Your voice: May 7, 2025

Partnership at The Gloria Center means that a family who is struggling to make ends meet and walks in our doors can be connected with supports like rental and utility assistance, SNAP nutrition benefits, family coaching supports, and basic needs items. And this February, during severe winter weather through partnership, we opened The Gloria Center Emergency Shelter, providing life-saving shelter services to 31 community members experiencing houselessness.

In the past year, we have also celebrated one year at The Annex and one year of the Hood River Shelter as a program of MCCAC. During the first year at The Annex, our staff team, along with community partners, provided wraparound supportive services to help more than 150 community members living at The Annex stabilize. During the first year at The Annex, we supported more than 60 people to transition from The Annex into long-term, stable housing placements.

This is a challenging time with increased uncertainty about the future. Federal funds are in limbo while the prices of household goods continue to rise. There is not enough available, affordable housing. Many families are struggling to meet their basic needs. Community need is increasing, and our funding outlook is unclear. Most of our funding comes from the state of Oregon, with much of that being federal funds that are passed through the state.

Community support is more important now than ever. We welcome many forms of support, including volunteer service, donations of needed supply items, and financial contributions. With our community at our side, we will make it through these challenges and continue working toward a future where everyone in our community has a safe and stable place to call home.

Sarah Kellems and

Leslie Naramore

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC)

Will pass on invitation

I’ll pass on the invitation to join the progressive ideology (Your Voice, Columbia Gorge News, April 23, “Land of the free?”). In the early 2000s, our high school-age kids were told at a meeting for college scholarships that they may as well not be present. Why? They are white and male. If that wasn’t blatant discrimination, then the term doesn’t exist. This is the “open arms” promised in the letter?

The social engineering every decade since has worsened. Commonsense people are happy to read in the Wall Street Journal that, in a 2023 Gallup poll, nearly 70% of all respondents, including majorities of Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians, supported the elimination of racial preferences. The country wised up.

Stop using the word “liberal” as if the present Democratic Party is innocent of the scolds that have debased the party. Many would be loath to accept a smug invitation from a party representative that was complicit in electing Trump in the first place. Extreme progressivism helped bring about the very thing that they hate most: a hard-right, populist president. Enough of hypocrisy masquerading as virtue. Progressives, go live in the kennel of your own making. Better bring a mirror too.

Bill Perconti

Goldendale

Trump successful

First, I would like to say that I will be surprised if this gets printed.

T.D.S., Trump Derangement Syndrome: It’s alive and well. I believe that the silent majority, which I believe is about 80% of this country’s citizens, is solidly behind President Trump. I for one am really glad that we have two people that have all the money they need and do not need ours looking for government waste and fraud.

In 100 days, President Trump has done more for our country than most presidents (especially Biden) did in four years. We are safer and we are cutting spending. As far as being traumatized, if you haven’t come here illegally and you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear.

I could have gone on and on about DEI, Columbia, Harvard, and the border. But I don’t have to because my president is handling that for me!

John W. Cochran

Hood River

Connect the dots

In his April 21 newsletter, Rep. Dan Newhouse supported rolling back vehicle emission standards, claiming they would increase vehicle prices. Yet just two days later, the Goldendale Sentinel reported that fire insurance cancellations are “spreading like wildfire” — a direct consequence of increased wildfire risk tied to climate change.

Let’s connect the dots: vehicle emissions drive climate change; climate change worsens wildfires; and increased fire risk makes it harder — and far more expensive — to insure our homes. Weakening emissions standards may seem like short-term savings, but it fuels much larger financial risks for Washington families.

Meanwhile, Rep. Newhouse neglects to mention that one of the biggest contributors to higher vehicle prices has been tariffs from the Trump era — not emissions rules.

If Rep. Newhouse is serious about protecting consumers from rising costs, he should start by addressing the real economic threats — not by undermining efforts to fight climate change.

Sandy Holden Montag

White Salmon

Supports Gehring

I am writing to provide my support for the election of Heather Gehring to the Hood River Port Commission Position 2. I have worked with Heather for four years as a port commissioner. I also know the candidate running against her, Michael McElwee, who was the past port executive director.

Heather has played a pivotal role in facilitating change at our port. She voted to replace the accounting and reporting system used by previous administrations. This change has brought clarity between where revenues are produced and where expenses are incurred. This sounds simple and is so, but for years, this information was not available to past commissions. This new transparency quickly brought to light where property leaseholders were behind in lease payments, some several months in the rear! It also showed clearly which properties were underperforming. This information is vital for preparing the port to operate without bridge tolls.

