Author: The Seattle Times: Northwest Voices

‘Uninformed masses’ want illegal immigrants out of Arizona

“The Arizona Syndrome: propaganda and the politics of fear” [Opinion, May 23] suggests that the decline in illegal border crossings should be a reason to negate the new Arizona law. But it does not alleviate the burden Arizona bears from the cumulative effect of past and present volumes.

The column fails to come face-to-face with the truth that the serious illegal immigration problem is a legitimate criticism of the federal government. The “uninformed masses” are the citizen taxpayers and voters, and they want illegal immigrants out of Arizona and the United States.

— Richard Starr, Sammamish

Hatred, violence the result of failed vigilance and scapegoating

Thanks to David Altheide for exposing the tired lies and political opportunism that led to Arizona’s shameful legislation.

The public needs much more light and far less heat in order to deal rationally with the issue of immigration reform. We need to remind ourselves that time and again, when good people have failed to be vigilant and expose this kind of scapegoating, hatred and violence have been the result.

— Lisa Dekker, Seattle

Enforce immigration laws

In his column about Arizona’s statute requiring enforcement of immigration laws, David Altheide said “Fear is driving the legislation and emotions in Arizona these days.” More than two-thirds of Arizonans support the law and perhaps they are driven by fear. As I cannot read minds, I withhold judgment.

In a Zogby Poll in April, John Zogby, who is the son of a Lebanese illegal immigrant, found that 61 percent of Americans polled supported deporting illegal residents or prosecuting the employers who hire them. Thirty-one percent of those polled supported amnesty for illegal immigrants. More about this poll can be read at Forbes.com.

Clearly, whatever motivates voters, most Americans do not support amnesty and they believe that immigration laws should be enforced.

— Linda Thom, Coupeville

Let me decide

Editor, The Times:

It appears that the King County Council has decided that the public doesn’t know what it wants —only the Council knows [“Sales-tax proposal in jeopardy,” page one, May 22].

Most of the discussion from council members regarding why they would not allow King County residents to vote on a sales-tax increase revolves around the wrong issue. They talk as if they are deciding if we should increase the sales tax and do not talk about whether we should decide if we should increase the sales tax.

It is a subtle but very important distinction.

I am wise enough to know what I think is right. I also know that public safety is important to me. The County Council apparently thinks I do not know what I want or what is important to me.

These same County Council members say the county is spending more than it is making, so that has to change. Who do they think have been in charge of spending decisions over the last few years?

Look in the mirror, County Council, and you will see who is responsible for that dilemma — yet you think for some reason you are going to solve this before we have no more police officers, prosecutors or judges?

My experience living in King County says differently. By my rough calculation, the average tenure of a council member is 10 years.

I suspect council members would make the same decisions they have for the many terms they have served on the council. Why don’t you let me decide this time?

— Steve Tucker, Seattle

Modest sales-tax increase for families

King County Council has made many difficult cuts to our county’s budget during this recession — more than $209 million has been cut already, bringing our county’s general budget down from a high of $837 million in 2008 to $628 million. That is a 25 percent cut, which is serious belt-tightening by most standards.

Yet, we still face further deficits —as much as $140 million over the next two years. Given the reality that more than 75 percent of the county budget supports our law enforcement and justice system, the bulk of any additional cuts would come in those areas.

Unlike a family that often has no choice but to keep reducing discretionary expenses in tough times, our government’s justice system is not a discretionary choice. It is the cornerstone of our sense of fairness and security. We must find the funding to provide it.

The County Council has an option available to prevent these continued deep cuts: It could ask the voters to consider a modest sales-tax increase of $40 per family per year, or just 11 cents a day.

Before we go down the road to possible draconian cuts to the justice system, don’t we owe it to ask the voters first whether or not they want to increase revenues? If they say no, the County Council must act and we would face the consequences of reduced police, prosecutors and a strained court system.

As advocates for access to justice, the County Council should not hide behind the process and should put the question directly to the people.

— James Andrus, King County Bar Association president, Seattle

Regulations on paying fares need to be enforced

Having driven Metro buses full-time for 25 years, I was glad to see “Scofflaws costing Metro $3.2 million” [NWThursday, May 20].

