Letters to the editor for Jan. 30
Waste of resources
With all the issues facing this community, squandering $50,000 tax dollars on such a nonsensical project as “rebranding” Woodland Square is beyond comprehension. The city officials seem to suffer delusional tendencies in thinking that Lacey has attained “great city” status. The only possible indicator of “greatness” is the ever-growing homeless population and the attendant safety/sanitation problems citizens see encroaching their neighborhoods and community spaces.
Another year, another example of gross failure and malfeasance on the part of local elected officials.
Students are our future workforce, so vote yes
As a business owner in Yelm, I am a supporter of the school levy and will be voting yes.
We have a responsibility and an obligation as a community to ensure all children get the very best chance to succeed and reach for their goals. Student success and competitiveness along with a prosperous and thriving community starts with quality education!
It is extremely important to plan for the future of our children. These are the same children who will become important members in our community and our leaders in the not-too-distant future. They need and deserve quality teachers, support staff and quality schools to learn and achieve in.
Remember a yes vote for the levy is a vote for our children’s future.
Ban private prisons and welcome refugees
I believe a majority of citizens of our state would concur with Gov. Jay Inslee’s 11/5/19 letter to Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State:
“I write to affirm that the state of Washington wholeheartedly consents to welcoming and resettling refugees into our communities -- a long and proud tradition that we intend to continue.
“Refugees contribute to all sectors of our economy -- while adding to our rich cultural landscape.
“I ask that our state be allowed to accept at least as many refugees as we have in prior years, and should other states be unable or unwilling to accept refugee families into their jurisdictions, they will be welcomed here in Washington state.”
We are a nation of immigrants, most of whom were refugees from economic conditions, religious discrimination, military conscription, epidemics or many other problems. As a member of Olympia Indivisible, we are now demanding that immigrants and refugees be treated humanely at the border.
Jesus Garcia, D-Illinois, has introduced HR 5383 which would, among other things, end mandatory detention and require probable cause for arrest, phase out private, for-profit detention facilities, end removal without due process, and decriminalize migration. We hope our Rep. Heck will support this if he has occasion to vote on it.
Our Spanish-speaking friends in La Resistencia also are campaigning against private prisons such as the one on the Tacoma tideflats. There is a groundswell of voices now against anyone making money off of locking up immigrants and refugees. It’s just not American.