Your voice: April 9, 2025

A special thank you for your thoughtful reporting and for sharing information about FISH Food Bank and Columbia Gorge Master Gardeners — two organizations I am proud to be involved with. Your support helps spread awareness and makes a real difference. With appreciation,

Marianne Brevard

Hood River

Sources of inequality

While I agree that our southern border and immigration need to modernize and become safe, secure and stable, I disagree that illegal immigrants, queer people, abortion, gun rights, etc., are the sources of inequality and anger in this country. If you look at the amount of greed and tyranny that’s currently in a small sliver of our population, the source of the problem becomes a lot clearer.

To me, the sign of a healthy society is how well the poorest and powerless are doing, not who has the shiniest castle or rocket ship. All of the physical trappings of wealth pale in comparison to the expansiveness that’s possible in the heart, if only we can set it free. It’s a lot easier to take power away from those who didn’t have much to begin with. And we have our work cut out for us to take it from those who do.

Yes, eat the rich and feed the poor. It’s definitely not rocket science.

Avery Hoyt

White Salmon

Keep Barrett

Selling Barrett Park would be financially irresponsible for the Hood River Valley Parks and Rec (HRVPR) Board. HRVPR would need to repay half of the original purchase price ($325,000) to Oregon Parks & Recreation, or reinvest in another park, as they are liable for the grant terms. This seems counterproductive for a group seeking voter dollars through bond measures.

Additionally, HRVPR’s 2014 resolution states they “will hold Barrett Park for Parks and Recreation purposes in perpetuity.” While HRVPR could potentially sell it and use the remaining funds to purchase another property, the current property under discussion is in Parkdale.

Another consideration is that the City of Hood Rivers’ SDC Funds (System Development Charges, $40,000) were used as a grant match for the Barrett Park purchase in 2007. I was on city council in 2007 when Lori Stirn asked the Hood River City Councils’ permission to use city SDC funds for the grant match. Because Barrett was outside the city limits, this request was unprecedented. There was some opposition due to the need for parks within the city limits. However, the proximity to the high school, Indian Creek Trail extension, and potential future zone change led to the vote to grant the use of these funds for a park outside the city. Selling Barret to fund a park in Parkdale is not what we envisioned in that vote.

I support preserving a park in Parkdale; however, it deserves county SDC funds, Thrive and HRVPR’s support, and is a separate issue.

Both financial complications require the board to delay discussions of “offloading the Barrett property.” Given the need for housing and population growth here, the city or county could alter the UGB (Urban Growth Boundary), earmark Barrett as a future potential park, or just keep it as open space. Many communities have learned that land banking open spaces is financially prudent for future growth.

Ann Frodel

Hood River

Ethics

Elon Musk’s potential profit from government sources for Space X and other “odds and ends” is $42 billion. Is there an ethic somewhere in this pile of greenery? It might be good to ask a vet, a Head Start student, a cancer patient, a laid-off government worker, a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recipient, a farmer, your next-door neighbor, or simply look in the mirror and ask yourself, “WHAT?”

Gary Young

Hood River

Empathy?

“The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy,” said Elon Musk in a recent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan. This wasn’t a verbal slip or offhand remark. It was a statement that Musk defended vigorously.

Lack of empathy is a hallmark of narcissistic personalities. Of course, Musk shares this deficit with Donald Trump. Both regard wealth and power as the standards of greatness. And let’s face it, if you want to amass wealth and power, empathy is a problem.

Trump and Musk often refer to anyone who opposes them as NPCs, a video gaming term for nonplayer characters, who cannot think or act on their own. NPCs exist only to populate the world of the actual players. In other words, they are inferiors whose sole purpose is to serve the elite. This was the commonly held worldview that our nation’s founders opposed by asserting that “all men are created equal,” a radical notion at the time. And even today, it is a fragile ideal that oppressed people have fought for throughout our nation’s history.

Trump and Musk have actually fooled a lot of people with their rhetoric about strengthening the economy and making the government more efficient, but their true agenda is to reverse history by restoring the old world order of the elite and the oppressed. That’s why tax breaks for the wealthy are paired with cruel and inhumane actions targeting migrants and refugees, trans people, civil servants, people receiving food stamps and Medicaid — anyone they regard as vulnerable and expendable. Next on the chopping block is the Department of Education and public broadcasting. The circle of the oppressed will grow much wider unless we speak up to resist in every way we can.

Paul Woolery

Hood River

History of presidents, debt

A common belief is that Republicans are excellent job creators who excise budgetary restraint and fight big government, while tax and spend Democrats kill growth and jobs, and are champions of big intrusive government. What I see when I look at the U.S. job creation, deficit and the federal workforce starting after the President Nixon resignation is:

Jimmy Carter added $25 billion to the federal deficit in a period when the non-farm workforce increased by 3%. He led a major bipartisan civil service reform restoring merit-based principles.

