Letters urge yes vote on Tumwater’s Prop. 1, offer alternative to tariffs, thank Sen. Booker

Tumwater mayors urge yes vote on Proposition 1

In April, Tumwater residents will have an opportunity to renew funding for repair and maintenance of Tumwater’s streets and sidewalks. The current sales tax, adopted in 2015, raises about $2.5 million per year, and has enabled Tumwater to pave over 100 lane miles of streets, fix many sidewalks, and add bike lanes.

It is a smart investment, having attracted over $6 million in grants.

In addition to the paving of many neighborhood streets, examples of projects recently completed using these funds in combination with grants include improved sidewalks and bike lanes on Israel Road next to Tumwater High School, new sidewalks on Linwood Avenue near Michael T. Simmons Elementary School, and paving of Capitol Boulevard north of the brewery.

But we have a long way to go. Proposition 1 enables the city to continue the good work it’s been doing.

As state and federal grants shrink, this local funding — and the local control that comes with it — will be more important than ever. With the large retail stores in Tumwater, much of this sales tax will be paid by people from outside the city using our streets to shop in Tumwater. Thus, the expense will be shared by all who use our streets, not just Tumwater residents. These funds can’t be diverted to other uses, they can only be used to maintain existing city streets and repair and expand our sidewalk network.

This measure makes our streets safer for everyone. Please vote yes on Tumwater’s Proposition 1.

Pete Kmet, former Tumwater mayor

Debbie Sullivan, current Tumwater mayor

Trump’s tariffs hurt industry. Let’s reshore the right way

Donald Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs were marketed as a bold move to protect American industry. But let’s be clear: They are a disaster for working families and local businesses. Costs have already gone up, export markets have tightened, and the industries they claimed to help are left navigating more uncertainty, not less.

Here in Southwest Washington, we know the value of real work. At the port, in the mill, on the farm, or on the shop floor, we know how to build, grow, and make. What we need isn’t political theater — we need smart policy that strengthens American industry and brings good jobs home. And we already have tools to do that. One of them is the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM).

Since 1934, EXIM has quietly helped American businesses — especially manufacturers and producers — compete abroad by offering loans, guarantees, and insurance when private banks won’t. In this region, it’s helped businesses expand into global markets.

The MAGA wing of the GOP has turned economic policy into a performance. They rail against trade, cheer tariffs, and attack globalism — but they’ve failed to deliver real results for working Americans. We need to isolate that extremism and rebuild a bipartisan path rooted in practical solutions.

I’m a Democrat. But more than that, I’m someone who wants my neighbors — regardless of party — to thrive. Let’s modernize EXIM, green it for the economy of the future, and put it to work for American communities like ours.

If we agree on that, we’ve already started finding common ground — and that’s where real progress begins.

Warren Neth, Yelm

Thank you, Sen. Booker

The filibusters of Republican senators such as Strom Thurmond and Ted Cruz stand as stark reminders of obstructionism, contrasting sharply with Sen. Cory Booker’s 2025 marathon speech, which was a principled defense of democracy and equality.

Thurmond’s 24-hour speech in 1957 sought to block the Civil Rights Act, a landmark bill protecting African Americans’ voting rights. His speech, filled with irrelevant content such as recipes and state election laws, epitomized segregationist resistance to racial progress.

Similarly, Ted Cruz’s 2013 21-hour speech against the Affordable Care Act — though less overtly racist — was marked by triviality, including reading “Green Eggs and Ham,” reflecting a lack of substantive engagement with policies aimed at expanding healthcare access.

In contrast, Cory Booker’s historic 25-hour speech in 2025 was a passionate call to action against cuts to essential programs such as Medicaid and Social Security under President Trump’s administration. Booker invoked figures such as John Lewis to highlight the moral imperative of defending justice and equality.

While Thurmond and Cruz used their speeches to block progress on policies that could improve millions of lives, Booker sought to unite Americans in resisting efforts to undermine constitutional governance and concentrate power in the hands of oligarchs. His effort stands as a beacon of hope and resolve, demonstrating that leadership can inspire action for the greater good rather than hinder it.

Thank you, Senator Booker, for your historic stand for We The People.

Lauren Nickle, Olympia