Clearly helping

Now I know what a fog line is, as I was pulled over on McIntosh Drive for crossing the fog line on Clear Creek Road. At first I was very “ticked” off; then I decided the police are looking out for and checking on Parkdale people. This is a good thing; so thank you, officer, for doing a great job. No ticket; just “Have a nice evening.”

Gayle Gray
Parkdale

For Watson, Duckwall

Endorsing Kathy Watson and Fred Duckwall is a little like endorsing the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. What is not to like?

 They are both such great community supporters and have already done so much! The fact that two of our top business owners want to commit to another four years — volunteering to complete all of the hard work it has taken to turn our Port project into a reality — is amazing and we are lucky to have them! Here is to four more years — you two!

Allyson and James Pate
Hood River

Bear killing wrong

“Bravo” to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the police force; Michelle Denney, wildlife programs coordinator, should go back to school.

Instead of killing a black bear, knock it out and take it back to the woods. Habitat is slowly disappearing. In Portland and Salem they knock the bears out and release them. Not here in Hood River, surrounded by mountains. Kill it. Problem solved.

I hunted for many years — boy, that would make me proud: I shot a bear by a trash can. The hunting stories I can tell. Out of all the years I hunted, I have only seen one bear. You’re all a disgrace.

John Dorsey
Hood River

Negative stories

For some strange reason it always seems like the Hood River News prints one-sided and negative articles in regards to my place of employment.

For the record, I like to come work and I love what I do; just ask my family. I hope there is not a belief that everyone is unhappy here at the Hood River Police Department.

I’m sure this department is not what it used to be 20, 15 or even 10 years ago. All I have to say is we have good equipment, good cars, a nice office and supervisors who let us do our jobs. Having these things makes my job enjoyable.

So please, Hood River News, stop the negativity toward our department. I encourage citizens to come into the police department to see for yourself what we are doing to make Hood River a better place to live.

Officer Sal Rivera
Hood River Police Department

Other folks’ money

When I glanced at the front page of Saturday’s paper I did a double take. At first glance I thought that in the picture Mr. Juan Villa was holding a shotgun. I was surprised, but when I read the headline “City proposes 3 cent gas tax,” it made perfect sense. Robbery.

Emboldened by Obama’s “tax everything” approach to problem solving, Democrats everywhere are jumping on the bandwagon. This is wrong. Think about this: If any private citizen is living past their ability to pay for their lifestyle they must either work harder/longer to earn more money or reduce outgoing expenses to the point that they can sustain their monthly expenditures.

Governments don’t seem to follow the same rules. Especially governments dominated by Democrats. Taxes are simply too easy for liberals to impose. Here’s a thought: Maybe instead of finding more ways to tax its citizens the City of Hood River should look at ways to reduce expenses. They could start by turning off the street lights at night to reduce their electrical expenses and reduce light pollution.

Next, maybe the city could stop spending money fighting a Gorge casino that is none of their business. And perhaps they could actually offer an inviting environment for Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot or any of the other enterprises that the “special interest” loonies are trying to keep out of Hood River. The taxes these guys pay could possibly preclude the necessity to further plunder the people of Hood River.

Maybe the city should curtail the “downtown beautification” planning costs? And perhaps the city should drop some of its other similar socialistic programs. I believe it was Margaret Thatcher who said, “The problem with socialism is that you soon run out of other people’s money.”

Cliff Mansfield
Odell

First Friday

I would just like to voice my opinion about First Friday in Hood River and how disappointed I am in the fact that Oak Street is not being blocked off.

This simple process makes it possible for people to walk around freely and not feel like herded animals fighting opposite direction of traffic, strollers, and the like.

To sum up, just close down a few blocks, get the parked cars off those blocks for a few hours just this one day a month. There will be an increase in attendance in this event and make it more accessible for families to walk around easily; also generating more income and exposure, which is why it was started in the first place, right?

I was surprised when I walked in a store and mentioned this and the shop associate said, “Last year it had just turned out to be something it wasn’t originally intended to be.”

I assume she was referring to the “block-party” atmosphere; however, if there is a problem with too much drinking then I think a comparable solution would be to stop offering free wine tasting at every other shop. That might just take care of that.

Tamiko Graffius
Hood River

ANOTHER VOICE

By TOM WOODING

This week I am joining Gorge Grown’s bike/walk to work day, May 15.
    Bike commuting in the Gorge is top-notch, a bit extreme at times and could be world-renowned if the word gets out.

I live in White Salmon, so when I need to cross the bridge to run errands on my bike I have to figure out how to get over the bridge that does not have pedestrian access.

Thankfully, there seems to be an endless number of compassionate drivers who are willing to stop, scoop me up off the side of the road and transport me to the other side with my bike in tow. Often, the response I get when I hop in the car is that they appear to be thankful that I am not deterred by the fact that there is no way to ride my bike over the bridge.

Why should the Port of Hood River try to offer pedestrian access? I offer the following idea: The revenue model currently is 100 percent derived by emitting carbon. You can only drive. Every one of the toll dollars the port collects has an externalized cost that is coming due by every species on the planet.

Society at large has taken huge strides to acknowledge that rapid climate change is partly a man-made phenomenon.

 The issue is complex, global, political, economical and social.  The real question at the end of the day is: How will each of us own up to helping or hurting this cause?  How will the Port own up to its share?

Creating pedestrian access is low-hanging fruit; the port has the ability if it chooses so to enable more people in the region to decrease their own carbon output.

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Tom Wooding lives in White Salmon, Wash.