The problem with “scofflaws” (cheaters) has long been known to drivers. But we are not trained or authorized to be police officers, so we cannot force people to pay or deny rides to those who do not.

Cheaters know this — and that Metro would rarely, if ever, punish them for not paying. The fact that “fare evasion” is a misdemeanor crime would not deter them. Reporting of cheaters to management hardly ever garners any significant response.

I know drivers who have been yelled at, spat on and physically assaulted for just asking for fares.

If Metro really wants to try to collect all its fares, it should adopt a system such as that of the light rail: Riders must buy a ticket or have a pass to use the service or take the chance of receiving a large fine if caught without one. This means transit police must regularly check for tickets and issue citations. Only if enough people see regulations being enforced would they abide by them.

This latest report may spur Metro to change things. But after all my years on the road, I will believe it when I see it.

— Michael Spence, Tukwila

The civil rights dinosaur

In “Inherited clout not a sure thing” [News, May 24], Rand Paul’s statement that businesses have the right to refuse to serve blacks was characterized as “his quibbles with some elements of the Civil Rights Act.”

Quibbles? Paul’s views would undo lunch-counter sit-ins where students sat day after day demanding to be served. His views are racist to the core and to trivialize them as missteps or minor is no service to the reading public. He is a dinosaur and should be put back on the shelf.

— Adrienne Weller, Seattle

A good bad week

The Times showed Rand Paul’s picture with an up arrow in “Good week, bad week” [News, May 23], signaling he had a “good” week.

Apparently, whoever decided he had a good week is knee-deep in the tea-party movement.

Did you miss the part where Paul spoke about the civil-rights amendment and how it should not have required private clubs to be nondiscriminatory? He gave that speech at a golf country club, symbolic to say the least —typically all-white, upper-class.

Later this past week, Paul said he thought Obama was being too hard on BP.

Too hard? BP was caught lying about how much oil continues to spew into the Gulf of Mexico — it is 10 times worse than what BP officials have been claiming. Considering their gross negligence to begin with, the general consensus is that no one appreciates BP these days, except Paul.

— Jim Corbett, Seattle

A heartfelt, but otherwise unconvincing defense

I watched [Republican National Committee Chairman] Michael Steele trying to defend Rand Paul on TV. How could he, of all people, defend the statements made on TV by this tea-party favorite?

Paul exposed himself for the racial bigot that he is. How —in good faith — could any American support this man’s views?

Paul thinks the Massey Coal mining mess and the BP oil mess were just accidents. He said President Obama was blaming BP and Massey unfairly, and was unfairly picking on private enterprise. He said accidents happen. I guess we should just get past it?

— Anne and Bill Dillon, Kent

Staying dormant about environmental issues no longer an option

Given its enormity, the environmental disaster unfolding in the Gulf should be the last one of its kind [“Frustration mounts as oil seeps into Gulf wetlands,” News, May 23].

While official estimates place the oil “leak” at 5,000 barrels a day, more sobering analyses place it at 100,000 barrels a day, making it an oil volcano with no end in sight. What makes this event so tragic is that it was entirely preventable. Even worse, its impact on our country’s wildlife, fisheries, tourism and local economy is completely inestimable at this point.

Whether the oil contamination could spread up the Atlantic coast and whether efforts to contain it would be hampered by the inevitable hurricanes remains to be seen.

This disaster should awaken us to the myriad other man-made environmental catastrophes that are occurring. Annually, 81 tons of mercury enter the atmosphere as a result of coal-fired electrical generators, and farmland greater than the area of Scotland is lost to erosion, plus urban sprawl across the globe.

Every day, more than 100 plant and animal species become extinct and 13 million tons of toxic chemicals are released.

Currently, every square mile of ocean averages 46,000 pieces of floating plastic. In the last 100 years, 90 percent of the large ocean fish have disappeared and in the last 30 years, 50 percent of the world’s forests have been destroyed.

An environmental tipping point has been reached.

A future for humankind and other life-forms is not possible without a transformational change in how each of us treats our environment. We must use the highly visible, expanding “dead zone” of the Gulf as the rallying point for our very survival.

