To the editor -- I agree, it is time for change for the use of the Southeast Community Center. I have never claimed to be the representative for the Latino community, but I do voice my opinion and for that I was called a racist and was the recipient of the newspaper's wrath and letters from community members, most of which I believe were not fully informed about the issues because of the article was biased and poorly researched.
In last January's article about the Southeast, Ester Huey acknowledged that she had heard the accusation before that the center was known as the blacks' "club" and that she could be doing more with the center but she needed grant money and more guidance and support from other people.
A condition of the contract required OIC to find grant money and it is difficult to accept that they could not, if they had chosen to do so. The advisory committee that was to be set up was not, probably because the Hispanic activists argued that the center should focus on bilingual education and programs for immigrants, so why would they expect support?
The issue is: What is the highest and best use of this valuable community resource?
HECTOR FRANCO
Yakima
Build, instead of fight
To the editor -- As a 1940s fellow raised to Bing Crosby's crooning, my eyes zoomed to Bing Nyssen's May 2 letter asking if there is a better way to protect our country besides war.
Marcus J. Borg, Oregon State University religion professor, wrote in 2003 that the United States is the Rome of our time. We are an empire who gives in to the overuse of imperial power.
He wrote in 2003 that the United States began a war against a weak and impoverished country. The United States thought it necessary for our security.
This was contrary to all accepted teaching on war. Contrary to the "just war" theory.
We are acting like an empire, for it is empires that think they have a right to initiate war in their own perceived interest.
To control and impose and structure another country's system to serve us.
May the new administration be more thoughtful and responsible in the use of our power. Build up. With the world's well-being in mind.
DENNIS HASSLINGER
Yakima
A great Cinco de Mayo
To the editor -- I would like to publicly recognize and thank the Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association for the great event they put on in the evenings of May 1-2 to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and to honor our association with the city of Morelia in the Mexican State of Michoacán.
The Ballet Folkiorico was very beautiful and educational on Thursday night, and Friday night's dinner (with accompanying mariachi music) and the evening's entertainment, provided by the internationally known Morelia musicians, Bola Suriana, were all outstanding.
This event was a credit to our city and to the cultural diversity that makes it an interesting and vibrant community. I hope more of our citizens will plan to turn out for this annual event next Cinco de Mayo -- they will be happy they did!
SUSAN PAYNE
Yakima
Here's one for mom
To the editor -- Memories of my own loving mother (now deceased) are as vivid today as if they happened yesterday.
Before marrying, my mother played the piano and sang in theater houses during the early silent movie days.
Mother's garden of love greatly enriched her two daughter's lives. From the beginning, she soothed our aches and pains, nursed us through various childhood diseases, provided games and toys, among them our first big beautiful dolls. She sent us off to school with coats, mittens and packed lunches. She saw to it that we did our homework and lived by the golden rule. We were given piano lessons and she listened to our home practices (I imagine that was pretty painful).
We also had dance lessons. I recall once Mother making eight costumes for a dance recital, but my sister and I both came down with the measles and sadly were unable to perform or wear the beautiful costumes. All that hard work for nothing, but Mother accepted it as just another one of life's milestones. All through the years, Mother gave a listening ear and caring loving concern. Happy Mother's Day, Mom. To mothers everywhere, many blessings.
PHYLLIS CYR
Yakima
Put Black Rock on shelf
To the editor -- The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance still contends that Black Rock Reservoir is the only real answer. As the manager of an irrigation district, I'm familiar with water issues. My personal opinion is that they are not correct. The Wymer Reservoir and an enlarged Bumping Lake are other alternatives that are more feasible and more cost-effective to build and operate. Each project will improve the system but when combined gives the Bureau of Reclamation a range of options to improve the system operation for all stakeholders.
YBSA touts the recreational and developmental benefits of Black Rock. How will they support project costs? These benefits pay nothing of the original project costs or annual operation and maintenance costs.
The fishery benefits are also overstated. Black Rock does nothing to improve or restore tributary conditions that could contribute the greatest level of fisheries enhancement. Many environmental groups oppose any storage project. Black Rock would be located on fractured basalt upstream of the Hanford contaminated groundwater system. Bumping has issues, but they are far less dangerous.
It is time for the YBSA to put the unrealistic Black Rock Project on the shelf and help the rest of us in reality pursue the in-basin alternatives to completion.
RICK DIEKER
Yakima
Problems with Black Rock
To the editor -- Your editorial board's position on Black Rock is way off.
The environmental issues are not solvable. Per the Environmental Protection Agency, Black Rock would interrupt current Hanford cleanup. Black Rock assumes the possibility of a 400-foot wall is dug underground to stop the groundwater flow through Hanford. Such a wall has never been built, has never been modeled -- it is just imagined. This is Black Rock --imagine everything nice and don't think about anything else. Let's pretend that science fiction fixes problems. Figure this: A 600-foot dam plus a 400-foot underground wall - that's 100 stories!