Ronald Reagan added $74 billion and grew the federal workforce from 2.1 million to 2.2 million, though he campaigned on reducing government waste and big government. The non-farm workforce dropped by 1.9% under Reagan.

George H.W. Bush oversaw an increase in the deficit and a further shrinkage of the non-farm workforce.

Bill Clinton reduced the deficit by $383 billion, leaving the U.S. with a budget surplus and no federal debt. He worked in a bipartisan way to reduce the federal workforce by more than 300,000 positions and oversaw the creation of 18.6 million non-farm jobs for a net 2.3% increase in non-farm jobs.

George W. Bush left the U.S. with a $1.54 trillion dollar budget deficit by both going to war under false pretenses and cutting taxes. The non-farm workforce shrunk by 0.4%.

Barak Obama reduced the deficit by $825 billion, reduced the federal workforce, added 11.6 million non-farm jobs and workers saw pay increases well above inflation.

Donald Trump in his first term added $2.1 trillion to the deficit and non-farm jobs decreased by 0.1%.

Joe Biden reduced the deficit by $942 billion and non-farm jobs rose 4.2%.

Donald Trump’s proposed second term will add more than $2 trillion to the budget and there is no telling what economic havoc will be on the government. Trump/Musk is pushing to privatize all federal jobs — and in our capitalistic society companies must operate at the maximum possible profit, not for the benefit of the people.

Is that what YOU want?

Michael Beug

White Salmon

Nanoplastics

There was a very alarming National Institutes of Health (NIH) study last year that pioneered a new method of measuring nanoplastics. These are very small particles of plastic, between a nanometer and a micron, even smaller than microplastics. Nanoplastics originate from the breakdown of plastic material, including food containers, packaging, synthetic clothing, and automobile tires. They are a concern for human and environmental health because their small size allows them to enter and accumulate in organisms, including our bodies. However, their small size also means that, prior to this study, it was extremely challenging to detect and measure them.

The NIH study, published in January 2024, analyzed three (unnamed) brands of bottled water and found that a single liter (or quart) contains, on average, 240,000 plastic particles, with 90% of those particles being nanoplastics. This is a massive amount of plastic, 10-100 times more than has been found in previous studies of bottled water, which focused mostly on larger microplastics. The nanoplastics came from the plastic water bottle and, ironically, from the water filter and purification system.

The health effects of nanoplastics in the body are not entirely known, a fact the bottled water industry was quick to point out after the study. Normally, the results of a study like this would lead the NIH, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct ongoing research on the health implications of nanoplastic consumption. But, as we know, federal agency employees have been laid off and funding for these kinds of studies has been slashed. Apparently, this administration has decided it is more important to give the richest people in this country a tax break. Which leaves me wondering if we are to rely on the bottled water industry for the final word? I’m skeptical and old enough to recall the tobacco industry discrediting smoking threats, the chemical industry discrediting DDT threats, or the fossil fuel industry discrediting climate change threats.

You can probably tell how I feel about this administration’s policies and cost-cutting efforts. They seem short-sighted, recklessly dangerous, self-serving, callous, wasteful, and just plain stupid. It’s enough to drive me to drink — anything but bottled water.

Tim Mayer

Hood River

Support Ukraine

Congressional Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner of Washington, and Cliff Bentz of Oregon, need to trumpet their support for Ukraine — countering President Donald Trump, who’s effectively supporting Russia.

Hopefully Newhouse, Baumgartner and Bentz agree that Russia clearly started the war and was/is the aggressor, something that Trump seems to forget or deny in his love affair with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And hopefully the three don’t have such short memory or be so misinformed as to be ignorant that Zelenskyy is widely credited with saving much of the free world. Immediately after Russia attacked Ukraine — when Ukraine was considered no match for Russia and would surrender quickly — Zelenskyy bravely stood up against Putin while inspirationally rallying Ukrainians behind him.

Democracies owe great debt to the bravery and sacrifices of Ukrainians and Zelenskyy, and no amount of support for Ukraine can adequately repay that debt.

Congressional Republicans should abandon their cultish political ambitions — incredibly loyal to 34-time convicted felon Trump — and display some U.S. patriotism; in other words, strongly support Zelenskyy/Ukraine and stand up against the Trump-Elon Musk-Putin autocracy alliance. Most critically, they must listen to twice Washington state Legislative District 6 candidate Michaela Kelso. While admitting that Baumgartner’s Spokane Town Hall was unduly unruly — Baumgartner later slandered opposition as “unhinged lunatics” — Kelso added “it was needed, given the dire situation the country is in. I’m from Germany. I know what fascism looks like. We are rapidly approaching 1939 [when Nazis invaded Poland]’” (Spokesman-Review, March 18).