Each of us must become an environmental activist. Not only do we have to live in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, but we must demand that our government enact strict environmental laws and vigorously enforce them. Failure to act now is no longer an option.

— Marshall Goldberg, Oak Harbor

Drilling response to demand for oil

In the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, many are expressing outrage toward BP, Transocean and Halliburton for not taking the precautions necessary to prevent such a disaster.

Without a doubt, this outrage is justified. But we should also ask ourselves why BP was drilling for oil a mile below the ocean surface, offshore from such a biologically rich region.

The answer on the most basic level is because there is a market for oil; those of us who drive gas-powered cars are part of that market. The more we drive, the more BP would drill. Perhaps we should all display pictures of oiled wetlands or idled fishermen on our dashboards.

Being reminded before we turn the key that we are all culprits in this disaster may prompt us to consider taking the bus, walking, riding a bicycle or simply avoiding the trip altogether.

— Jeannette Banobi, Seattle

Tragic accident turned criminal incident

I read “CG commandant: BP using all technical means it can” [Seattletimes.com, May 24]. Frankly, I believe neither BP nor our government.

Is the Gulf of Mexico the geologic equivalent of a hemophiliac? When I get a cut, I could stop the bleeding with pressure or a bandage. We could have had barges taking rock, sand and gravel to cover and plug the well within days of the explosion. Instead, BP decided it would try and siphon the emerging oil into a nearby tanker.

From many reports, it appears there is an epidemic of stooge-like behavior across the industry. With each report, I looked for evidence of Moe, Larry, Curly or Shemp.

Now, the blame game has started, with fingers pointing in every direction. State officials, federal officials and company officials — sounds like a cluster operation.

This country runs on energy, and we need new sources of oil. I support the search for new oil sources. But it is clear that our government cannot legislate faithfulness from the oil industry. Now is the time to assign inspection, arrest and prosecution authority to the Office of the Inspector General.

What happened originally was a tragic accident. What has happened since is criminal.

— Bob Boren, Federal Way

A craving with nasty consequences

As a firm believer in the preservation of the ecology of the Earth, I am disgusted and appalled by the callous decisions made by BP in regard to its oil-drilling policies.

BP officials’ decision to continue to push 24-hour drilling and disregard the safety of their drilling rig has caused the death of innocent workers and put the entire ecology of the Gulf of Mexico in danger of being ruined for years to come. The fragile ecology of the coastlines may never recover and for what —more money.

We need to improve the way we use oil by making more fuel-efficient vehicles and finding ways to use alternative fuel sources to fuel transportation. In essence, we need to become less dependent on oil as our main energy source. I know that I am not only speaking for myself, but for millions of other Americans.

— Marcia Thomas, Spanaway

Cursive a craft and skill we can’t lose

Editor, The Times:

It is astonishing and sad to read that today’s students find cursive writing “too slow” [“Teacher reintroduces the lost art of cursive,” page one, May 24].

As a child of the 1950s, my cursive is not nearly as elegant as that of my elders who were schooled early in the 20th century. But it certainly is far faster and far easier on my hand than block printing.

My son, now out of high school, can barely write cursive, having had a third-grade teacher who had “more important” things to do than teach handwriting. There are some things that should always be taught, no matter how good technology gets. Doing arithmetic without a calculator and cursive writing are among them.

We should all know how to do these things.

— Linda Atkins, Enumclaw

Textbook publishers should think twice before exporting curriculum to other states

“Texas board waters down social-studies curriculum” [News, May 22] said: “The standards also will be used by textbook publishers nationwide who often develop materials for other states based on guidelines approved in Texas.”

How does Texas get to define how children in Washington state learn U.S. history? When did we (or residents in other states) delegate that to a bunch of delusional ideologues from Texas? I hope our educators have more discretion and wisdom than to accede to Texas’ version of junk history.

— David Howe, Sammamish

No such thing as a true democracy

I found the headline of “Texas board waters down social-studies curriculum” [News, May 22] fascinating.

If “watering down” meant correcting a myth, then I could see the point.

But I assure you, my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington as my witness, the United States is a “constitutional republic.”