I strongly support the election of Heather Gehring as a Port Commissioner Position 2.

This recommendation reflects my personal opinion and is not endorsed by the Port of Hood River Commission.

Mike Fox

Hood River

Federal cuts

As a U.S. Forest Service retiree, I have watched the current administration’s assault on the federal workforce with much concern. And now there is another threat to both current and retired federal workers: budget proposals in Congress include changing benefits to both current and retired employees. Simply put, if these proposals become the law, it will mean a reduction in income to myself and all other federal employees and retirees. Like most federal employees, I went to work for the federal government out of a desire to serve the people of my country and because I believed in the mission of my agency. Money was secondary. And for that I sacrificed earning potential.

Benefits helped make up for some of the loss, however. It is easy to scapegoat government workers as lazy and uncaring, as some do. But in my experience, that is hardly the case. Now we may be penalized for simply doing our job.

If you value the service of federal employees, those who work for the Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, Farm Service Agency, Post Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Social Security Administration in our Gorge communities, I urge you to contact your congressional representatives as I have to voice your concerns. The assault on the federal workforce, past and present, must stop.

David Gross

Dufur

Vote Polehn

The existing school board has had many years of opportunity to fix the many problems facing School District 21. John Nelson has been a board member for 12 years. It’s time for new ideas and new board members. David Polehn’s resume is stellar. As an Army officer and engineer, he knows how to tackle difficult issues and find the best solution. I decided to run also for the board because of such candidates as David Polehn. Please vote for fresh ideas and elect David Polehn to the school board.

Steve Lawrence

The Dalles

Undermining unions

During his first 100 days, Trump has set many records. He has cut, illegally, more than 120,000 jobs; fired the most veterans of any president; placed in charge of the health department a person who does not believe vaccinations actually work; placed in charge of our military a person who, already, has made decisions, publicly, of secret missions; started the process of killing the education department; and is pushing a great budget proposal that gives billions of dollars in tax cuts to the rich.

His proposed tariffs will cost the U.S. billions of dollars. When a charge — a tariff — is added to an item, the cost to the customer goes up. Tariffs are a regressive tax. In other words, they affect lower incomes more than they affect higher income groups.

All this time, Trump is moving to kill labor unions. He started by declaring that they are not allowed in federal positions and is continuing by pushing a national “right to work law.” A quick search shows that those states that have enacted “right to work” laws have a lower income for their workers than do those states that allow unions to operate. Basically, the “right to work” laws state that everyone has a right to refuse to pay dues to a union, but the union still has to provide them protection. In other words, they starve the unions.

I urge everyone to vote and, as long as the Republican party supports Trump, do not vote Republican.

Leonard Hickman

Hood River

‘Not too thrilled’

So Trump is saying his masked thugs can kidnap me, disappear me, and ship me off to a prison in some other country run by corrupt gangsters. Whenever he wants and whomever he doesn’t like. No due process, no civil rights, no hearing before an independent judge. Hmmm ... you know, as I think about it, I guess I’m not too thrilled about the concept.

Jerrold Richards

Lyle

Blind eye

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador, where is being imprisoned. Garcia is married with three children and was in the United States legally. The U.S. government admitted it made a mistake when it deported him. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to return Garcia to the United States. The administration originally said it was unable to return him to the U.S., but recently Trump said that he had the ability to do just that but he is not willing to (“Trump Says He Could Free Abrego Garcia From El Salvador, but Won’t,” New York Times, April 29). In other words, Trump is saying that he is above the law. He does not have to follow the rulings of the Supreme Court. The fact that the president can ignore Supreme Court rulings means that our government is no longer subject to a system of checks and balances. This should be terrifying to everyone in this country.

And I can’t help but wonder why Congressman Bentz has turned a blind eye to this. Does he believe that the president is above the law? If not, why does he not have the courage to take a stand? I encourage everyone to call the congressman’s D.C. office, 202-225-6730, and ask him to take stand.

