Letters to the Editor, Week of Nov. 23, 2022

Editor,

It was with dismay that I read in the online CDN Sunday that the Children’s Initiative was failing by 138 votes. I am glad that Medic One passed, but not voting for our children and young families is shortsighted and selfish. As a nation, we spend much more money on health care for our older population than on the early years of our children. Research shows that supporting young families and children during their formative years improves long-term health and the health of the whole society. I recommend a newly published book, “Inequality Kills Us All” by Stephen Bezruchka of the University of Washington. 

Cindy Ann Cole

Bellingham

Editor,

As a Bellingham native and Mount Baker High School grad, I am glad that I found CDN right at the beginning and jumped on board with a subscription. It is a paper that I read cover to cover weekly. The recent stories about the flooding a year ago are excellent journalism, thought-provoking and make you appreciate those that are still struggling to recover. Woodward in the Mount Baker Theatre; wish I was there. Love reading “The Hammer,” and kind of wonder what makes him tick. Kudos to the sports coverage and excellent photography. 

As a retired high school yearbook and photography teacher, I would have used CDN for show-and-tell on how to do things right. Keep up the good work and making me feel connected to the ‘Ham in some small way, even though I live two hours south.

Scott Thompson

Puyallup

Editor,

What happened in the civic elections in Vancouver, British Columbia, exactly one month ago should serve as a cautionary tale for Mayor Seth Fleetwood, County Executive Satpal Sidhu and their respective councils.

Vancouver’s Liberal-woke Mayor Kennedy Stuart was unceremoniously turfed after just four years in office; the first incumbent mayor to be ousted in over 40 years.

The main reason was his perceived inability to deal with crime, homelessness and the opioid crisis, particularly in the notorious Downtown East Side.

His opponent, Ken Sim, became the first Chinese-Canadian Mayor of Vancouver.  

Sim had one resonant campaign promise: To hire 100 additional police officers and 100 mental health professionals to deal with Vancouver’s crime and drug problem.

Members of Sims’ right-of-center ABC party also scored election victories.

On Nov. 16, this newly installed council voted on funding these additional police and mental health services, approving the hiring of 57 new police officers and 21 additional mental health practitioners. Not a complete fulfillment of a campaign promise, but a positive start.

Mayor Fleetwood and Executive Sidhu, I have known both of you for over 20 years. You are good, well-intentioned men.

But unless you distance yourself from the soft-on-crime, social justice warrior policies that are killing your city and county, you will not be around for a second term. Voters are angry. And fed up.

I was in Portland last week. The city that I called “home” for a decade has changed markedly and for the worse. Graffiti, hobo jungles, open drug use and rampant crime are all part of daily life in Portland. 

According to law enforcement, fentanyl is a leading cause of these social ills. 

Hire more police. Start with rehiring the ones that were forced to resign during the pandemic. Hire more mental health professionals. Half of those incarcerated have mental health issues. 

Start arresting people, incarcerate them and treat them.

Or you will suffer the same electoral fate as your “woke” counterparts in Vancouver.

John Lesow

Point Roberts and Vancouver, British Columbia

Editor,

Last week, we called on law enforcement agencies in Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Sumas and Whatcom County to adopt the Model Use of Force Policy published by the Attorney General’s Office in July. We believe every law enforcement agency in the state should adopt the model policy, or something more restrictive because it will:

•    Reduce the amount and nature of physical force used.

•    Limit the use of deadly force and save lives.

•    Provide consistency across the state so community members can expect the same quality of policing everywhere in the state.

•    Be used by the Criminal Justice Training Commission as a statewide training standard for recruits and incumbents.

We also reminded agencies of the Dec. 1, 2022, deadline to submit proof they’ve complied with the new use of force and de-escalation tactics law (RCW 10.120.020). We hope that each agency adopts the model policy, or something more restrictive, which will reduce liabilities and, we believe, protect residents in our county.

Thank you!

Krystal Rodriguez

Riveters Collective Justice System Committee

Editor,

I’ve been enjoying the Tom Tomorrow strip for years but today I thought, this is clever and well done but always a Liberal equivalent of Fox News. Bam! Take that, Republicans! Bop! Take that, Democrats.

These unevolved doings need to stop. Coming together is the only way to survive. But, as the Dalai Lama said, “Compassion is an eccentricity in our times.” 

Richard Tucker

Bellingham

Send letters, maximum 300 words, by 10 a.m. Mondays to letters@cascadiadaily.com.