There really is no such thing as a true democracy in the modern world. I hate to burst bubbles with the truth, but that is indeed what it is.

— Shane Savery, Seattle

From cradle to grave

The federal government is going to outlaw drop-side cribs because 32 children have died in 10 years [“Government moves to ban drop-side cribs,” News, May 22].

Any child’s death is tragic, but this is a ludicrous area to focus on when our country leads the world in gun deaths each year. If the government truly wants to get serious about protecting our children, and I believe it should, then begin comprehensive gun control now.

It is ridiculous that sometime soon, I could be arrested for selling a drop-side crib, but could still easily purchase an assault rifle.

— David Remer, Bellevue

Puget Sound’s toxic runoff

Sen. Kevin Ranker and David Dicks are right that the millions of gallons of toxic runoff slipping into Puget Sound is a silent crisis. [“Puget Sound’s slow oil spill,” Opinion, May 20.]

Better controls on municipal drainage systems and increased funding for local governments are desperately needed, but that is only part of the solution. We also need to prevent chemicals from getting into the runoff in the first place.

Chemicals contaminating Puget Sound come from petroleum products and more than 80,000 chemicals currently on the market. Many of the chemicals are found in consumer products. Toxic flame retardants that have helped make orca whales one of the most contaminated marine mammals on the planet are not spewed from a factory pipe. They are coming from everyday products such as couches, chairs and electronic products. They are in our bodies too.

The same could be said for numerous other chemicals such as phthalates and “Teflon chemicals” now found in products, our bodies and Puget Sound.

The Washington congressional delegation has the opportunity to support The Safe Chemicals Act, a bill recently introduced in Congress aimed at changing this toxic status quo. They should support and strengthen the bill so that it ends the use of chemicals like toxic flame retardants. It is good for Puget Sound and good for our own health too.

— Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, campaign director of the Washington Toxics Coalition, Seattle

An uphill battle

It is clear that the Puget Sound Partnership has an uphill battle to restore and protect Puget Sound. Unfortunately politics —not science —seem to be influencing some of the Partnership’s decisions.

David Dicks, the Partnership’s executive director, attempts to capitalize on the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, claiming that “roughly 140,000 pounds of toxic chemicals” enter Puget Sound every day.

A closer look at the claim, however, reveals that while Dicks has relied on the same claim for the past two years, the Department of Ecology —the source of the claim —updated the pollution level after finding a significant error in its report. The new number is a drastic reduction, cutting the estimated range by two-thirds.

Despite the recalculation, no efforts have been made by the Partnership to revise the policies or priorities for which it advocates.

If the justification for the policies change, shouldn’t the policies themselves be reexamined? With a limited amount of resources, it makes sense to reevaluate priorities. Most important, the Partnership should leave hyperbole behind and set priorities based on the best science and most recent information available.

— Brandon Houskeeper, policy analyst at the Center for the Environment, Seattle

Kicking the coal habit, moving employees to more sustainable careers a common-sense proposal

Thank you for publishing Ted Nace’s “State should kick the coal habit” [Opinion, May 22]. It is outrageous that Washington taxpayers are subsidizing an industry that has such a negative impact on our region’s environment and earth’s climate. It is especially outrageous in light of the current budget problems.

Closing the plant in 2015 and redirecting the subsidy to help transition the TransAlta coal plant employees to more sustainable careers, as Nace suggests, is a common-sense proposal.

— James Williams, Seattle

Adding fuel to the fire

I am responding to “Local business owners planning for fallout from gulf disaster” [Business, May 21], which described a Seattle restaurant owner procuring his shrimp from Mexico rather than from the Gulf Coast.

While the oil leak disaster would produce serious shortages of Gulf Coast shrimp, why add fuel to an already raging ecological fire by substituting imported, farm-raised shrimp for U.S. shrimp? The level of U.S. demand is itself unsustainable and contributing to massive mangrove forest losses, fisheries declines and human-rights abuses just to feed our thoughtless appetite in the United States for cheap shrimp.

We need to see a reduction of our consumption rather than try to fill the “gap” left by the BP-created disaster.

