Editor's note: Due to the Tuesday, May 21 primary date, this issue will be the last for letters on election matters. Letters received after deadline will be available online at columbiagorgenews.com only.
Davis has integrity
Often I contact political candidates before elections to gauge where they're coming from before I vote. For the position of Wasco County District Attorney, I couldn't find any contact information for Travis Marston but I was able to contact Kara Davis and she called me back. I was impressed with her great attitude about the district attorney position and responsibilities and was especially impressed with her refusal to take civil forfeiture cases. While civil forfeiture is legal, the whole process has a long history of abuses and is best avoided as there are other ways to deal with these crimes. That indicates to me that Kara Davis is serious about integrity in her personal and professional life and that's something we need in government at every level.
Britt Storkson
The Dalles
Not a solution
Voting “uncommitted” is like not voting. It’s a tactic, which in my view only weakens the one candidate who actually stands between us and total MAGA mayhem.
There will be two viable candidates on the November ballot. One invented the Muslim ban. The other just paused our arms sale to Israel. One actively supported moving the capital of Israel to Jerusalem, stirring up old tensions, and the other is directing humanitarian aid and diplomats nonstop to the region’s negotiating tables. Neither candidate can control Netanyahu, nor the violent incursions of the Israeli defense forces into Gaza, nor Hamas, who have still not released the hostages they abducted so viciously on Oct. 7.
It would be nice if there was a simple solution to the brutal and protracted Palestinian and Israeli conflict. But if there was, it wouldn’t have endured for 76 years, since the origins of Israeli statehood, and maybe before. Voting “uncommitted” isn’t a solution to this awful nightmare.
Jennifer Ouzounian
Hood River
Vote Richardson
This month, we will be voting for a new Wasco County Commissioner. I will be voting for Dan Richardson for this position, and I invite you to do the same.
Two important reasons why:
1) Dan is a local Wasco County resident, was raised in The Dalles, and with wife, Judy, raised their daughter in The Dalles. They continue to make their home in The Dalles.
2) Dan is a smart, thoughtful, experienced leader, who cares about Wasco County. During his current three-plus years on The Dalles City Council, he has consistently demonstrated his leadership abilities by doing his homework, seeing the big picture, listening carefully, asking the hard questions, speaking up, and working collaboratively with the other members of the council to achieve well-thought out decisions.
Please vote for Dan Richardson for Wasco County Commissioner.
Marolyn Wilks
The Dalles
Vote 'Yes-Yes'
I'm voting Yes for both of our Parks and Recreation District ballot measures because I want our community to continue to have access to aquatic facilities, parks, ballfields, and community recreation programming for decades to come. I remember when the library closed after voters opposed taxes to operate it. Allowing our parks facilities to age, degrade, and ultimately close would be a tragic echo of that mistake.
I know many in our community are opposed to these measures. Increased property taxes harming the affordability of housing seems to be one cause for opposition. Property tax levies to support public resources are not, and will not be, a primary driver of our lack of affordable housing. Housing supply, buyer demand, and public policy are the primary causes of ballooning housing costs in our county. We live in a desirable area, where real estate is purchased for short-term rentals and second homes. We lack enough multi-family structures to accommodate all residents.
Other opposition seems to be focused on the perceived vagary of the proposal itself, and the price tag. Please read the background on this project at yesyespnr.com. The capital bond must be approved before an exact design is completed, contractor bids taken, budgets finalized. That process will play out with transparency. But prior to that, the PNR board has done extensive work in order to bring this proposal to a vote. The price tag is not an arbitrary figure, but is based on iterations of facility concepts over several years, incorporating very recent estimates for materials costs and contractor charges, and guidance from similar projects in the region. The plan's inclusion of additional recreation elements like a rec center is based on community feedback.
If the pool is allowed to degrade to the point of closing, without capital to replace it, or if we refuse to fund the operations of our parks district, our community will once again be left without a crucial public resource. The last time that happened, we happily fixed the problem. Let's get it right the first time. It’s worth the price.
