Opinion
A4
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
OUR VIEW
Improved
public safety
building is
crucial
nion County Sheriff Cody Bowen made
the right decision to put ambitious plans
for a new public safety building on hold,
but the issue is one local elected leaders must
solve sooner rather than later.
Bowen is spearheading a move to construct a
new public safety building in an eff ort to solve
overcrowding issues. Last year the Union County
Board of Commissioners OK’d a plan to hire
a design fi rm to develop a blueprint for a new
public safety building.
Bowen’s plan includes a public safety center
that will encompass the sheriff ’s offi ce, the La
Grande Police Department, the Union County
Jail and Union County Parole and Probation. The
center could also be equipped to handle mental
health issues.
Bowen’s plan is, of course, ambitious, but it is
the right concept. However, Bowen said recently
he doesn’t believe now is the right time as infl a-
tion continues to build and the cost of materials
climbs.
Bowen’s decision to hold off means the sheriff
is conscious of the wise use of taxpayer dollars.
That, in and of itself, should be a good sign to
area voters. The reality is the county needs a new
public safety building, and investing in public
safety, while often expensive, is one of the best
moves a county can make at any time.
Bowen said he wants a building that can be
expected to last for at least 50 years and we agree.
We also agree that while Bowen’s decision is
wise, some type of new facility is needed. Putting
off needed infrastructure investment — espe-
cially for public safety — is never a good idea.
Public safety is one of those cornerstones of a
thriving community. The ability to serve and pro-
tect the community is crucial, and our police and
fi re personnel should be able to count on the best
equipment and facilities voters can provide.
Bowen is correct in his plan to reevaluate but,
in the end, a new public safety building is needed
as soon as possible.
U
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the
opinion of The Observer editorial
board. Other columns, letters and
cartoons on this page express the
opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of The Observer.
LETTERS
• The Observer welcomes letters
to the editor. We edit letters for
brevity, grammar, taste and legal
reasons. We will not publish con-
sumer complaints against busi-
nesses, personal attacks against
private individuals or comments
that can incite violence. We also
discourage thank-you letters.
• Letters should be no longer than
350 words and must be signed and
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number (for verifi -
cation only). We will not publish
anonymous letters.
• Letter writers are limited to one
letter every two weeks.
• Longer community comment
columns, such as Other Views,
must be no more than 700 words.
Writers must provide a recent
headshot and a one-sentence
biography. Like letters to the
editor, columns must refrain from
complaints against businesses or
personal attacks against private
individuals. Submissions must
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number.
• Submission does not guarantee
publication, which is at the discre-
tion of the editor.
SEND LETTERS TO:
letters@lagrandeobserver.com
or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson
Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
YOUR VIEWS
Wyden protects forest
health through advocacy
and legislation
I am grateful for Sen. Ron
Wyden’s for longtime support of
forest health and wildfi re suppres-
sion issues. We have a long list of
ways he’s supported Oregon for-
estry businesses.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill
will allow businesses like Gray-
back Forestry to hire more fi re-
fi ghters at better wages.
Wyden’s consistent advocacy
and support over the last few years
have ensured bipartisan funding for
wildfi re prevention and sustainable
funding for the 10-year stewardship
project on the Malheur National
Forest, which has brought jobs back
to rural counties in Eastern Oregon
Oregon is fortunate to have Sen.
Wyden in our corner protecting the
health of our forests through mean-
ingful advocacy and legislation.
Mike Wheelock
John Day
Let’s get our priorities
straight
Ukrainians are being killed;
their homes, farms, businesses are
being obliterated by Putin. In the
U.S., even if we were not appalled
by this moral outrage, we would be
disgruntled that this war aff ects our
cost of living. We want to blame
someone for making us pay more
for gasoline to get to work or to
vacation.
The one to blame for this situa-
tion is the president of Russia, not
the president of the United States.
Putin sent his military forces to
invade Ukraine for no other reason
than to gain power over more
territory.
There is every reason to believe
that taking over Ukraine would not
satisfy his greed for power, and
if he is successful, he will con-
tinue overtaking other countries.
