Letters to the editor for March 11

Cleaning up freeways and roads

With new infrastructure money coming in, wouldn’t it be wise to put some of it toward clean up of Washington’s roadway trash? Our freeways and frontage roads are deplorable and embarrassing. When will cleanup seriously resume?

By the way, I clean up the trash in my neighborhood almost weekly. Rain or shine. So, DOT and local citizens, please step up too.

Jackie Huetter, Lacey

Clean up your act, Washington

Trash along the I-5 corridor was already a problem in 2017 when Washington State Ecology Department posted its “12 million pounds” report on its website, so let’s not blame COVID. It may have exacerbated the problem but clearly Washington state does not have a handle on trash removal and depends heavily on volunteers.

I have traveled to other states during COVID and have not witnessed anywhere near the amount of filth along the roads we see here. Get your act together, Washington, if you want to be beautiful again.

Karen Romanelli, Lacey

Nursing home workers deserve higher wages

I’ve been a home care worker for 17 years and care for my mother. I am grateful that the proposed budget released by the state Senate includes funding for an extension of hazard pay for home care workers, but I’m alarmed that it has none to raise wages for nursing home workers.

Despite caring for our most vulnerable population, most nursing home workers haven’t seen any increased wages during the pandemic. Many are leaving their jobs because the pay is so low and the risk is so high. Without funding wage increases, our lawmakers are condemning workers to struggle and burnout and condemning residents to lower-quality care because there aren’t enough people willing to work these jobs.

I worked in a nursing home for one week, because in that week there was a COVID outbreak. Five residents were sick in the first three days, and it was still going around. I knew I had to leave because I couldn’t risk bringing that home to my mom. Most people I know working in nursing homes have gotten COVID from the job at least once — more often, several times. They are putting themselves and their families at risk every single day they go to work. Knowing that, how can we not include them?

I hope the state Legislature does the right thing and includes a rate increase to raise wages of front-line nursing home workers up to $4 an hour in the final budget. Long-term care workers deserve higher wages.

Rhonda Parker, Bucoda

Who comprises ‘The City of Olympia’?

According to The Olympian article on March 2:

1. In 2016, the city of Olympia purchased the former vacated Griswold’s office supply store for $300,000.

2. Recently, the city of Olympia awarded $287,000 to Aberdeen-based Roglin’s to demolish the building.

3. The city of Olympia has sold the site to Urban Olympia/Walker John for $50,000.

4. John will “move forward” with a mixed-use apartment development. A “portion” (as yet undetermined) will remain “affordable” (as yet undetermined) for 20 years, according to the “city.”

$300,000 + $287,000 - $50,000 = negative $537,000! This amount does not take into account inflation. Easy come, easy go. Who exactly comprises “The City of Olympia”?

Must be nice to have the authority to spend taxpayer’s money and support real estate developers with sweet deals, including incredible tax incentives, even when interest rates have been near 0% for many years.

I suggest that the Olympia City Council approve a budget that requires all public “servants” involved with budgeting and awarding contracts to achieve at least a 90% score on an Economic 101 course. Optional to complete in classroom or online. Must be completed individually: no cheating. Bonus points for balancing a checkbook.

“The City of Olympia” needs to stop milking the residents of Olympia. Prioritize projects and balance your budget.

Joe Digranes, Olympia

This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.