Nicholas Eby
Hood River
Vote for Nash
I am writing to endorse Todd Nash for our next state senator in District 29. It has been my pleasure to be on the OSU Agriculture Research Foundation Board of Directors with Todd for several years now, and I can confidently say that he has the necessary qualities and skills to excel as our state senator.
Todd Nash’s experience as Wallowa County Commissioner, past president of the Oregon Cattleman Association and several State Boards has given him firsthand knowledge of how our state government functions. As a citizen of Sherman County, I believe that it is essential to elect leaders who are committed to improving our rural communities and Todd is one such leader. He has demonstrated his commitment to public service by volunteering for numerous causes and I believe he will work tirelessly to make our communities a better place to live and raise our children.
I strongly urge you to vote for Todd Nash in the upcoming election. I am confident that he will make a positive impact and work toward the betterment of the citizens of District 29. Thank you for your consideration.
Jean McKinney
Wasco
Bird for governor
Semi Bird wants the best quality of life for every Washingtonian. If anyone doubts his sincerity just go to birdforgovernor.com, submit questions to his podcast which is usually every Thursday afternoon, email him, or just go to an event he is at and talk to him. He will talk to anyone who approaches him. All that to say, Semi is just an average guy who wants to make Washington the best place to live. He doesn't care if you support him or not as governor, he will represent everyone and protect their constitutional rights. Be grateful, not hateful that we have been fortunate to have such a noble person willing to take this position and start repairing the damage such as homelessness, crime, drugs, mental health and more. His expertise in his business helped companies to reduce waste and become more efficient and as an officer in the military, he had explanatory leadership and was recognized and awarded for his many achievements. His qualifications are the qualities that are lacking in our state government right now. birdforgovernor.com.
Delmer Eldred
Goldendale
Vote for bonds
I use the pool. All types of people use the pool: adults learning to swim; injured recovering from “life” (PT); swim teams and water aerobics from 6-102+ years of age; water polo teams; kayak safety and lessons; toddlers and their caregivers; handicapped and autistic and developmentally disabled individuals; every grammar school child in Hood River County gets free lessons. We can’t afford to lose this.
Being a senior citizen, on fixed income, these two measures represent about $800/year more on our property taxes. We are voting for both measures because of:
What this gives us and the community:
New ball fields — notice the word is plural
New tennis courts instead of the deteriorating ones
New pool and lockers instead of the deteriorating pool and mechanical room
New meeting/gym facilities
Brand new splash pad
Trail completion and maintenance
With the passage of the Bond (14-78), prior to the actual building, the design and plan will be completed and all the community’s input would be heard, again.
With the passage of the Levy (14-77) there would be the monies to run our recreation district the way it could/should be.
AJ Nichols
Hood River
For pools, parks
I am a long-standing Hood River community member who cares deeply about the pool and parks. When I picture the community I want to live in, it includes great parks, a welcoming community center that is accessible to all, fields, courts and trails.
This requires funding. We have limped along with minimal funding for parks. They have worked hard to expand our community offerings but it is time for the next step. I hope we can focus on having a location for great youth and adult programs in a new community center. Where we set aside our phones. Where we talk to one another and play together. Where we stay active and healthy.
It stands out when I travel through a community with these facilities and get a chance to see a robust parks system. We are so fortunate to have this beautiful place that we live in. Now we need to invest in supporting a parks system that can support us. We all deserve this: a functional pool, rec center, trails, parks, fields, courts and playgrounds. I hope our community can come together and vote. Even more, I hope our community can support Parks and Rec with our Yes-Yes votes. Please turn in your ballots!
Melissa Arndt
Hood River
Social media misinformation
Many of you have heard misinformation about the Parks and Rec ballot measures shared on social media. This campaign against a community center is funded by the Republican Party’s $10,000 donation to a PAC formed to “support candidates & activities that keep housing affordable in Hood River,” according to their Statement of Organization. Apparently, the Republican party has $10,000 to spend on No-No signs and radio advertising, but not enough to pay the average household cost increase of $374. A local paint store was distributing the anti-Parks and Rec signs for free.
