My name is Kellen and I am concerned about the graffiti on the stone wall of I-84 eastbound between mile markers 74 and 75. The reason for my concern is that the graffiti is a Nazi symbol and some words that I could not read. This is a symbol of hate, racism and genocide. I don’t know how to do this but I hope you can fix this and I am willing to help.
With political rhetoric spiraling out of control, now is the time to do one simple thing. Talk to your neighbor. When we really get to know each other, we will find that we have more in common than divides us. And we can make our voting decisions based on factors other than the toxic words coming from so many places. Our country and all of its citizens deserve better. We can all make a difference through our actions. Simply reaching out to others is a start. Let’s do it together.
The title of the July 16 article, “Public Concerns About Urban Renewal,” struck me as a gross misrepresentation of the facts. This title unfairly portrays who in our community feels “concern” about urban renewal. In this case, it is an individual with their own personal views.
Brian Hackett officially stated at the May 13 City Council meeting that he was specifically speaking in his own capacity and not representing the County Library District – which you failed to mention. These were his personal views on the urban renewal process. His testimony lasted less than two minutes and was vague on how the urban renewal funds would be used. He also forgets that City Council members are also elected officials who arguably have more oversight than the County Library District. The entire Hood River “public” does not share Hackett’s concerns.
Anyone who is unsure about how urban renewal works is welcome at OPEN ARMS to attend the numerous meetings of the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee for exactly this purpose: to get the opinion of the citizens. The Advisory Committee advises the City Council and the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee and carefully considers the public’s concerns and opinions on future projects, priorities and budgets in its recommendations.
Last year, our URAC meetings had almost no citizen “input” despite the City’s strong efforts to do so and the meetings being easy to follow and attend online. I would say the low turnout is a clear sign of the strong public support for Urban Renewal and the incredible projects it is funding that are modernizing and improving Hood River for all.
I suspect that some people think this is a gross distortion of the facts. That is why clear and objective reporting is so important.
and member of the Advisory Committee for Urban Renewal
It didn’t take long for MAGA Republicans to blame Democrats for shooting Trump, even though the shooter was a young, white, registered Republican. Trump and other Republican leaders have been inciting violence in America for years. When he ran against Hillary Clinton, he suggested that maybe the Second Amendment people could take care of them. He told armed participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” We’ve seen the consequences of that.
Trump has never apologized for any of this and now calls the insurrectionists heroes and victims. When Nancy Pelosi’s 82-year-old husband was brutally attacked with a hammer, right-wing media and Donald Jr. made fun of it. Republican Rep. Paul Gosar published a cartoon showing AOC’s throat being slit with a sword. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was the victim of a kidnapping attempt after MAGA called for political violence.
Republican congressmen wear AR-15 badges. When Trump was convicted, his supporters wanted the jury and judge killed. Republican leaders have not tried to stop that rhetoric. But now they want Democrats to “tone things down.” We have not called for violence. We have pointed out the danger that a Trump presidency would pose to our democracy, which he wants to turn into an autocracy.
What am I asking Americans to do? Just vote Democrat.
Trump is “the best thing we can do”
One millimeter. One microsecond. That was all that could decide the life or death of a presidential candidate on Saturday.
There is little I can say at this point that hasn’t already been said in the news and on social media. There are many questions that I hope will be answered in the next few days for the good of our nation, including: Is this the best we can do?
How and why this could happen is a matter of endless debate. But when it comes to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the answer is a simple and resounding “YES!” When a man (or woman) in the midst of the stress of a government-motivated legal campaign stands up after being grazed by an assassin’s bullet and interrupts the actions of several Secret Service agents so he can look out into the crowd and acknowledge THE PEOPLE, that is the true sign of a leader.
This cannot be staged or planned, an emotional response in times of crisis is genuine and reveals the true nature of a person. The ballots will arrive for the primary election in August and the general election in November.
A millimeter. A microsecond. A voice. They all make a difference.
Reflections on principles
I’ve been thinking a lot about our Republican congressman’s call in his column to “think about the principles that underpin our democracy” (“Legislator’s Letter: Some thoughts for Independence Day 2024,” July 3 edition). He lists them as freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and civic engagement. I think there are others, but I’m thinking about these.
Freedom: Young women in America today have fewer freedoms than their mothers after Republicans repealed 50-year-old laws. Row vs Wade. And they don’t want to stop there; JD Vance has come out in favor of a ban on all abortions and IVF. Some Republicans recognize this is a loss and are backing down, but the damage is done. Can you trust the party whose Supreme Court appointees said, Roe v. Wade Should the law follow its own rhetoric?
Limited Government: A government or party that comes between a woman and her doctor is the opposite of limited. A party that advocates criminalizing doctors for established medical procedures is not restrained. A party that would rather let judges than scientists decide the safety and legality of drugs knows no rational limits. A program that seeks to limit teachers’ opinions about race, gender, or history is Big Brother, not small government. A plan that advocates using our army to suppress domestic protests would be the height of state violence against its own people.
Personal Responsibility: One thing that is inextricably linked to personal responsibility is honesty. Yet the former president and his Republican Party have spread lie after lie in their quest for power. They lie about prenatal and postnatal abortion. That is infanticide, which has always been illegal in all 50 states. They lie about Democrats’ laws allowing illegal immigrants to vote in federal elections. Trump lied at the debate when he took credit for the $35 Medicare insulin cap. That was Biden’s directive. There are so many lies I cannot list without exceeding the word limit. I cannot trust a party that lies so easily.
I call on the community to fully confront the consequences of this choice and vote her out!
I encourage voters in Washington State’s 17th Legislative District (LD17) to vote for Marla Keethler as our representative in the Washington State Senate. Marla first served as a White Salmon City Councilor, is now Mayor, sits on the board of the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority, and was elected to the board of the Association of Washington Cities. Marla Keethler is consistent in her policy, understands the process of governing, is a good communicator, uses her staff wisely, does not draw attention to herself, and works in the best interest of the people she represents. There is no drama with Marla. You can read more about her at www.marlaforsenate.com.
