Time for change

Mayor Arthur Babitz has done us all a great service by explaining the cause of Hood River’s budget problems. The city used the extra funds from the economic boom of the 2000s to cover a decade-long deficit. But costs continued to rise, particularly labor costs, and now with more normalized revenues we face once again the chronic mismatch between costs and revenues.

We are very fortunate that Mayor Babitz does his research, because that is the start of a long-term solution. The part of the solution we need to hear now comes from the administrators who run the city’s departments.

As of this date, the Hood River News has reported pleas to save jobs and dire warnings that our public safety will be jeopardized if we don’t maintain things just like they are. This includes labor agreements with things like 5 percent cost of living increases and health insurance benefits for employee families — benefits everyone would like to have but almost no one in the private sector gets anymore.

In a recent OPB interview, two local entrepreneurs shared how they were working harder and changing their business model to get through hard times, with the belief that they would come out of this leaner and stronger. This is the kind of effort we need from the city departments.

The City of Hood River has a thoughtful council, a very smart and dedicated mayor, and capable administrative staff. I want to believe that they are capable of engineering innovative changes in how departments are run and how much it costs to run them.

But the public and the local newspaper needs to support this effort by giving them full moral support to make the necessary changes, as deep as they need to go.

Mark Flaming
Hood River

Welcome voice

Levi Roeseler (Young Voices, June 3): Thank you for asking questions and doing great research. Your (essay) in the Hood River News needs to be seen by the world environmentalists — maybe on the Internet. Environmentalists everywhere need to see your research and not blindly follow the pied pipers in this country.

P.S. I hope you got an A for your essay.

Paul Nevin
Hood River

Soul-ful thanks

Soul Cafe would like to thank everyone who made our Cajun Boil a big success on May 30.

The event would not have been possible without the sponsorship of Chad Peterson and Todd Swan of Columbia River Associates for Thrivent Financial.

The music of The White Salmon Jazz Band and Pennies and Small Change provided a perfect background to the great food prepared by volunteers Dan Troglin and Chip Pierson. We are fortunate to have such gifted musicians in the Gorge!

The facilities at Toll Bridge Park provided a beautiful setting for the evening. Thanks also to Larry Visser and youth volunteers Stephanie Harris and Mandy Redmond for their assistance.

The funds raised will be put to good use supporting youth activities and Sunday Suppers at Soul Cafe. Thanks to all who attended!

Debby Chenoweth
and Perry Cole
Hood River

Tax ideas

Concerning the proposed county gas tax and its need, I have some comments and suggestions to make:

I live in Hood River and am opposed to a gas tax. It is a sales tax on gas.

Our firemen, policemen, sheriffs, city and county workers deserve our deep gratitude and thanks for jobs well done! We need to keep as many as possible!

There are probably greater reduction and wiser spending of funds than we are doing now. I suggest the following:

A. For those county/city people who are willing to reduce their income by 5 percent, I say, “Thank you!” In addition to these people, I think that ALL people who are paid by city/county taxes should have their income reduced by 5 percent, too.

B. I think that significantly further savings and wiser spending could be obtained by following the findings and recommendations of an independent Citizen’s Audit Committee. Practical and useful advice on how to start such a committee and how it could function is found on the Internet Web site.

A booklet is available there: “How to Reduce Property Taxes With a Citizen’s Audit Committee,” by Dr. Armand A. Fusco with Dr. Lewis M. Andrews. It talks about property taxes, but could be helpful for reduction in other taxes, too. As you see, the authors make some sensible and useful suggestions. Thank you.

Don Rose
Hood River

Support Pooles

We are fortunate that farming accidents are not common in Hood River, but when they do occur, the results are frightening and life-changing.

Last month one of our local orchardists was involved in such an accident and I have since heard of many “near” misses from other growers.

The farming community has rallied in support of Don Poole and his family and on Saturday, June 6, all local residents have the opportunity to participate in a fundraising function.

The event will be held at The Gorge White House on Highway 35 and starts at 6 p.m. I would encourage you to attend this event and generously assist Don in his long and expensive recovery.

Jean Godfrey
Executive director
Columbia Gorge
Fruit Growers

ANOTHER VOICE

By PETER CORNELISON

Renewable energy development is important to fulfilling our future energy needs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Unfortunately, the Whistling Ridge wind turbine project proposed by SDS Lumber Company in eastern Skamania County is a poorly planned project that would result in adverse impacts to forest land, wildlife habitat, birds, scenic resources and nearby property owners.

Large wind energy developments on an industrial scale have the potential to harm wildlife habitat, kill many birds and bats, mar scenic vistas, destroy forests and impact the quality of life of surrounding property owners. Just like any large-scale industrial use, it is critical to plan these projects to avoid harm to other resources and to continue the public support for renewable energy development.

The Whistling Ridge proposal involves up to 80 turbines; each unit is 426 feet tall, placed on a forested ridgeline along the boundary of the National Scenic Area near Underwood Mountain. The project is proposed within a state-designated “Northern Spotted Owl Special Emphasis Area.”

Approximately hundreds of acres of forested habitat would be denuded, resulting in permanent habitat loss for many forest-dependent species including the northern goshawk and northern spotted owl, listed as “threatened” under state and federal law. The area will be transformed from a coniferous forest environment to an industrial landscape.

It is well-known that poorly planned wind energy projects can result in thousands of bird fatalities. For example, monitoring data from the Big Horn wind energy project in Klickitat County has revealed that bird mortality from this project far exceeds the initial estimates, with up to 16 times more raptor fatalities than expected.

A total of 704 birds, 446 bats and 49 raptors are killed per year. That is why it is so important to avoid important bird areas and migratory flight paths when siting these projects.

The scenic impacts of the Whistling Ridge project would be enormous. The southern half of the project would be visible for miles up and down the Gorge. Its 400-foot-tall turbines and flashing warning lights along the Gorge’s northern ridgeline would be a constant reminder of industrial development intruding into natural forest habitat.

Members of the public can learn more about this topic by visiting one of the following Web sites:

www.EFSEC.wa.gov
www.saveourscenicarea.org
www.gorgefriends.org

You can also contact me at: peter@gorgefriends.org
for more information on how to get involved.

n

Peter Cornelison works for Friends of the Columbia Gorge in the Hood River office.