This negative campaign has also been fueled by the fear of losing Collins Field. Local youth baseball travel league Hood River Whitecaps fueled this effort with a post claim-ing a threat to local Little League. But Hood River Little League does not use Collins Field. According to the City of Hood River, 70 youth travel baseball players and 300 adult softball players do. These folks can be accommodated at the refurbished, centrally located field Parks and Rec is opening at Wy’east. One of its measures, the bond, would provide additional ballfields for all sports in the county. The other measure, a levy, would fund recreational programming for all youth.
Parks and rec is not the county or the city. There’s no such thing as a “bond levy,” or a “levy bond.” They are two separate types of municipal funding, with specific requirements.
The city agreed to a land swap with Parks and Rec. Collins Field is not under any deed restrictions; a deed restriction requiring the land to be used for “parks” applied to an 800 SF piece of land adjacent to it and is not part of the district’s proposed build site.
The Parks District does have a timeline for building and developing. It’s posted on the campaign website under FAQs as Next Steps and Approximate Timeline.
Whether you vote yes or no, you owe it to your community to get the truth. Don’t believe everything you read on social media, or in the name of affordable housing.
Amber Rose
Community organizer, Hood River Latino Network
Supports parks & rec
Since learning about the ballot measures in support of Parks & Rec, I have thought back on all of the many ways in which my family’s lives have been positively impacted through our parks and recreational facilities and programs.
One of our favorite places is the pool. I am so grateful that my children had access to a public pool in order to develop their swimming skills! I have seen their friends learn life skills, get first jobs, develop leadership skills by becoming lifeguards, teaching swim lessons, and joining the water polo and swim teams. When I am able to start my day with masters swimming I am grateful, not only for the exercise but also the community and camaraderie. I am constantly impressed by the number of people at the pool, as well as the variety of groups and ages using the space. I believe that the pool is an invaluable public asset to our community, however the increasing repair needs over the years makes me concerned about how much longer it can continue to operate. I think Parks & Rec has done a great job of using available resources while having one of the lowest funding rates in Oregon. They have taken on programming formerly known as Community Ed, developed parks and trails and kept the pool open. However, while programming and facilities use has gone up, the funding rate has not increased since 1997.
We have an opportunity to invest in our community — to maintain outdoor recreation space, expand trails, develop more playing fields, and provide a pool and recreational center that can be accessed and enjoyed by our entire community for decades to come. The levy would fund park and trail maintenance, as well as support youth and adult recreational programming. The bond would be used to replace the deteriorating pool, secure and develop parks, create ballfields, and connect trails. The bond and levy together will strengthen community livability and increase opportunities for all of Hood River Valley to stay active, connected, and thrive.
Please join me in voting YES on measures 14-77 and 14-78.
Rachel Tsu Hyde
Hood River
For Parks and Rec
The sky IS falling! The Hood River’s beloved pool facility is well beyond its lifespan and routinely “falls,” including the upper portion of the west wall, or the boiler needing urgent repair. I encourage you to vote Yes-Yes on the Parks and Recreation ballot initiatives. Feel like the amount is too much? Consider that our tax rate — that supports Parks and Recreation — has been the same for 27 years at only 34 cents/$1,000 assessed property value. (Assessed value is about 42% of estimated sale value.) Comparable cities such as The Dalles, Redmond and Madras have tax rates three to four times ours.
Our sole pool hosts 65,000 visits a year to programs for all generations. These include: No cost swim lessons to elementary kids, water polo, swim teams, water aerobics, a masters swim program, therapy pool time, kayak skills and lifeguard training. The pool provides a fun, low-cost activity for so many families through the year. We are only one catastrophic pool failure away from having no pool for multiple years.
The ballot measure provides for a gymnasium and multipurpose fitness room, both vitally needed in our community. It includes a land swap that allows the Collins baseball field to be rebuilt at a more usable size nearby, and revamping of the Wy’east ballfield. The tennis courts will be relocated with a potential to add pickleball courts, Indian Creek Trail will be completed, and Parkdale park can be preserved.
