OPINION
A4 HERMISTONHERALD.COM
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015
LETTERS
HermistonHerald
VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 29
-(66,&$.(//(5
EDITOR
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newsprint
Community support vital in senior center project
Editor,
The members of the
Hermiston Senior Center
Board and Site Selection
Committee wish to thank all
supporters of the new site
for the Hermiston Senior
Center soon to be located on
property near Fourth Street
and Aspen (east of Wal-
Mart). A huge thank you
goes especially to Mr. Larry
Fetter, of Hermiston Parks
and Recreation, for organiz-
ing and leading the selection
committee for three months
of work touring other cen-
ters, sorting various needs,
¿HOGLQJ VLWHV DQG ZRUN
ing around schedules. Mr.
Fetter’s work to obtain the
Community Block Develop-
ment Grant of $2 million for
this wonderful new building
for Hermiston seniors and
future generations made this
dream happen.
Before the city of Herm-
iston stepped up to partner
with the Hermiston Senior
Center, many thanks need
to go to former Coun-
ty Commissioner Dennis
Doherty. He and his long-
term planning commit-
tee stepped up to help the
Hermiston Senior Center
¿QG D QHZ KRPH LQ
when the Umatilla Coun-
ty Fairground property
was sold to the Hermiston
School District.
Even though there were
long discussions pro and
con, the City Council voted
6-2 in favor of the Aspen
site. Let’s come together
now as senior center and city
to support our new building.
The Frank Harkenrider Cen-
ter can be a future gathering
site for seniors and all gen-
erations of Hermiston.
Thank you for your sup-
port!
tax payers, believe that
they cannot afford any
more taxes. In this group
should be renters and
shoppers. C) However,
most people don’t think of
the tax pass through. They
think, “Let the homeowner
pay the tax.” They are un-
aware that the landowner
and the merchant will raise
rents and prices according-
ly. D) Also in this group
are knowledgeable peo-
ple who are willing to pay
the increases. E) Another
group of voters are those
who adamantly, respect-
fully disagree with some
of the apparent operational
principles of BMCC. They
do not agree with the pro-
levy group that a “No Vote”
has to mean a reduction in
the quality of education or
value to the community of
BMCC. F) Of course, there
is a very large group of well
meaning (many of them we
personally know and like)
people who believe in a
quality education for all at
any cost. They trust the ed-
ucators and board members
to know what is best for
the educational needs of
the community. This trust
includes how best these
needs are to be met. We
trust them. G) There are
additional points of view.
One of those points of
view is talked about by
D VLJQL¿FDQW QXPEHU RI
northeast Oregon citizens
but is not openly discussed
in the press or the media.
Another point of view is
somewhat openly talked
about, but not much, nor
is it encouraged by the es-
tablishment or the press.
Let’s start with the sec-
RQG RQH ¿UVW :KDW WKH
needs are and how best
these needs are met. “New
comfortable buildings are
one of the most import-
ant assets of attraction for
new students to BMCC.” I
actually heard this almost
word for word in one of
the BMCC levy presenta-
tions. Wow! How did we
ever get Einstein, how did
we ever get Harvard, MIT
and Stanford? My grand-
father taught at all three in
WKHHDUO\V+HQHYHU
mentioned the buildings.
It was the quality of edu-
cation that attracted their
national attention. So
why are we taking out a
loan for deferred main-
tenance? Why are we not
using existing abandoned
store fronts? Why are
we building a permanent
classroom that will deteri-
orate for classes that will
EHQH¿WDVSHFL¿FLQGXVWU\
when that industry could
provide trailers or modu-
lar classrooms with com-
pletely up-to-date training
equipment and replace
them as needed? Why is
WKLV PLOOLRQ HDUO\ HGX
cation, birth to kindergar-
ten teacher-training center
not added in to the new
Pendleton early education
behemoth?
