Letters to the editor for Sept. 27

Inquisition at the Port: Burning Zita in public

The Inquisition was a sham-trial device that the Church used to silence those who questioned orthodoxy by burning them in public. Metaphorically, the Port of Olympia is doing the same to Commissioner Zita. She had the temerity to question orthodox policies at the Port that are counter to the public interest. For that offense, special interests have colluded for payback, and Zita has been publicly burned on the front page of The Olympian by staff allegations of sexual harassment.

Commission president (and Grand Inquisitor) Joe Downing has tried and failed previously to sanction Zita for fictive misdeeds. A prior effort was a special meeting on June 29 that he called to sanction Zita without prior and adequate public notice. Port Legal Counsel Heather Burgess warned that taking action without the full information in the agenda packet would violate the Open Public Meetings Act because there was no “adequacy of notice.”

Yet, for the commission meeting of Aug. 10, Burgess remained silent in the face of an undisclosed presentation by attorney Beth McIntyre involving an employee complaint against Zita. Commissioner Zita was blindsided by this sneak attack, and objected to this illicit procedure as a kangaroo court. Downing summarily dismissed her valid objection. Moreover, I assert that I, as a member of the public, was denied adequate notice in violation of the OPMA.

There is a disturbing nexus of special interests at the Port. Their message clearly, and ominously, is: Don’t mess with the private interests that feed at the public trough of the Port of Olympia.

— Denis H. Langhans, Olympia

Change is the only constant in life

These are turbulent times. In Thurston County, and around the globe, significant changes are disrupting our lives and social norms. It’s not just the virus and it’s not just changing U.S. government policy. Unexpected changes are almost everywhere. In this unsettled moment, we need a set of guiding principles and a shared direction to bring stability and strength.

Some institutions help manage change. Religion, science, and history are a few tools that help in times like this. Elections also help bring clarity about our shared expectations and aspirations. Across the United States and here, new people are registering to vote in huge numbers. People are stepping up to add their voices for the future of our society.

You too can be a voter. It is not difficult to register and vote. The system is private and secure. And in Washington, we can be proud that our mail-in system is free and available to all who are eligible. For easy access go to vote411.org. There, you can register, get info about what’s on your ballot, and find straightforward, unbiased facts about the issues and candidates.

Voting is a responsibility and an opportunity. Be a voter and help guide us through these unsettled times.

— Nathaniel Jones, Olympia

Is it okay to lie? A parable

We live in a small housing development with a community well. Every year, one of us is responsible for having the water tested for E. coli and such.

Suppose if I were elected to fulfill that job, and if it was a prestigious position with strong competition for who gets to do it (it’s not!). What if I was told by the scientific experts that there was a serious problem with the water that could make us terribly ill and even cause death. And what if I decided to tell everyone that there was a minor problem, nothing to worry about, go on with your life as usual, and like a miracle it will just go away? Then I laughed at them and mocked them for deciding to boil their water? Suggested they just squirt some bleach around? Because I didn’t want them to panic, I didn’t want anyone to blame me, I didn’t want it to happen on my watch. But of course, I would no longer drink that water myself!

And then, because I lied to them, many of my neighbors got very sick, ended up with huge hospital bills, debilitating after-effects, and a couple of them died. Should I be congratulated for saving them from “panic” and be re-elected to my job ?

— Betty Keller, Olympia