”

Behold, if thine feet be not dry… but mostly moist, wet and webbed… verily and merrily I proclaim that ye shall take-eth a journey to dwelleth in the not so far away land known as “Eugenia;” wherefore ye shall go forth (not fifth) to quacketh and attacketh the group of 12 packeth. Behold… ye art a mean, green Oregon Duck.

Bill Davis

Hood River

Yes on 88

Thousands of permanent Oregon residents should not have their driving privileges denied or revoked due to the lack of action and/or ability of the Federal Government to provide workable immigration reform. Voting yes on ballot measure 88 will allow access for these residents to receive a limited-purpose, limited-duration, driver card.

This is not only important for maintaining the safety of state and local roadways, but also for the state and local economies. The farm value of agricultural products grown in Hood River County is approximately $80 million. The major crops are pears, apples, and cherries that are not only grown but are also packed here in the valley, adding another $40 to $50 million in value at the packer/shipper level.

Due to their delicate nature, these fresh market commodities are all picked and packed using hand labor.

This labor is provided by a predominantly Hispanic workforce. This is a workforce of hardworking, taxpaying families and individuals who, for the most part, are year-round Hood River County residents, some of whom have called this valley home for several decades. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to listen to the stories these first and second generation Hispanic-American immigrants have to tell. Their hard work pumps $125 million in to the local and state economy. I ask for your help in not making it more difficult for them to get to work, church, their children’s school events and activities, or to shop at local businesses. Vote yes on 88.

Adam McCarthy

Trout Creek Farm

Management

Parkdale

No on 88

Drivers’ cards for illegals will not make the roads safer. Taxpayer Cost - OFIR estimates that the annual cost to Oregon taxpayers for government services to illegal aliens, after any income tax revenue from them, is $1 billion. If Measure 88 passes, travelers would be able to use drivers’ cards to get onto an airplane (you can call TSA and confirm this). And as for the insurance? When you take the driver’s test, you have to show proof of insurance for the car that they use for the test, but they don’t need to own the car in which they take the test in, it could be a girlfriend’s car or anybody else’s car, for example. And just as it is for any other Oregon driver, there’s no way to force people to retain insurance after they purchase a policy. Any Oregon resident can cancel or renew insurance policies at will.

There are two types of immigrants here in Oregon: 1. Those who do things the legal way; 2.Those who do things the illegal way. Let’s not reward the people who do things the illegal way. I have many friends here from Mexico who are here legally and even have commercial driver’s licenses; if you’re going to reward somebody, reward them.

Ron Morgan

Parkdale

Boston strong

Having been born and raised in Boston, I would like to recognize the passing on Oct. 30 of Boston’s former and longest term mayor. Tom Merino, 71, was the man who, out of the hospital only two days, guided his beloved city through the horrible Boston Marathon bombing. Except for inoperable cancer, his 80 percent polling popularity almost assures us that he would have run and won a sixth term in office.

Dave Dockham

Hood River

Vote Nystrom, Bruce

For several years Hood River’s residents have opted to pay our school district with not one but two school extra options. We thought we would be supporting reduced classroom sizes and enriched programs.

What has actually happened is for several years, our schools have been eliminating classes and programs and increasing class sizes. This is due to the lack of stable and adequate funding from Salem. As a retiree on a fixed income, we need to have our representatives do a better job!

The Hood River Education Association and this retiree support Stephanie Nystrom for State House and Rob Bruce for State Senate. Please vote!

Sharon Guidera

Hood River

Vote for Blackburn

Paul Blackburn will make a first rate mayor for our city. He has the experience and the temperament to be an effective leader. I had the chance to work with him as a member of the city budget committee, while he was a city council representative to the group. He is an excellent listener, and possesses the unique ability to synthesize distinct points of view into a coherent and suitable whole, to actually get something done.

For more than ten years, he has demonstrated his commitment to the well-being of our community, serving on City Council, the Library District Board, the Education Foundation, United Way, and as president of the

Teacup Nordic ski club. He has also worked with our schools as a local committee member and even a SMART volunteer.

Dedicated effective leadership is what we need in Hood River, and what we will get with Mayor Paul Blackburn.

Jennifer Ouzounian

Hood River

Vote for Richardson

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a fresh, new Governor in Oregon who has established himself as a leader in his district and statewide through his hard work in the Oregon legislature? Dennis Richardson has pledged to create a healthy business environment to provide jobs to get our economy moving. What a blessing that would be! He will demand the legislature fund K-12 Education before any other program. He promises to bring equity to female salaries. Dennis has the education, experience and maturity to make it happen. He is a businessman, attorney and was a US Army combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. I strongly recommend that you give your vote for Governor to Dennis Richardson.

Rita Swyers

Hood River

Wake up, smell the GMOs

If you are still on the fence about measure 92, then I’m afraid you might be misled by $25 million worth of ads that chemical companies have dumped into telling you lies.

Knowing that salmon you buy at the store is farmed or wild is your right to know. You also have the right to know if that salmon is genetically modified.

We are farmers from Hood River County. And we want you to know that we are voting yes on 92. Hood River farmers think everyone should know what is in their food, period. Voting yes will not hurt small farmers, but rather help them to better differentiate from big agribusiness and GMO food.

The notion that labeling GMOs will raise food costs $400-$800 is unjustified, and according to examples already in place, untrue. Simply take a look at the other 64 countries of the world that already require labeling GMO food. The GMO seed companies claimed that their food costs would rise, but they did not. Consumer Reports estimated the median cost to consumers in Oregon would be $2.30 per year.

The bottom line is — if you are voting no on 92, then you likely don’t have the whole story. There are a lot of scary facts out there about GMOs (and a lot more unknowns), but the chemical companies that own and produce them spend tens of millions to help make sure you don’t know much about them... you have to WANT to find the information.

Don’t let $25 million of false ads and paid actors lure you from the facts. Research and educate yourself about GMOs. Vote yes on 92. It is your basic right to know what’s in the food you eat.

Ryan Goodwin

and Moria Reynolds,

Casa Verde CSA

Hood River