— Alfredo Quarto, executive director of the Mangrove Action Project, Seattle

Shut down polluting coal-power plants

I was disappointed with what went unsaid in “As wind power booms, so do the challenges” [page one, May 23]. We have wind power in the first place because Washington state voters had the foresight to recognized that which other states are still denying.

The nation’s 2,000 most respected scientists — at The National Academy of Science — have just released the results of a study requested by the previous president, which finds that the nation is at the very edge of the cliff of being too late to save the planet from climate change, and that immediate and severe reductions in carbon dioxide pollution are necessary to start now in order to save the planet.

We need to reduce carbon dioxide pollution at a rate of almost 2 percent a year for about the next 50 years — until total carbon dioxide pollution emitted nationwide has been reduced by about 85 percent. Wind power is part of this solution. So is getting rid of TransAlta, one of the Pacific Northwest’s dirtiest emitters of pollution.

If we shut down old, inflexible and dirty coal-power plants, then we could replace them with new, clean, flexible and inexpensive natural-gas-power plants, located where the energy is needed to reduce loads on our aging power lines. Unlike coal, these new natural gas-power plants have the rapid response flexibility necessary to play well with wind power.

— James Adcock, Bellevue

Respect a legitimate lifestyle

In World War II, Boeing engineers knew how to use wind power correctly. The wind turbine people still do not understand these basics or they would not be building these monuments to ignorance.

Recently, Israel has amassed a $3 billion backlog for its ocean-motion power plant. This stands to reason as the world realizes it could now purchase a device that is at lease twice as efficient as wind turbines, more efficient than natural gas and it comes from people who have been seriously into alternate energy for more than 40 years.

We are no better than the people of India who buy a Boeing 737-800, then destroy it by saving a few dollars building their airports and training their people. Ignorance has its costs and doing these sort of things right is the only alternative for those that respect a legitimate lifestyle.

— Hugh Coleman, Kelso

Pays to ride, not as you leave

I had to write after reading “Scofflaws costing Metro $3.2 million” [NWThursday, May 20].

I commute on the No. 21 bus. I was not surprised to see this information reported. With the current system of paying “as you leave,” I have seen people not pay when the articulated buses are full.

Some bus drivers just open the back door, asking people to exit and come to the front to pay their fare. This works if you are honest. This is where scofflaws come in.

Lack of payment is not something new, but it has been compounded with the new ORCA system. Inattentive drivers might be distracted from noticing a rider has not fully paid his or her fare, especially with the ORCA cards. The beeps sound somewhat similar and with so many riders getting off, a rider could be long gone before anything could be said.

In any case, this could be rectified with having everyone pay as they get on. ORCA is a great idea, but there is some tweaking required and it could involve eliminating the ride-free area.

— Lynda Bui, Seattle

Bike summit needed to save lives, livelihood of trails

Editor, The Times:

Friday was Bike to Work Day. [Bike to work with care: key danger zones,” page one, May 21.]

Last Friday as I was doing just that, I saw my life flash in front of me. I was on the Burke-Gilman Trail just past the bumpy part (in Lake Forest Park) when I spied a huddle of spandex on bikes heading toward me.

As I got closer, the spandex decided to pass another rider. Suddenly, I was faced with three bicyclists riding abreast; the choice of a head-on collision or the ditch to my right was all I had.

I closed my eyes. I made it, but spent the rest of my ride muttering to myself about why we couldn’t be more like the Europeans, who do not mix training for the Tour de France with commuting to work.

I love the Burke-Gilman Trail. It’s a gem in our community and I appreciate that it is multipurpose. But everyone who has ridden it has a story of seeing some older couple leap off the trail as a snaking line of racers zooms by or hearing the sometimes aggressive, “on your right” directed at a young child trying to learn to ride.

I don’t know what the solution is — we don’t want bike cops or big regulatory signs. Education seems to be preaching to the choir. There aren’t enough trails around.

Somehow we need to figure out how to coexist on our bike trails. We need a bike summit with smart people representing different interests all at the table.

— Barbara McGrath, Kirkland

Better problems to solve

What grandstanding — pushing a bill to legalize online gambling when it doesn’t have a chance of passing [“McDermott says don’t ban Internet gambling, tax it,” NWThursday, May 20]. This is no different then when Rep. Jim McDermott pushed re-establishing the military draft a few years ago.

