Letters to the editor for Aug. 20
Childcare needs a lifeline
Childcare in the United States is disappearing. Rapidly. As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on, childcare, which is the backbone of a healthy economy, becomes increasingly stressed under the weight of low enrollments and high expenses. Every day that goes by without sustainable funding for childcare means that more of these unique and critical small businesses will close.
Nature Nurtures Farm, a non-profit in Olympia that provides childcare, has come to the devastating realization that closure is our only option. There are no lifelines left to pull. We reopened on June 1. Serving 50% of our children. Even with the revised guidance from the Department of Health that allows licensing capacity, parents don’t want their children in big groups. The math simply does not work. Too little revenue plus insurmountable expenses unfortunately equals closure.
Our story is not unique.
The question remains – because we will have to reopen the economy at some point – where will the children of Washington workers go for care? Therefore, we are encouraging U.S. Sen. Cantwell to co-sponsor Senator Murray’s Child Care is Essential Act. We need a lifeline.
Rixa Evershed, Olympia
Protesters in Olympia
We have been living with the virus pandemic for six months and it seems the public is not willing to abide by or live within the parameters/guidance of the state or federal governments. It appears that we are on the glide path towards an explosion of virus cases and deaths from it.
Meanwhile our local government has totally lost control of things referred to as protest, which are really just groups of young progressive demonstrators who seem to have the “okay” from city officials and police to disrupt normal everyday activities (such as traffic in and out of the city) whenever and wherever they please. What happens to the rest of our citizens who only want to live as normal a life as possible while trying to avoid becoming a victim of the virus?
On July 18, while trying to return to my home in Lacey using Fourth Avenue, to my surprise there was a demonstration right in front of City Hall where about 40-50 people were blocking the street. There were police in the building but they did not seem to have any interest in keeping the streets open to traffic. Where is Mayor Selby or the Police Chief? If they are not going to accomplish their missions, then it is time to “defund” them 100%. Enough is enough, it is time to stop these protests and allow citizens to live their new normal life without harassment and anguish.
Robert Wolf, Lacey
The rich better step up
I am hopeful that there will be a blue tsunami in November. I believe the only way to make sure that happens is to make sure that everyone who is able to vote does and those votes are counted accurately and are backed up and recorded.
Election security bills are dead in the Senate. There will be no federal funding. I know people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and other people of their ilk have been generous in the past, but now is the time to help your country. I am calling on you wealthier people to step up and give money to the states to secure their election protocols. Especially you, Mr. Bezos.
We are in a fight for our very lives. The damage our current President can do in the next few months is immeasurable. If he wins, we are all doomed. If he loses, he won’t leave willingly. But that’s for another letter. Words leftover: Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote.
Peter Aitken, Olympia