As a healthcare provider who feels movement = health, happiness and longevity, I hope you will invest in the long-term health of our community by voting Yes-yes on PnR.
Laura Whiting
Hood River
Tennis concerns
The Parks and Rec proposal includes funding for new tennis courts, indicating that the tennis community will work with the pickleball community to create a plan for “sharing” the courts. Ha! Just a few short years ago, the powerful tennis community went to great lengths, including involving the Hood River County Commissioners, to successfully keep pickleball players off (“their”) all Hood River County public courts. Needless to say, I am highly skeptical of any plans to share now. However I am absolutely in favor of replacing the pool. The community pool is an invaluable asset, used by many and almost always very busy. When was the last time you saw anyone waiting to play on a tennis court? The tennis community has earned my no vote on 14-78.
Lynn Rasmussen
Hood River
Editor's Note: This letter refers to a March 9, 2017, Hood River County Board of Commissioners public forum that discussed use of Oak Grove courts.
No and Yes on parks
As a former manager of the Hood River swimming pool, former member of the parks board and a former swim team parent, I am shocked by the $72 million proposed tax on the people of Hood River County.
It is an unbelievably heavy burden on the small population in this county. As a retired person, I will have to look at selling and moving sooner, as will many other locals. The tax for P&R line item for me alone will go from $20 annually to $87 on my 75-year-old house — for 25 years. This does not include taxes we pay for schools, city, county port, waterfront, library, business district and others — all of which will go up.
This proposal takes out a ballfield and spends more than $16 million on a gym/fitness, office space and meeting area, all of which are already being provided in the community. The $17 million for the pool alone will require almost $14 million in design, permitting, contingency, furniture and equipment. This does not include maintenance and additional employees.
This is a wish list that is absolutely too large and vague for a population the size of Hood River County. Send this back to the drawing board and work on details for a new pool and nail down costs.
Lastly, such dramatic changes to Collins Park, find the deed in which the Collins family gave us this precious opportunity in the middle of our community and find out what the parameters were in the deed. Does it include changing from youth to adult uses, does it state removal of a ballfield for a community center?
Vote no on the Parks and Rec bond proposal.
Judy Nelson
Hood River
The following election letters were received after deadline.
Against pool plan
I was sure I'd want to vote for a refurbished swimming pool, plus finally getting the development of the 20-acre park kitty corner from Westside School! Pickle ball, playing fields, something for everybody! Many of us were part of the community brainstorming for this much needed park, and have been waiting a long time to help fund it asap.
But when I heard the committee had decided to build a HUGE new multipurpose pool right next to and looming over Jackson Park? Yuk! And the cost was staggering. And wasteful. Refurbishing and expanding the current pool in the same spot - expanded, roofed, improved - that would cost a fraction of what was proposed. And wiping out the ball fields where kids play a lot next to Jackson Park - why??? The current set up works well across from the Middle School. I think the committee got carried away, and I have not voted for it.
Please get sensible and try again. We do want great recreation access in Hood River - and as soon as possible - just not the way it was being planned.
Alison Bryan McDonald
Hood River
Progressive prosecutors
Crime in the US tends to follow cycles. The crime rate, and especially the murder rate peaked around 1934, and then began a steady decline all the way into the 1960s when “progressive” criminal justice “reforms” began. The 1994 crime bill was one of the results along with tougher law enforcement policies in states and cities all across the country. Predictably though, progressives complained of “too many bodies behind bars,” especially since crime was trending down. Incredibly, failing to recognize crime was down precisely because so many career criminals were taken off the streets. Even in high-crime areas, the vast majority of people are law-abiding. A small minority are repeatedly involved in virtually all the serious crime, and when you keep those people incarcerated, you drastically reduce that crime. Again, all manner of criminal justice “reforms” were implemented by liberals with short memories. So, we’re now living in a soft-on-crime cycle again, but fortunately not so much here as in Portland and other Democrat dominated cities. But we’re not immune. A few years with another “progressive” prosecutor in charge here, and we will start seeing the results. Let’s not do that here.
Steve Hudson
The Dalles
Commented