All legal gambling is currently heavily regulated to protect the gambler from shenanigans of the house. This is true federally, on every reservation and in every state where gambling is legal. Further, there is no way to currently regulate online gambling.

So how could you tax something you can’t regulate?

In the scheme of things and standing alone, online gambling is a minor issue. McDermott has tried to make it more of an issue by tying it to foster kids.

Making the health and well-being of foster kids dependent upon what amounts to a sin tax that results in an unclear revenue stream is perverse. If foster kids need more resources —and I bet they do —is this really the best that could be mustered?

We need to fix our core economic inadequacies. We need to get to the bottom of what doesn’t work. We need to deal with the big issues, such as global warming. There is a host of other must-fixes, yet the old guard just keeps dabbling in minutia. No wonder the county is so upset with Congress.

— Bill Hoffman, Seattle

Gambling with the future

Rep. Jim McDermott’s proposal to legalize Internet gambling is dangerous, unenforceable and hypocritical. If Internet gambling is offshore now, how could it be taxed?

Does McDermott need closet gamblers to fund his overspending?

Internet gambling competes with our lottery, cardrooms and casinos; it puts Washingtonians out of work and reduces our tax revenue.

Although foster programs need more funds, shouldn’t gambling taxes be used to rehabilitate the addicts who pay those taxes?

If McDermott really wants to raise revenues, he would support legalization of marijuana, which is easier to regulate, would save more than 6,000 lives in Mexico, raise more revenue and free up our police, courts and prisons to deal with violent crime.

McDermott is gambling with our future. Re-electing him would be a bad bet.

— Cliff Godwin, Seattle

Crime and punishment for all

If anyone were to assault a police officer, they would be arrested and put in jail immediately [”Group wants cops in video fired,” NWWednesday, May 19]. Why then were police officers — who were caught on video and audio assaulting an innocent citizen — not given the same treatment?

This is unacceptable and inexcusable. This tells me that police are exempt from the laws of the land and that there is an obvious and unmistakable double-standard here, which needs to be addressed.

Someone who is involved in a crime, but did not actually do something directly is often charged as an accomplice for aiding and abetting. The sergeant in charge could have intervened and taken action against the offending officers. His failure to act is no different from being a partner in crime. He is just as guilty as the cops who assaulted the Latino man.

Only after significant outcries from the public did Interim Police Chief John Diaz finally decide that he should do something. Why did Seattle Police simply do an investigation when the officers were caught red-handed violating the law?

This is another example of why we need a commission made exclusively of civilians who have complete authority over Seattle Police. Officers should get the same treatment as anyone breaking the law or should be held accountable to an even higher standard, just as a criminal who gets a longer sentence for a repeat violation because he should have known better.

— Brian Luther, Seattle

Trust Fund roll call for baby boomers

When Social Security was first instituted, current wage-earners’ payroll taxes were used to fund current retirees’ benefits. This worked as long as the numbers of wage-earners and retirees were approximately the same.

In 1983, former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and former President Ronald Reagan foresaw an crisis in Social Security —baby boomers, as retirees, would greatly outnumber the wage-earners. Their solution was to double payroll taxes on current wage-earners. “Boomers” would finance our parents’ retirement benefits as well as our own. Surplus tax collections would be held in a Social Security Trust Fund. This additional payroll tax was set to “sunset” in about 2035 as I could recall, by which time many boomers would no longer be around to collect benefits.

This worked for a year or so. Then Reagan wanted to balance the budget while keeping his tax cuts. The “excess” cash sitting in the Trust Fund proved irresistible and every president since then —regardless of party —has regarded the Trust Fund as his administration’s personal ATM.

Now that boomers are retiring, it’s time to pay us the benefits we have earned and paid for instead of blaming us for the “crisis” and “tweaking” us around!

— Paula Joneli, Des Moines

Neighbors not poised for noise

This is a response to [“Chef wants to clean up park with Pike Place salmon bake,” NWWednesday, May 19]. While I salute Tom Douglas for his civic-mindedness and fine restaurants, his proposal to include loud entertainment is most worrisome. Those of us who live next to Victor Steinbrueck Park have struggled with the Parks Department over noise issues for several years. After several favorable rulings by the city’s Hearing Examiner and the Pike Place Market Historical Commission, the department has been ordered on a trial basis not to introduce amplified sound into the park.

