Letters to the editor for April 6

Olympia voters should approve Proposition 1

To our Olympia friends and neighbors:

On April 26 we have the rare opportunity to shape the future of our community!

We can significantly improve the education of our children, particularly in art, science, heritage, and culture. We can substantially advance the arts in Olympia. We can foster learning and understanding of our BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). We can provide improved access to educational and enriching activities for ALL our children, families, and adults.

Please vote “Yes” on Proposition 1, the Inspire! Olympia, cultural access initiative!

Merritt and Marsha Tadano Long, Olympia

Estuary option story goes back much farther

Thanks for your very detailed story about the Department of Enterprise Services’ announcement that the “estuary option” for Capitol Lake would most likely be DES’s recommendation to the Legislature. But that story goes back much farther than the story suggested.

Early in the fall of 1997, Tumwater City Council member and environmental champion Chris Parsons requested that a natural estuary be added to the list of options the multi-jurisdiction Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan committee would be forwarding to the state’s then-General Services Administration (DES’s predecessor). I supported her request.

I’m sure neither of us thought then that it would take a quarter-century to get to this point, but I do appreciate the thoroughness with which DES has delved into the issues and options, which should minimize late-in-process “surprises.”

Mark Foutch, former Mayor, Olympia

Keep the oil in the soil

I feel compassion for all those who are having a challenging time right now in the world. Meeting each other with kindness seems like a good idea. This includes kindness towards Nature, who equally deserves it. In particular, it’s worth acknowledging that humans have impacted many ecosystems and the human and wildlife communities who call them home.

In particular, I ask the U.S. Army Corps to reject new oil pipelines, such as Line 3 and Line 5 in the Midwest. Three severe aquifer punctures from Line 3 construction have been reported. Despite this, Canadian company Enbridge has proposed to reroute its Line 5 oil pipeline through more than 180 waterways that flow into the Bad River Reservation and Lake Superior.

The Army Corps is considering whether to allow Enbridge to use horizontal directional drilling under the White River, the largest tributary to the Bad River. In other places, this method has devastated entire aquatic ecosystems.

What can we do? We can ask our legislators and the Army Corps to protect the Great Lakes, reject the Line 5 pipeline, and transition towards a safe, prosperous renewable energy future. A spill of solar energy — well, it’s just called a nice day!

Rebecca Canright, Olympia

Give Biden a break

Hey news media and so-called journalists. You’re supposed to report on interesting stuff that occurred, not what you think the news could, should or might be. You’re not in the weather forecasting business or for our popcorn-munching entertainment.

The game of “gotcha” questions and “what ifs” has become mainstream news. That is not news per se, but rather paid talking heads supporting network talking points.

President Biden is in trouble with the media for telling what he will or won’t do to help Ukraine. The media keeps pestering: What if Putin uses chemical, biological or nuclear weapons? Then what, Mr. President?

Biden’s goal is to prevent a third world war with nations having nuclear capabilities and itchy trigger fingers.

Televising the devastation in Ukraine shows viewers why humanitarian aid and providing weapons to Ukraine’s military is needed. We don’t need breaking news of each individual weapon, the amount, and how they will be transported into Ukrainian hands. The enemy has eyes and ears. My mom used to say, “loose lips sink ships,” and they still could.

Putin already replaced inner-circle defectors and jailed thousands of Russian protesters against the war.

What threatens Putin’s power is Russia’s taste for more McDonalds and Starbucks democracy.

Let’s give Biden a breaking news break. He’s building a worldwide coalition, not a Putin admiration tower with luxury suites overlooking Ukraine devastation.

David Cahill, Olympia