Letters to the editor for March 17
Thurston Thrives is yet another boondoggle
After reviewing the Thurston Thrives website, reading the purpose statement (the usual bureaucratic prattle justifying meaningless activity) and other website pages, the recent Olympian Editorial calling for Thurston Thrives to be dismantled was correct.
Even with narrowed focus changes and “north star” guidance as recently purported by David Schaffert, this initiative is not worthy of renewed funding. Why does Thurston County need to expend $40,000 on data collection for preemies/newborns, eighth-grade suicides (why just eighth grade?), and adult health status? How did the “Thrives” grouping choose these four factors? What were the other areas of concern, and why were they not considered of “equity’” importance? Are the identified data not available through current information collected by the county? There are no minutes of meetings or other accountability reports for the taxpayer to review.
Just from skimming the online source, one fails to see why the Thurston County Commissioners would waste yet another $40,000 for the new proposal. What is supposed to be done with the information if it is collected? The county is already struggling with current real-time issues that impact quality of life for the total population of all ethnic backgrounds equally.
Thurston Thrives has been a boondoggle. It would seem more appropriate to conduct an audit of previous funding/expenditures before granting another $40,000 toward this useless initiative. After seven years, the taxpayers have realized no improvement to quality of life from this endeavor and, from the sounds of it, never will.
Jann Coffman, Olympia
We shouldn’t hunt black bears in spring
We don’t allow the hunting of deer or elk in the spring. Why? Because springtime is a sensitive and stressful time for wildlife: Offspring are very young and vulnerable, and adults are urgently seeking nutrition to recover from the winter of scarce and snow-covered food.
It makes sense to spare wildlife from the stress of dodging hunters and the potential orphaning of dependent youngsters. Black bears have the added vulnerability of being weak and lethargic in the spring due to hibernating through the winter. And yet Washington’s black bears have been subjected to a spring hunting seasons for years, and they may face another hunt this spring.
There is a lack of demonstrated scientific evidence to support the controversial spring hunt, and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission even voted late last year to postpone this year’s killing until a valid reason could be shown. However, after intense pressure from hunting groups, they are again considering allowing a recreational spring bear hunt in 2022.
Washington’s bears deserve a peaceful spring season. Tell the Commission we don’t want or need a spring bear hunt: send an email to commission@dfw.wa.gov.
Karla Taylor, Olympia
Stick it to Putin?
The President of the United States has shut off all imports of oil from Russia. Does anyone believe this will do anything?
Russia will sell their oil to China and other energy-dependent countries and America has just lost 4% of the oil supply that we need. Every American who had their wages increased to $15 or $20 an hour are now further under water than they were before gas prices increased. The Democratic Party has painted a bullseye on the middle class and this current administration does not give a darn about the average American family. Anyone that can’t see this has not opened their eyes.
Thirteen months, that is how fast we have fallen this far. Shameful!
Dennis Zech, Olympia
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.