Norm Luther

Spokane

Stop digging

The first rule when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging. The $36 trillion dollar national debt is a hole Congress has been digging for decades. Much of it is attributable to Republican tax cuts that never end up paying for themselves. Maybe it’s time to stop digging.

Trump’s ill-advised 2017 tax cuts added trillions more debt, but are fortunately set to expire in 2025. Republicans want to make them permanent. They want to hide the added debt by using a phony argument that because the cuts are “currently” in place, we can ignore their future costs. The truth is that extending these cuts will add $4 trillion in debt over the next 10 years.

These tax cuts primarily benefited the wealthiest Americans at a time of growing economic inequality. Trump would have you believe that tariffs can pay for these tax cuts, when tariffs will simply be new taxes we pay through higher prices and inflation.

Congress needs to stop digging!

Richard Davis

The Dalles

Thomas for port

Kathryn Thomas is running for Position 3 on the Port of Hood River Commission. I have worked with Kathryn as a bridge commissioner for the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority (HRWSBA).

Her background as a naval helicopter pilot has equipped her with the ability to swiftly understand complex issues and devise effective solutions in a composed and professional manner. She possesses excellent communication skills and has effectively represented our community in tribal and regulatory negotiations.

Kathryn has proficiently navigated the intricacies of bridge design, particularly with regard to cost and schedule constraints. Her understanding of the interplay between schedules and funding further strengthens her qualifications. She has consistently engaged with state and federal officials to advocate for the new bridge’s needs and necessary funding.

Kathryn is dedicated to the expeditious construction of a replacement bridge while ensuring the existing bridge remains operational until the new one is completed. She is prepared to address future challenges facing our port, particularly the projected $6 million annual revenue loss from bridge tolls. Strategic investments will be crucial for maintaining services, and Kathryn is exceptionally well-suited to assist the port commission in achieving these goals. Her experience with the HRWSBA positions her well to handle these challenges.

The port and HRWSBA share a strong working relationship, essential for collaborating on the new bridge’s construction and the seamless transfer of ownership of the old bridge for its eventual removal. Having a port commissioner involved in the new bridge project is extremely advantageous.

I highly recommend Kathryn Thomas for the position of Port Commissioner, Position 3. This recommendation reflects my personal opinion and is not endorsed by the Port of Hood River Commission.

Mike Fox

Hood River

Food access

My name is Yahaira Alvarez. As a first-generation Latina raised in the Gorge, I felt the impacts of food insecurity and other social justice issues personally. I believe food is a human right and I strongly urge the Oregon legislature to adopt Food for All Oregonians (Senate Bill 611) to support equitable access to food across the state.

As a result of my lived experience, I sought out a professional role that would allow me to support my community firsthand. As the program manager at Columbia Gorge Food Bank (serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties), I use my voice and role to help get nourishing and culturally relevant food to my fellow community members. While we are proud of our work and food pantries have a role in the safety net, we are not a replacement for SNAP programs. In fact, SNAP allows families to get exactly what they need in a way a food bank system simply cannot.

Our region is stronger when everyone has access to nourishing foods, yet too many people experiencing hunger cannot access food benefit programs. Food for All Oregonians would uplift entire communities by making food assistance available to youth across the state who are currently excluded due to immigration status.

Oregon lawmakers have the power to lead the fight against hunger and its root causes by prioritizing Food for All Oregonians. Help us break down barriers that keep many of us from meeting our basic needs and harness community strength to end hunger … Because no one should be hungry.

Yahaira Alvarez

The Dalles

Head Start ‘liberation’

On Trump’s “Liberation Day,” employees of the Seattle office of Head Start were locked out of their office with no prior notification. The Region 10 office oversees preschool programs in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. They were told their jobs would be “terminated.”

The six employees distribute grants and provide technical help for 70 programs across our region. Without this assistance, school sites have no way to know about the renewal of their grants, available training, and whether funds are available to pay their employees.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington State, criticized the administration’s cuts, saying, “While the childcare crisis crunches families’ budgets, Trump and Musk are focused on firing the very people who help make sure there are safe, affordable childcare options available to families in every part of the country. Decimating this agency may well mean childcare and Head Start centers don’t get the funding they need to keep their doors open, and shuttering regional offices will threaten families’ access to quality and reliable Head Start services” (Claire Withycombe, “WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts,” Seattle Times, April 2).

