Letters to the editor for July 5
More trains, not more planes or lanes
It just won’t stay dead, that “new airport” zombie. In his recent op-ed, “No one wants a new airport in their town,” past Port of Seattle Commissioner Bill Bryant wrote “only a new airport could provide the new capacity we need.” False assumptions lead to faulty conclusions.
We do need new capacity, but not more planes or lanes, to move freight and people. The $400,000 Independent Review of High-Speed Ground Transport for the Joint Transportation Committee concluded that “incremental” expanded rail can serve our new passenger and freight capacity needs. Better, for $15 billion, it will cost 1/10th the ultra-high-speed version that requires 80 miles of tunnels. Where will they dump 80 miles of dirt?
Affordable rail options are barely mentioned in the WSDOT plan to fix the I-5 Nisqually bridge bottleneck. Let’s eliminate this zombie nightmare that more planes and lanes are the future of Washington state transport. Tell WSDOT to build a new 110 mph rail line over the Nisqually River to replace a 133-year-old railbed and restrictive Point Defiance Bypass curves to accommodate the full speed of new trainsets we get in three years.
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Climate Rail Alliance, and Solutionary Rail oppose new airports in Washington. We must focus our precious time and money on a transport mode shift to trains by 2030.
Breck Lebegue, Steilacoom
Congress should support human rights for Palestinians
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland’s response to my request that she co-sponsor HR 3103 describes that the bill “would block U.S. funds from being used by the government of Israel to support the mistreatment of Palestinian children in military detention, seizure or destruction of Palestinian property, and efforts to advance Israel’s annexation of the West Bank.”
This certainly sounds like a bill to support. It has the goal of making sure we’re not funding human rights abuses and war crimes. Unfortunately, our representative’s commitment to support the bill ends with the description of its purpose.
This year alone describes why the bill is necessary. In February, settlers backed by the Israeli army and the Israeli government committed what even Israelis called a “pogrom” against a town of hundreds of Palestinians. In May the Palestinians in Ein Samia were forced to move from their homes, in violation of international law, by the Israeli government. Israel is currently expanding settlements and annexing Palestinian land. While we celebrated Father’s Day, Israelis settlers “rampaged” (according to the conservative Times of Israel) through Palestinian towns, and Israeli soldiers shot and killed more Palestinian children.
Rep. Strickland says that she’s “concerned about the tragic and ongoing loss of civilian life that has resulted from this conflict. Minimizing civilian casualties, especially those of the children of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, must be an immediate priority.” I hope she uses more than words, and takes the sensible step to co-sponsor HR 3103.
Bill Dole, Olympia
Ferguson-Brown is only candidate with judicial experience
Mason County Superior Court Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown is being challenged by David Stevens. You should consider each candidates’ work history by reviewing their resumes and applications submitted to the Governor’s Office.
Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown is the only candidate with judicial experience – first as Mason County Superior Court Commissioner and currently as Judge. Her strength in civil and family law (which represents 75 to 80 percent of Mason County Court filings) is an asset to this busy court. She is also experienced in presiding over criminal trials, sentencings, drug and mental health courts.
She takes her responsibility to hold convicted felons accountable for their crimes seriously. Judge Ferguson- Brown is experienced in the handling of the domestic violence protection petitions, as well as cases involving the protection of children (dependency cases).
One of the factors to be considered is stability in employment. Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown began her legal practice in New York from 2007 to 2013. She moved with her family to Western Washington as her husband’s Navy career took them to Whidbey Island and Bremerton. She opened her law office 2013 and practiced law in Mason, Kitsap and Island counties, earning her the respect which led to her appointment as Mason County Court Commissioner in 2021 and as Mason County Superior Court Judge in 2022.
Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown has the experience, integrity and demeanor to continue as our Superior Court Judge. Please join me in her campaign.
Victoria Meadows, retired judge, Shelton