The last point: Another
group of voters are those
who adamantly, respect-
fully disagree with some
of the apparent operational
principles of BMCC. Has
DQ\ RQH RYHU QRWLFHG
that a sign of our times
is the breakdown of the
family and its subsequent
consequences? Many of us
have noticed. We ancients
are old enough to feel our
guilt for this societal con-
dition. Believe me, hip-
py-ism and free love are
not good for society. Many
in our generation want the
consequences of our sins
corrected or healed. We
do not want BMCC in the
maternity ward at the birth
of our grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. We
do not want to pay teachers
substituting for the moth-
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DFKLOG¶VOLIH7KH$SULO
HGLWLRQ RI WKH (DVW
Oregonian had a front page
article that brings this all
together. It is entitled “Re-
lief nursery grapples with
funding shortfall, Children
overcome lives of uncer-
tainty, stress and poverty.”
The United Way contri-
EXWLRQV KDYH VLJQL¿FDQWO\
shrunk in recent years. We
“heartless” folks, as some
would call us, believe that
the Pioneer Relief Nursery
in Pendleton is a worthy,
good representative of an
agency for a needed solu-
tion to a real societal prob-
lem. It deserves to be sup-
ported by the community.
It is not government’s job
to solve that problem. It
is not government’s job to
continue to manage family
life and child rearing. It is
not government’s job to
raise children from birth
in a cookie cutter envi-
URQPHQW -XVW EHFDXVH ZH
let governments do these
things doesn’t mean that
we should not stand up and
say “STOP” going down
this path. We also need
to get our so-called col-
lective, responsible heads
out of the sand and come
up with healthy solutions.
Not pass the buck to gov-
ernment.
IRENE MILLER,
CHAIRWOMAN,
AND SENIOR CENTER BOARD
AND SITE SELECTION COMMIT-
TEE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
View panhandlers in
a different light
lished two ways of judge se-
lection. The federal system
provides for appointment
Editor,
for life with selection by
Hermiston and Umatilla the president and approval
citizens and city councils of the Senate. The found-
have been concerned with ing fathers who drafted the
the people populating their various state constitutions
street corners and parking provided for selection of
lots asking for handouts. judges by popular vote. By
Both have responded to these two means of selec-
address this situation. I tion, checks and balances
would like to comment on between the legislative, ex-
this situation by paraphras- ecutive and judicial branch-
ing David R. Hawkins’ re- es was maintained. The in-
sponse toward to this situ- dependence of the judiciary
ation in his book, “Power was preserved by keeping it
VS Force.” I call my para- IUHH IURP LQÀXHQFH RU GH
phrasing, “Stages of ways pendence on the other two
to look at these folk.”
branches of government.
7KH ¿UVW VWDJH PLJKW The federal and state con-
see these people as dirty, stitutions set the terms and
disgusting and disgraceful. TXDOL¿FDWLRQV RI MXGJHV
They are to blame for their These two systems of judi-
condition. They probably cial selection have served
are lazy or drug and alcohol our country well since its
addicts. They don’t want inception.
food, clothing or a chance
Appointment of judges
to work. They just want by the governmental legis-
money to spend on drugs lative body with that same
and alcohol.
body setting terms and
In the second stage they TXDOL¿FDWLRQVDWLWVZKLPLV
might be seen as threaten- an aberration in our democ-
ing; a menace; they might racy. It is not a mainstream
be violent. They could be method of judicial selection
seen as a danger to them- and occurs only with city
selves and others. They are governments. This type of
embarrassing to us and our appointment leaves judg-
community.
HV VXEMHFW WR WKH LQÀXHQFH
In the third stage these and pressure of the body or
folk could be seen as OK, administrator that selects
maybe even interesting. them. The independence
They could be seen as in- needed to make objective
triguing: He might have an decisions furthering the
interesting story to share interest of justice can be
with us. We may never un- compounded by the huge
derstand why he is there.
role the city manager plays
,Q WKH IRXUWK DQG ¿QDO in most municipal govern-
stage they begin to look not ments. Most often, the city
only interesting, but friend- council consists of part-
ly — and lovable. Maybe time, elected volunteers
they have just become free who rely very heavily on
of our expectations. We the city manager for advice
might see them as joyful, and direction.
with wisdom we have not
Changing the Hermiston
yet seen or a serenity that city charter to allow for the
comes from an indifference selection of the municipal
to our societal norms.
judge by the council runs
I am not saying the re- a risk of allowing political
sponse our communities ambitions and motivations
have taken is wrong, I am to interfere with the effec-
just asking that we are open tive and independent oper-
to viewing these folk in a ation of municipal court.
different light. And in that To date, the city of Herm-
light temper our response iston has not established
to include a humane option DQ\ TXDOL¿FDWLRQV IRU WKH
for the people who stand in municipal judge. The pro-
our parking lots and on our posed charter change does
street corners.