The results have been great. The park remains beautiful and safe, the neighbors are free from intrusive noise and the department has been able to further its objectives with quiet activities instead.

Persistent, loud drumming and chanting would upset this balance. If Douglas wants Native American -themed entertainment, how about Native American arts and crafts or unamplified storytelling?

— John Mason, Neighbors for a Peaceful Park, Seattle

A fishy situation

Tom Douglas’s idea is good, up to a point. But rather than spending the $12 a plate on hiring security to drive the “bad” element out of Victor Steinbrueck Park, why not take a portion of that money to provide services or training in restaurant work for those homeless people who spend their days in that park?

A positive solution might go much further than just driving people from one location to another.

— Elizabeth Sheets, Seattle

Dude, where’s my representative?

Government representatives don’t seem to work for their constituents anymore.

I understand that less than 40 percent of Seattle residents support the recent City Council decision to boycott Arizona businesses. It just doesn’t seem right that the city of Seattle should interject itself in the politics of Arizona.

It would be fitting for Seattle to empathize with Arizona and the problems that illegal immigrants bring with them to that state. Instead of boycotting Arizona businesses, how about confronting the federal government and demanding that the government secure our borders?

Imagine Washington State having “human drug trains” entering our country from Canada. Imagine our residents having to provide the social services to thousands of illegal immigrants who pay little or nothing in taxes.

Arizona is trying to do something to confront crime: There are thousands of illegal immigrants who cross its border illegally each month. Yes, many if not most of these illegal immigrants are hard-working folks who provide valuable service to farmers and so on. But there is a legal way for them to continue to enter the United States and do this work.

If they choose to cross our borders illegally, we should have the right to demand they be arrested and dealt with. The City Council’s action was just wrong.

— Ray DeJong, Sequim

Four signs to rule them all, but which ones?

On May 15th, I received a letter from the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) informing me that as of April 3rd, I would be limited to four neon signs in my tavern’s windows. Furthermore, the signs could be no larger than 1,600 square inches.

The purpose of this rule was to ensure that innocent children would not be overexposed to garish advertisements that would induce them to consume products that could contain alcohol.

I have conformed to the new rule. However, I have a small dilemma: Which of the 13 neon signs that used to hang in my windows is least likely to cause children harm?

One sign says “Rainier” in red with a white mountain behind it. Is this safe? Another sign is shaped sort of like a guitar and says “Budweiser.” Would this cause children to pester their parents to buy the product or, even worse, aspire to become a rock star?

There was a sign that said “Steam” over an anchor design. This I knew to be dangerous to children because it surely would inspire them to get a bad hairdo and start reading the most alarming things to an unsuspecting public on evening television.

The worst of all was a sign that said “Schlitz” in big letters with the cryptic message: trade pure mark. That could encourage almost anyone to start speaking English badly.

The WSLCB did not include in its notification any guidelines on how to select a non-offending neon. I ask The Times and its readers for some help. How would one choose a neon advertisement that will not threaten the well being of our children?

— Gustav Hellthaler, Blue Moon Tavern owner, Seattle

Check before you fold

Editor, The Times:

This is a response to “McDermott says don’t ban Internet gambling, tax it” [NWThursday, May 20].

Has anyone checked what is going on at the casinos here and in Las Vegas? Would taxing truly generate the numbers listed in the story? How would we identify who pays?

I question not only the idea, but also the Internet listings. Are we going to be required to identify players, get their names and addresses, then tax them? Or would we get the records of the offshore website and decide who pays and how much? This is a proposal that looks more complicated and has little chance of passing.

So why is this appearing just today? I wonder if it is Rep. Jim McDermott’s way of getting his name in front of voters for the primary. I guess it is the benefit of being an incumbent, but what does this really mean for Seattle?

This bill is a poor way to show voters that McDermott is bringing back to his community what we need. It is time to question whether he truly represents our concerns. There is a “remove the incumbent” movement in the country. I think its time to make that change.

