Kennewick City Council prayers, fireworks ban, Jan. 6 and Trump among Herald letters

Kennewick to discuss prayer

As an elected member of the Kennewick City Council, I want my constituents and all citizens of our city to know that the council will consider and discuss having prayer at our public meetings when we meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. Although public comment will not be allowed during the workshop, the public may attend and show their interest. We currently open our council meetings with the pledge of allegiance, and I want to include an opening prayer. I first made this proposal for prayer in the spring of 2014 during my first term on the council. The council at that time voted 1-6 to reject prayer. I am the only remaining member of that council and I still believe calling upon our God for help, wisdom and guidance is proper and wise. Now, more than ever. I urge Kennewick citizens to step up on July 12 and respectfully, by a quiet and peaceful presence, show our respect, dependence, and allegiance to our Creator and Protector — our Heavenly Father. We say we are “one nation under God.” Let’s show it. Thank you.

John Trumbo, Kennewick Council Member

Paine foresaw men like Trump

The simple lesson from the Jan. 6 Committee investigation of Donald Trump’s attempted coup is that we should not elect an unscrupulous, vindictive narcissist to be president of the United States. Beyond that, there are only the efforts we must make to restore some semblance of decency to our politics. Without Trump’s emphasis on threats and violence, we would most likely not have Trumpist politicians running ads asking supporters to literally hunt down and kill their opponents. While we have always had evil people living among us, we have never had an evil president until Donald Trump.

He has succeeded in metastasizing his cancerous cruelty and indecency to millions of us. What does that say about us? In Thomas Paine’s 1778 crucial pamphlet series, “American Crisis,” he wrote, “To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead.” Now 244 years later, to argue with Trump and his enablers makes Paine’s point all too clear. Our only option is to elect people with the capacity to reason, to distinguish fact from fiction and with a sense of decency.

Edward Rykiel, Richland

Fireworks vote baffling to her

I commented at the recent Kennewick City Council meeting about fireworks. There are many reasons they should not be allowed. Fire danger, personal injuries, spooking pets, triggering people with PTSD are among the reasons it is a bad idea.

I got the impression that the tax revenue from making them legal was a factor in the decision. The sale of fireworks can be taxed, but as of now, Richland and Pasco are receiving the benefit. In my opinion, that is a very poor reason to make them legal.

It was also discussed about fining people who violate the rule. It was said that it would lay a burden on families to fine them for actions of their children. The council members should look at how expensive fireworks are to buy. Anyone who can afford hundreds of dollars to buy them can afford a fine if they are caught setting off illegal fireworks. We have such a beautiful display put on by people who know how to do it safely. I do not understand this decision.

Debora Rossi, Kennewick

More moderates need to stand up

In his recent op-ed, ‘Democrats endanger democracy with their bungling,’ Mark Mansperger argued that both parties have increasingly embraced their radical fringes. How true. Moderate politicians are being bullied into supporting far-right and far-left initiatives. Few of them have retained the courage to stand up for moderation, let alone question disinformation. Voters are left to choose between highly polarized Republican and Democrat ideologies, or not vote at all.

Democracy is endangered because many of today’s political initiatives do not reflect the majority view. Well-funded, well-organized and sometimes militant fringe interests are prevailing. Unpopular changes such as making abortion illegal and defunding the police have led to civil strife. Such changes may eventually be reversed — if democracy is restored.

Independents (who represent 42% of the electorate), party moderates and young voters are complacent or feel disenfranchised. They need to step up to the challenge of restoring majority rule. This means organizing, funding,and voting for candidates (regardless of party affiliation) who will place the majority and the law ahead of personal and fringe interests. The party that first makes a full commitment to the will of the majority will win – as will the nation.

Russ Treat, Richland

Supreme Court imposing ideology

Recent Supreme Court rulings have expanded gun rights and sharply curtailed voting, abortion and Miranda rights, as well as the ability of the EPA to regulate planet-warming greenhouse gases.

They make claims to “originalism”, that rights not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution do not exist. In fact, their rulings have been based on ideological goals and then flimsily justified by novel legal notions, cherry-picking of history, and/or narrowly biased readings of clear text. Consistency and sound legal reasoning are not needed.

They decry “legislating from the bench”, then do exactly that. They condemn the lack of judicial restraint, then make rulings well beyond the bounds of what was required. They acknowledge the importance of judicial precedent (“stare decisis”), then proceed to trash it.

The planet is burning and they adopt a narrow interpretation of a law written by Congress to rule that the EPA cannot regulate greenhouse gases. This ruling overrides the intent of Congress and the scientific expertise at the EPA.

This is likely to continue. These unelected judges are imposing their ideology on the country, limiting the ability of the elected executive and legislative branches of government to effectively govern, and are themselves a clear and present danger.

Dennis Finn, Pasco

Keep fireworks ban in Kennewick

I also disagree with the Kennewick City Council’s decision to allow personal fireworks next year.

Last year (2021), it sounded like WW II here in Kennewick. This was when absolutely no fireworks were legal. Last year our neighbors were lighting off aerial fireworks right over the top of another neighbor’s house who has a shake-shingle roof and lots of large shrubs. Luckily they didn’t burn these poor people’s house down, but it is clear they ignored the ban and didn’t even have the common sense to not do something so obviously stupid! I am for not allowing any fireworks and warning illegal users ONCE and then imposing a large fine for those who choose to continue setting them off. Why should anyone be allowed to set off these fireworks and endanger their neighborhood? It is terribly irresponsible for the city council to allow fireworks when it was brought before the council because the fire chief asked for a larger fine for people who disobey the laws we already have against their use.

Don’t tell me that everyone should be allowed to celebrate by lighting off fireworks when it clearly causes hazards to other people’s lives. Shame on you!

Susan M. Bailey, Kennewick

Wind and solar charging stations

After investigating and researching windmills and solar arrays I believe I have found the ultimate purpose for these projects scattered around Eastern Washington and Oregon. They have been strategically placed to provide convenient charging stations for electric vehicles.

In the future, cables will be buried underground in all directions from the sites. The cables will lead to turnouts along freeways, highways and paved roads where an electric vehicle can recharge at a price equal to $5 per gallon of gas. This will allow these vehicles to visit remote sites. Some of these travelers will drive to ranches and farms to purchase their food from ranchers and farmers who can not afford to transport their food to cities where their customers live.

Mike Mehren, Hermiston