QRW FRQWDLQ DQ\ TXDOL¿
BOYD D. SHARP
cations for the municipal
UMATILLA
judge. That means that
the council can set and
change, at any time, both
Council
WKHTXDOL¿FDWLRQVDQGWHUP
of the municipal judge.
appointment
How the court operates,
of judge is
who serves as judge and
the length of time the
undemocratic
judge serves will be de-
Editor,
termined by the council,
In this great country, KHDYLO\ LQÀXHQFHG E\ WKH
our founding fathers estab- city manager, and subject
posal they will be able to
further expand the pro-
gram offerings available
to enhance the education
for our current local work
force and create new and
expanded career opportu-
nities in this fast growing
¿HOG -XVW OLNH PRVW ZRUN
force areas, technology is
rapidly expanding and we
need to provide opportu-
nities here locally to learn
these new technologies to
WILLIAM J. KUHN
help retain our kids and
KUHN LAW OFFICES
jobs locally. There is a rea-
HERMISTON
son Hermiston is the larg-
est community in the east-
ern Oregon, because of its
BMCC bond
progressive approach to
the future through expand-
passage will allow
ed opportunities in busi-
region to progress
ness and education. We
Editor,
have another opportunity
I write this letter to the to demonstrate our desire
public personally. I am a to progress and stay at the
tremendous advocate for forefront of economic de-
local community colleges velopment and education.
DQG WKHLU EHQH¿WV WKH\ Please join me in support-
provide our community. I ing BMCC’s bond initia-
grew up in Yakima, Wash- tive. Let’s provide addi-
ington, and was unable to tional, local, educational
afford moving away and opportunities for our kids
paying the higher fees of- and the kids of the future.
ten associated with state
Vote YES for the
institutions or private BMCC bond!
DR. DAVE DROTZMANN
schools. I attended two
HERMISTON
years at Yakima Valley
Community College and
received my associates’
degree. I was able to live People should elect
at home and work part municipal judge
time allowing me very
Editor,
little debt. I could then
One of the Hermiston
afford to further my edu-
commented
cation at a secondary edu- councilors
cation system allowing me city councilors should
to graduate with my bach- pick the municipal court
elor’s degree with very lit- judge because they were
better informed, or some-
tle debt.
My children have been thing of that ilk. It is tru-
able to take advantage of ly a slippery slope when
the Eastern Promise pro- an elected government
gram allowing them to RI¿FLDO LV GHOXGHG LQWR
take college level classes believing his/her constit-
while attending Hermis- uents are low-information
ton High School. Herm- voters.
I urge Hermiston voters
iston is fortunate to have
a fantastic community WR YRWH QR RQ DQG
college in its back yard, maintain the right to vote
in Blue Mountain Com- on our municipal court
PXQLW\ &ROOHJH judge.
FRED HULING
students from the Herm-
HERMISTON
iston area take advantage
RI FODVVHV RIIHUHG E\
BMCC at the Eastern Or-
egon Higher Education Buildings don’t mean
Center and Columbia Hall quality education
in Hermiston. In addition,
Editor,
like my children, anoth-
How a voter choos-
er 262 Hermiston High
School students earned HV WR YRWH RQ WKH ³
FROOHJH FUHGLWV DW BMCC Bond Levy” will
BMCC through the East- be made from the point of
ern Promise program. This view of the Voter. Those
has saved me and many views may include: A) No
local families thousands matter what the facts are,
some voters have decided
of dollars.
We all understand the to vote for the levy. They
value agriculture is to our do not want any more in-
economic engine locally. formation. B) Some vot-
With BMCC’s bond pro- ers, who are also property
to change at any time. If
this is what Hermiston cit-
izens see as best for them,
then they should vote for
the charter change on their
vote-by-mail ballot. If
Hermiston’s citizens want
to keep the democratic,
time-honored way of ju-
dicial selection, as estab-
lished by Oregon’s found-
ing fathers, vote no on the
municipal judge charter
change.
LARRY AND JEAN NYE
ATHENA