— David Krafchick

Hands up for policies supporting longevity, prosperity

In supporting a sales-tax increase, Metropolitan King County Council Councilmember Julia Patterson states that police, prosecutors and juvenile-probation officers are “the basic services for which government exists.” [“Sales-tax hike may miss August ballot,” NWTuesday, May 18].

When tax revenues are robust, politicians are fond of providing moneys for tax-supported programs —which might not be the reason for government — only to find that these programs develop a core constituency and are hard to get rid of when economies sour.

It is when economies are thriving that government officials should be most careful in how they spend revenues and in budgeting for programs that support government’s purpose and could be sustained long-term.

— Richard Grubb, Redmond

Spend less

We need to tell the Metropolitan King County Council that the proper response to insufficient funds is to spend less money —not rob your neighbors.

— David Rogers, Bellevue

Job picture brightens, but not with help of rose-colored glasses

To lead off “Job picture brightens; older workers struggle” [page one, May 19] with Larry Dinwiddie was both unfair and misleading for the ranks of people over age 55 who are still searching for gainful employment. Though I feel badly for Dinwiddie, what he did in leaving a good job in a deep recession because he “had a life” casts a misrepresentation on what has really happened to many.

Most people over age 55 who are currently out of work were let go after putting in many years with companies. Many of these companies have used the recession and tight economy to clear out the higher-paid, longer-tenured employees and replace them with younger, lower-salaried employees.

This could be the legacy of this recession —people who put in many years for a company being cast aside when the opportunity presented itself.

— Robert Oberlander, Issaquah

Corrode, then erode

The hypocrisy of our local government officials is unbelievable. Danny Westneat’s May 19 column “Who are we to judge Arizona?” [NWWednesday] quotes Mayor Mike McGinn saying the Seattle City Council’s boycott of Arizona speaks to our values.

How does it speak to our values based on the fact that the boycott bypasses the largest contract with Arizona for the red-light cameras? These cameras bring tons of money to local government, but we continue to hear about huge budget problems.

I may not agree with Arizona, but let the state deal with the fallout of its actions; let us worry about our own problems. Citizens’ support for local government would continue to erode based on what we see and hear, and it would have lasting effects for this area.

— Fran Whitehill, Shoreline

Turn off your red light

As a Seattle native, I am ashamed of the recent City Council action to boycott Arizona. Having served the city for more than 15 years, owned a business in Seattle and even ran for Seattle City Council, I am now retired in Tucson.

Sorry Seattle. I voted for a sunny instead of a rainy retirement.

I am embarrassed by the boycott vote. Did any of our seven council members read the law before they voted? I seriously doubt it. What it says, as an example, is if you are stopped for a traffic violation, you will be asked for your driver’s license and registration. If you do not have them, you might be held to check documentation.

You would not be questioned in any way because of the color of your skin. So what’s the difference? Your license is run through a system to check for any arrest warrants.

Is our esteemed City Council aware that a half of all illegal immigrants entering the United States do so through Arizona? Could it be any wonder that 70 percent of Arizonans support the new law? And exactly what business is it of Seattle or any other city to tell Arizona how to handle its laws, which are being violated?

Mexico President Felipe Calderón said that the illegal immigrants are not illegal despite 111,000 Mexicans entered legally last year and are now citizens of the United States. Los Angeles also did this and we reminded the city that a quarter of all their water-generated electricity is supplied through Arizona.

Perhaps a reverse boycott should be considered? I hope Seattle loses its red-light cameras and I am sure that would disappoint many Seattleites.

— Bob Days, Tuscon, Ariz.

Never again

Since the Seattle City Council has boycotted Arizona, I plan to boycott Seattle. I will never shop in Seattle again.

— Larry Blanchcroft, Shoreline

Staying on the Eastside

With Seattle being the latest city to pass a resolution boycotting Arizona, I thought I would chip in too. Wild Ginger, Pike Market and a couple of watering holes such as the Pyramid Alehouse around Safeco Field will not be getting any more patronage from my family. We are boycotting Seattle and will keep our money on the Eastside.

— John Hession, Redmond