Letters to the editor for Sept. 30

Change is needed in the Sheriff’s Office

I am a law-abiding person and a supporter generally of law enforcement officers. However, I cannot support our present Sheriff, John Snaza, for re-election.

As Sheriff he is tasked with enforcing the laws as written, yet he was among a slew of sheriffs in 2019 who refused to actively enforce I-1639, a voter-approved gun control measure later upheld as constitutional by the courts. As an individual he can object to that law, but not as an official tasked with enforcing it. He can’t pick and choose which laws he wants to enforce.

His opponent, Derek Sanders, is a principled person whose commitment to enforcing laws equally is in contrast to Sheriff Snaza’s. It’s time for a change.

Fred Yancey, Olympia

Climate change is not a city responsibility

A Sept. 25 article in The Olympian reports that Olympia City Council member Lisa Parshley and others are wanting to identify funding stream(s), a.k.a. new taxes, for a new Council responsibility, “climate change.” Title 35 RCW on Cities and Towns specifically delineates the responsibilities of Washington cities and towns; “climate change” is not among the designated responsibilities.

The Council has yet to fully address many designated responsibilities including, but not limited to: housing, public safety, health care, adequate police/firefighting, parking, construction, and crime-free rental housing. Tax monies just raised to address homelessness have yet to permanently eliminate the problem. There are not enough city mental health resources to address the addiction/mental health issues in this city. Crime runs rampant as reported daily. Affordable housing is non-existent.

The article also mentioned that Bellingham’s mayor, Seth Fleetwood, set aside a similar proposal there due to lack of constituent support. Perhaps Olympia’s Council could learn from Bellingham’s experience and fully meet its current obligations before assuming an additional ad hoc responsibility at taxpayers’ expense.

Jann Coffman, Olympia

Our children’s health is at risk

As a pediatrician in Olympia, I have witnessed the impact of many factors on the health of our children. Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, are a major reason for hospital admission and missed school days, and respiratory illnesses are negatively impacted by poor air quality.

Waking up to smoke-filled skies clarifies the fact that fires impact air quality. Air quality alerts affect our choice of activities and our sense of well being.

A less known fact: The buildings we work and live in are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and gas-powered appliances in our homes are a significant source of indoor air pollution. Whether the pollution is from fires or gas cooktops, our health is directly related to the quality of our air. A glaring example is that living in a home with gas cooking increases a child’s chance of experiencing asthma by 42%.

We have the power to influence the air quality in our homes and community.

Improving our indoor air quality is an important benefit that would be realized if the State Building Code Counsel adopts their proposed residential building code updates for new construction.

The State Building Codes Counsel is currently accepting public input for their proposed Building Code updates for residential buildings (new builds). Speak up for the health of our children and ourselves by urging the commission to adopt their proposed residential energy code updates. I encourage you to submit a written comment at sbcc@des.wa.gov

Megan Hubbard, Olympia

Is the Legislature expanding?

I’m wondering what’s up with the Legislature’s plans to add 140,000 square feet of new office space and more parking on the Capitol Campus at a cost of $180 million. This is especially concerning when affordable housing is in short supply and many people are living on the streets.

I’ve written to the chief clerk of the Senate asking for a justification for the new office space. Maybe there is a good reason for needing so much more space, but no one has responded.

I’m not aware of plans to increase the number of legislators and am baffled by the need for more space that will only be used a few months of the year. And given the growth of remote work, more office space seems even more unnecessary.

But I’m staying open to hearing a legitimate justification for the need, if only someone would respond to my questions.

Patricia McLain, Olympia