The disruption will weaken Head Start programs and shut many down. If children have no place to go, a parent cannot go to work, and if a parent loses a day of work, they lose pay and ultimately their job.

How is this “liberation?”

April George

White Salmon

Civil discourse

I recently attended an event hosted by the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce. They organized a panel consisting of two Republicans and two Democrats for the purpose of demonstrating civil dialog between the two major political parties. After opening statements by each of the four panelists, the remainder of the time was devoted to comments and questions from those attending.

The experience was uplifting. The panelists highlighted several common ground issues where the two parties were working together for change in the county. In addition, they spotlighted two joint efforts from the most recent election cycle that struck home. Last July, the parties came together to jointly sponsor a “Candidates Night,” where the public was invited to hear from and meet all candidates for local offices. Then, as the November election approached and the stealing and defacement of political candidate yard signs from both parties became an issue, the two party chairs released a joint statement stating that both parties “condemn these actions and call on all citizens to commit to respecting our history of civility in our public election.”

The panelists, as well as numerous audience members who took to the microphone, emphasized the importance of addressing political polarization tendencies on the local level. Many expressed frustration at their individual inability to impact the divide on a national level, and chimed in supporting involvement in civil discourse locally.

Wouldn’t it be great if the Republican and Democratic parties of most counties across this nation took similar stands? Eventually it would bubble up to our national leaders. Kudos to the Skamania County political parties and to the chamber of commerce!

Doug Roof

Hood River

‘Echo chamber’

The economy isn’t tanking, vital federal institutions are not being gutted in the name of government efficiency …the services of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) are not gone. Firefighting, flood or weather disaster recovery capability has not been reduced nationwide. Funding for rural hospitals and the VA (Veterans Affairs) is not threatened, no worries. Nothing to see here folks, so don’t believe your lying eyes.

Fox, or your other favorite news channels, podcasters, bloggers, can’t all be wrong, or can they? The problem is you can’t know the truth if you are living in an echo chamber. The Fox disinformation machine in support of MAGA was on full display again last week, lying and denying the truth about Signalgate, a dangerous breach of national security. Fox amplified outright lies to cover up for incompetent senior cabinet officers, but offered only silence about Trump’s failed talks for a real ceasefire in Ukraine as Putin plays Trump for a chump. Most online news channel pundits offer not news or truth, but administration talking points and some even repeat Russian propaganda. Meanwhile, Trump, the wannabe king, is holding court with journalists, clearly out of touch with reality, still insisting tariffs are a good thing, that prices are going down soon, jobs are coming back, and fantasizing about annexing Canada and Greenland.

Congress, bought and paid for and elected by corporate lobbyist money, intimidated by threats of being primaried, supports tax breaks for the rich, tax breaks to be paid for by cuts to Medicaid, cuts to Social Security staffing, Veterans Affairs staffing … Got any relatives who depend on Medicaid for nursing home care, or an old uncle who depends on VA healthcare, or neighbors who need FEMA’s help after a tornado or a hurricane? Know any farmers whose efforts were being subsidized with federal grants to supply food banks with milk, eggs, and vegetables? Well, that’s all ended. Small farm jobs, gone, who cares? People hungry, who cares? Not billionaires like Elon Musk, I guess. And Trump himself just said today he didn’t care if his tariffs increased the price of cars. Go figure. Oh, he gets around by limo.

James McKee

White Salmon 

Editor’s Note: “Signalgate” refers to the group of national security leaders who conducted a group chat in March on the Signal messaging service, inadvertently including a journalist, regarding impending military operations against an armed group in Yemen known as the Houthis.

Columbia Gorge News letters policy

Columbia Gorge News encourages readers to submit letters to the editor for the weekly opinion page. Letters on all topics are welcome.

For a letter to be considered for print, the author must include their first and last name and hometown (for publication), and phone number (for verification, not for publication).

Letters from an agency or group must be credited to an author or contact person. Anonymous or “name withheld by request” letters are not accepted.

Letters must be 350 or fewer. One letter per writer per month will be accepted. Longer opinion pieces may be published as a guest commentary from professionals or experts in their field at the discretion of the editor and staff.

We reserve the right to edit all letters, and to publish or not publish for any reason. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, and spelling, or for legal reasons.

Deadline is noon on the Thursday prior to publication and are published as space allows. Letters can be submitted online on the website or be sent to news@gorgenews.com.

Other considerations:

Any information presented as fact must be attributed to a source for the letter to be considered for publication.

Letters containing malicious, false or misleading statements will be rejected.

Letters attacking an individual rather than an expressed opinion will be rejected.

Letters attacking a class of people based on gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age will be rejected.