Second, exorbitant cost are not trivial. Black Rock, if ever built, will require federal subsidies. Why should a senator from New Jersey support a Yakima County boondoggle? The so-called beneficiaries of Black Rock aren't willing to come up with the cost -- they want someone else to pay their way. That's not going to happen.
Last, there are other alternatives -- they just aren't funded. The Washington State Alternatives are enhanced water conservation, market-based reallocation of water resources and groundwater storage. Storage proposals received big bucks at the outset, without looking at what would make the most the impact or make more sense.
MICHAEL MARTIN
Selah
Government oversteps
To the editor -- The events that have transpired over the last few weeks at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, are good examples of how the state government has overstepped its boundaries. Watching the Texas state law enforcement removing the over 400 children from the only homes they have ever known was enough to send a chill down my spine!
To date, the alleged 16-year-old caller hasn't been located, while another woman unconnected with the ranch is being investigated. Yet authorities can still rip families apart, in many cases literally removing a child from the arms of their grieving mothers. The emotional scars borne by these children will be felt for years to come.
If there are, indeed, polygamous practices occurring at the ranch with underage girls, let the courts make that determination and act accordingly before irrevocably destroying the lives of so many whose only crime is to adhere to a different set of beliefs. This is, after all, the United States of America, not Nazi Germany or totalitarian Russia!
MICHELLE L. BERTHON
Yakima
Why review of police?
To the editor -- Explain, how can our City Council justify the Yakima police chief's request for a review of his police department, which cost the city $8,000? (April 26). Chief Granato said, "The review was a gamble on his part to prove," as the story said, "his belief that office politics at the senior level were having a 'trickle down' effect on the entire operation."
Respect is earned we need to show respect in order to receive it. If the chief feels he is not being shown respect, then maybe he should step down and not gamble with city money.
His statement about his senior officers is an insult; these officers have served this city with loyalty and honor their whole careers. Does the city and the chief really believe that by hiring a deputy chief to assist him this will sort out the fact that Yakima Police Department staff appears to have no faith in Chief Granato's leadership?
That $8,000 could have been better spent by the city than inflating the egotistical nature of a police chief who obviously should be replaced. I cannot think of any other organization or company that would have allowed this total wastage of city money.
LEAH WINDSOR
Yakima
EDITOR'S NOTE: The April 26 article erroneously stated the cost of the review at $18,000. The correct figure was $8,000.
A fund to fix potholes
To the editor -- Will you join me in a donation to eliminate potholes in the streets of Yakima? None of us wants the city to create a local option tax so every vehicle we own is taxed $20 -- whether we own 10 vehicles or two. We can only drive one at a time, and I suggest that we assist our city by each of us donating $20 for the car we drive the most.
The city has a transportation fund, so we can easily draw up a check if we choose. Those who don't mind potholes can keep their $20. I have 300 feet of frontage and do not have a pothole, but big trucks cutting the corner have ruined the piece of road at the southwest corner of South 20th Street and Simpson Lane. My husband and are sending $40.
A crusade is any remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm, according to Mr. Webster. Please join me in sending a donation to Yakima's City Treasurer, 129 N. Second St. Yakima, WA 98901, noting that it is a donation to the "pothole fund." A city worker told me that donations for "broad public interest" to a govenment agency could be tax-deductible.
Let's see what "zeal" can do to mitigate the pothole problem.
CONNIE LITTLE
Yakima
Support employees in service
To the editor -- Re: The April 5 article, "Law firm honored for supporting employees in military." Thanks, Jeff Newgard, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, for presenting Hurst, Brumback & Brusic the "Statement of Support Award."
I wish employer groups -- private, public and local government -- would recognize our National Guard/Reserve employees when they come back on the job. I know military service can provide some of the best mid-management and technical training available, which I believe to be highly transferable. Those who have not served sometimes forget this.
Having served in the Air Force, Air National Guard and Army Guard, I can attest to this superb training. The Boeing Co. does an excellent job of support. I acquired a master's of business administration degree and promotion to mid-management.
Here's a basic plan for support: Prepare staff to take over assignments when these folks are deployed. Delegate their jobs to staff; double up on cross-training, share knowledge skills and watch your service efficiency increase. By implementing forward-thinking processes, your actions will lessen the pain and significantly support our troops!
LYLE K'ANG
Yakima
Fire district problems
To the editor -- I would like to know what is going on in East Valley Fire District No. 4. Two of the three fire commissioners voted to accept the resignation of Chief Warren Gay, who was originally put on leave because of the complaints from two employees.
Now the brother of one of those two commissioners has been named acting chief and will be supervised by the board. Doesn't this sound wrong to anyone but me? Isn't this nepotism? So much of this happened behind closed doors, with us taxpayers not allowed to do anything but pay the bills.
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