02/12/12 Letters to the Editor

Good job by police

To the editor -- Feb. 2 we had a horrible accident in front of our house. I was immediately on the phone with 911 and my husband went out to see what he could do since the truck was on its side and blocking both ways of traffic.

Even before I was off the phone with 911, the first police officer had arrived. Within seconds of his arrival, the rest of the police, ambulance and firefighters arrived. Amazing! One victim was cuffed quietly and treated, yet the second one went totally crazy and three officers struggled to subdue him. They were kicked in the face and many other parts of their bodies. Not only did they not use a Taser on him, (he was warned several times that he would be if he didn't calm down) they did their best to protect him from injuring himself! I would have not had their patience with this overly drunk and belligerent fool.

Thanks to their professionalism, all was taken care of quickly and safely. Since our police have been under the microscope for so many things, I just wanted to say, "Great job and thank you for a job very well done!"

KRISTINE GORDON

Yakima

E-Verify works

To the editor -- I'm disappointed in the movement to stop all current and future use of E-Verify. Why not use it, since it appears that most, if not all, of the problems have been worked out and it is free? The only reason I can see to oppose its use it is that employers knowingly are hiring illegal workers. A friend had a standing joke with his regular migrant workers: "Which Social Security number are you using this time?" He told me one woman had five. Unfortunately, he isn't the only one.

I sincerely wish E-Verify had been available when a man in Seattle was using my Social Security number. I would have been saved a lot of time, money and frustration. It's not easy convincing the IRS that you are not working in two different cities, using two different names, two different genders at the same time.

I was recently divorced, working full time, attending college, and had a chronically ill child. I didn't have the time, money or energy to spare.

E-Verify doesn't target anyone. It is impartial, checking everyone, regardless of race. E-Verify would have shown that the name didn't go with my Social and I would have been saved a lot.

GERALDEAN RODRIGUEZ

Buena

Money doesn't help schools

To the editor -- Now is the season for school levies, so it is a good time to talk about public education. First, there is no justification for government intervention in public education. So, let's see what that has accomplished.

Title I initially pumped $1 billion in the public sector in the 1970s, equivalent to $7 billion in today's dollars. In 2010 Leave No Child Behind infused $19 billion. The only viable justification for the money was to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

A study by the Department of Education concluded that since 1986 the gap has grown. This was concluded from analyzing the National Assessment of Educational Progress scores.

The actual results: Education has become more expensive for reduced results. Leaving K-12 behind, a bachelor of arts degree is now required for most good jobs and there is no actual standard for what courses were taken. Advanced basket weaving is just as good as chemistry.

Maybe the school boards should be spending their time on curriculum and teaching skills and less on money, since all the money in the world seems to buy neither.

MARK DELAGASSE

Selah

Support Naches schools

To the editor -- I urge everyone in the Naches Valley School District to vote yes in the upcoming levy/bond election. As a father of a daughter who has attended both schools to be replaced, and having an upcoming kindergartner, I have seen firsthand the poor condition of the buildings, from lack of air conditioning to leaky roofs and everything in between. Our legislators would never dream of working in an unconditioned office, yet our kids and teachers have to deal with the sometimes unbearable heat in late August and September.

If the state has failed to adequately fund our schools, it leaves it up to us as citizens to provide for our children's learning environment.

As a builder, I know from experience that it is more cost-effective to build new than to remodel, and we are at a perfect time to do so with a competitive market and with the current bonds expiring. When it comes to taxes, I am typically a no vote but continuing this tax is a great investment in our community. So please vote yes and return your ballots by Tuesday.

KELLY COONS

Naches

Problems with levy request

To the editor -- West Valley School District has asked the taxpayers to fill the funding gap created by state cuts, a bold request considering the trend of making due with less. If passed, the motivation to cut costs, restore funding sources or reform the existing funding stream is lost.

I didn't raise a family, but I acknowledge that good schools and community are closely associated with money. However, I cannot support this levy increase or the tax formula. Good schools make for good communities, as does parenting, values, work ethics and a living wage. We have our schools, but they are not my kids. Show me new ways to conserve costs, calculate taxes and generate revenue.

Property values in West Valley vary widely, resulting in a polarized tax burden and subsequent attitude toward this levy. Design a levy formula where the subject funding is absorbed more proportionately across the district taxpayers. Also, tuition fees could be considered. Other public systems have successfully shifted costs onto the users.

I hope the educators have written a business plan or playbook should this levy fail. I asked a school official twice what programs or assets are in jeopardy but didn't receive a response.

COLE KOEPPEN

Yakima