The whole world is in danger of
economic destruction and worse
because of this man.
President Biden is bringing
together the countries of the free
world in opposition to Russia’s
threat. It makes sense that the cit-
izens of the United States would
support freedom and democracy
on the planet. It does not make
sense for people of good will to
ignore the overwhelming destruc-
tion and loss of life when Russia
is threatening the entire world. It
does not make sense to condemn
the U.S. leader who is championing
freedom. Nor does it make sense
to approve of Putin and those who
support him.
In the face of domination by
greedy oligarchs and the possibility
of losing our Constitution and our
freedom, it seems so petty to be
obsessed with concerns like being
asked to wear masks in order to
help stop the pandemic, or require
others to live their lives a certain
way, or move a state boundary, or
accept a majority vote, or pay taxes
that allow us to have the conve-
niences our society demands.
If humankind survives the
present threat of authoritarian con-
trol and nuclear disaster, we will
be able to work on solving other
threatening issues, like having air
to breathe, clean water to drink and
sustaining life on Earth.
Let’s get our priorities straight
and stop whining about lesser
things.
Evelyn Swart
Joseph
Maintaining separate VA
health care system is costly
and redundant
The article “VA plan calls for
big changes” (The Observer, April
23, 2022) states: “The VA in mid-
March released a report from the
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
STAFF
SUBSCRIBEAND SAVE
NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50
You can save up to 55% off the single-copy
price with home delivery.
Call 800-781-3214 to subscribe.
Subscription rates:
Monthly Autopay ...............................$10.75
13 weeks.................................................$37.00
26 weeks.................................................$71.00
52 weeks ..............................................$135.00
Asset and Infrastructure Review
Commission to modernize and
realign the VA health care system.
The AIR Commission listed among
its recommendations that the Walla
Walla VA reduce services to pri-
mary care and mental health,
which could result in the facility
being reclassifi ed as a communi-
ty-based outpatient clinic, known
better as a CBOC, rather than a
full medical center.”
The article says Sen. Ron
Wyden “plans to personally visit
the Department of Veterans Aff airs
regarding recommendations to
reduce services to the Jonathan M.
Wainwright Memorial VA Medical
Center in Walla Walla.”
I am a veteran, and I am also
a member of the Veterans Advi-
sory Council in Union County. And
although I appreciate Sen. Wyden’s
desire to protect the veterans health
care system, there are two rea-
sons why I am opposed to the vet-
erans health care system being
separate from the civilian health
care system: (1) The VA doesn’t
have any medical services that
the civilian medical world doesn’t
have. (2) The current VA health
care system doesn’t include all vet-
erans because a veteran’s income
has to fall below a certain level for
him or her to qualify, even though
we all served.
Therefore, the VA moderniza-
tion should be to give all veterans
an identification card (similar to
an insurance card); give the vet-
erans a list of what the VA will
pay for; and allow veterans to go
to any health care facility, just like
civilians do for any other insur-
ance coverage.
To maintain a separate VA
health care entity from the civilian
health care system costs the tax-
payers too much money, and is
redundantly redundant.
Lucy Gilchrist Lauman
Summerville
Anindependent newspaper foundedin1896
www.lagrandeobserver.com
Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
(except postal holidays) by EO Media Group,
911 Jefferson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
(USPS 299-260)
The Observer retains ownership and copyright
protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising
copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may
not be reproduced without explicit prior approval.
COPYRIGHT © 2022
Phone:
541-963-3161
Regional publisher ....................... Karrine Brogoitti
Home delivery adviser.......... Amanda Turkington
Interim editor ....................................Andrew Cutler
Advertising representative ..................... Kelli Craft
Assistant editor .................................... Ronald Bond
Advertising representative .................... Amy Horn
News clerk ........................................Lisa Lester Kelly
National accounts coordinator ...... Devi Mathson
Reporter....................................................Dick Mason
Graphic design .................................. Dorothy Kautz
Reporter............................................Davis Carbaugh
Toll free (Oregon):
1-800-781-3214
Email:
news@lagrandeobserver.com
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Observer,
911 Jefferson Ave.,
La Grande, OR 97850
A division of