Letters to the editor for March 29

Vote no on RFA Prop. 1

Please vote NO on Olympia/Tumwater Proposition 1 in April. This is the proposed merger of the Olympia and Tumwater fire departments into a Regional Fire Authority. This would be the largest increase in property tax bills in the history of either city, and it would provide no benefit in terms of better fire protection.

Most of the money goes for duplicative administrative positions, and for big pay increases for existing staff.

The fees would be much larger per square foot for apartments than for houses, compounding our housing challenges. And it would leave both cities without the people and equipment they would need to respond to a flood or earthquake. The RFA formation specifically leaves the non-fire emergency response functions with the cities.

The “Pro” campaign has tens of thousands of dollars donated by the firefighter unions, anxious for the pay increases that come from having the merged department compared to larger city fire departments such as Auburn and Burien. But we don’t have those kinds of urban problems here, nor the higher cost of living. That’s not fair.

None of the $10.5 million increase in property taxes levied would hire additional firefighters, buy additional fire engines, or build additional fire stations. The RFA seven-year plan holds all of those constant at current levels. Additional tax or fee increases would be needed to fund these.

We have excellent fire departments, accountable to voters through the City Councils we elect. Let’s keep it that way.

Vote NO on Prop. 1

Jim Lazar, Olympia

Rethink objections to Supreme Living in Lacey

For those of you objecting to the Supreme Living facility in Lacey, I have some words: You all need to think it through.

The facility on Martin Way has been there for a few years with no issues. You’ve just now learned about it.

The individuals there are under very close monitoring which is in contrast to the many, many individuals who are released as transients. Seriously, which is your preference? A sex offender in a structured home or one hopping from camp to camp without a lot of oversight?

You people should want MORE of these homes, not less of them, because you can’t stop sex offenders from being released in our community. We might as well have them under the watchful eyes of Supreme Living staff members. The Department of Corrections isn’t going to provide better oversight.

John Miller, Lacey

More money needed for caregivers

Caregivers who work in supported living do not make a livable wage. Because of this, supported living clients don’t have enough staff to take care of them. This has negative impacts on both clients and staff.

The legislators need to vote to include more money in the budget for caregivers. They must understand that caregivers need to have a living wage. The turnover for residential caregivers is very high. Legislators need to know how important making a living wage is.

Many caregivers must work more than one job to get by. They can’t give quality care because caregivers are tired and burnt out. The lower pay results in fewer staff, which negatively impacts clients and current staff. The caregivers that have already been hired work long hours.

Here is why I am affected by the staffing crisis. I get tired and burned out over the staffing crisis, and sometimes I lose sleep over it. Not being able to go places when I want to can be stressful. I feel somewhat depressed because I can’t get out of the house very often. This really impacts my quality of life by not having caregivers showing up at all. The staffing crisis affects me.

Call or email your legislators and tell them to include more money in the budget for caregivers. Thank you for reading this article. It makes a difference in people’s lives.

Julie Clark, Lacey