Deborah Neft

Mt. Hood-Parkdale

Question for Bentz

This month (April), we learned that Donald Trump halted a $20 million grant previously awarded in Wasco County for the development of the Columbia Gorge Early Learning and Climate Resiliency Hub. This project would have provided childcare and early learning for 200 children in our community, training for early childhood educators, as well as a safe place for community members to shelter during an emergency (Columbia Gorge News, April 9). About the same time, we learned that more than $20 million in taxpayer dollars had been spent on Donald Trump’s golfing vacations during his first two months in office, with much of those funds ending up in his own bank account as he charges the government for expenses at his own resorts (www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/taxpayers-tab-for-trump-s-second-term-golf-excursions-crosses-26-million-mark/ar-AA1BU4gb).

Here’s my question to our Congressman Cliff Bentz: Which use of $20 million in taxpayer dollars would better serve your constituents?

(I’d prefer to ask Mr. Bentz in person, but he has refused to hold a town hall in Wasco County for the past three years.)

Debi Ferrer

The Dalles

Misrepresented

A news article reporting on actions of the Hood River City Council in last week’s paper (Columbia Gorge News, April 23) misrepresented the newly passed Ordinance 2091 by stating that “transportation network companies” (TNCs) will now be allowed to operate within the city limits.

In fact, up until this moment, TNCs have had no restrictions on conducting business in our community, while local taxi businesses and drivers have been subject to an annual city permitting process, with associated fees, since the late 1970s. When this new ordinance comes into effect on May 14, Uber/Lyft drivers that are picking up riders within Hood River City will also be required to have had an approved background check, meet certain car insurance coverages, display their company decal and a city permit sticker, and follow other directives. This welcomed changeover will bring increased safety and accountability to the public for all private transportation drivers carrying passengers in our town while ushering in more parity between local taxi operators and those driving for distant, multinational corporations.

I would like to applaud the cooperative efforts of the city staff and council, the Columbia Area Transit board and director, Visit Hood River Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, local transportation operators, and other engaged citizens in helping to bring our city code around private, for-hire transportation into the modern age. Next up is the likelihood that Hood River County will adopt similar, coordinated rules, with other Gorge governing bodies hopefully following suit.

Matthew Barmann

Hood River

Elect Karen Ford

I am writing to endorse Karen Ford for Hood River Port Commissioner Position 3. Having worked with Karen on both the Children’s Park at the waterfront and as partners in current commercial property management, I know her to be thorough, thoughtful and committed to making Hood River an outstanding place to live. She is particularly effective in groups, working to achieve consensus and problem solving.

Karen will be a responsible, contributing member to the port commission in a period of significant change, as the port redefines how to fulfill their mission without the bridge. I am confident her solutions will be community oriented toward making Hood River an outstanding place to live.

John Everitt

Hood River

Thomas for port

We’re proud to support Kathryn Thomas for Hood River County Port Commissioner. With a professional background in environmental permitting and infrastructure, Kathryn understands the real challenges we face — especially the details and history involved in our critical need to replace the bridge that connects our gorge communities.

We’ve seen her leadership firsthand, whether planning school events or collaborating with Yakama Nation leaders on behalf of the bridge commission. She brings energy, professionalism, and a can-do attitude to every setting, always asking smart questions and building consensus.

Kathryn is committed to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility, and she truly listens to our community. Her thoughtful, collaborative approach is exactly what we need at the port. We urge our fellow residents to vote Kathryn Thomas for Port of Hood River Commissioner.

Christine and

Michael Barthmus

Hood River

Working for us

U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Dexter has been busy supporting legislation to improve the lives of working people and their families. She is currently actively supporting 62 bills in the House of Representatives, including supporting the rights of workers, supporting a living minimum protecting children against harmful pollutants, supporting sensible gun restrictions, and bolstering Medicare benefits, to name a few. Dexter is speaking out for policies that make Oregonians healthier and safer. U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, has supported 41 bills. It is clear which representative is working harder for their constituents.

Bentz stated in a March 3 interview with ABC News that he “supports the Trump administration policies.” One policy effectively pauses funding for the Hood River Bridge replacement project, casting the future of the project into doubt. The Hood River Bridge is more than 100 years old. It is a vital link between Oregon and Washington. This is a priority for Oregonians. Will we wait until the bridge fails, plunging commuters into the Columbia? Voters expect their elected representatives to push for policies that make their lives safer, and help their businesses thrive. Bentz is not acting to protect citizens of the Gorge.

Katharine Goe

Mt. Hood-Parkdale

  Editor’s Note: May 14 will be the last week for election letters to run in print. Any received after our Thursday at noon deadline will run online only.

Columbia Gorge News letters policy

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.