Letters to the editor for June 23
Bulldozing the priceless
If you’ve ever dropped by the Capital Little League fields in Tumwater to watch one of eight games in progress, you saw throngs of kids, parents, grandparents, babies in strollers and, yes, an American Flag waving in the breeze. In short a melting pot of people from all social strata communing together.
That valuable pleasure is coming to an end as the Port of Olympia, never one to be a community partner, prepares to bulldoze the priceless for big dollars. The landlord from hell: a rent increase to $80,000 next year from $11,000 now. It would double to $160,000 a year later. Hard to believe but parents, coaches, kids don’t have that kind of money.
The port claims the FAA is making them do it. Besides, the port says, it’s only fair to pay market rates. So short-sighted. So blind.
Hal Spencer, Olympia
Protect our forests and shorelines
If you’ve traveled around the Pacific Northwest, you know our forests are being decimated by logging, particularly clear-cutting. Not only does this make life hard for the wildlife that live there, but it promotes wildfire and goes against the efforts being made locally to slow climate change.
Locally, four of Thurston County’s jurisdictions (the county, Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey) collectively and independently adopted the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan that outlines strategies and actions to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, there’s been a focus on the emissions of buildings and transportation, but sequestration capabilities of trees and habitat have not been used like they should be. The protection of forests and shorelines should be a high priority for officials at all levels of government.
As citizens, what can you do to make sure that forests and shorelines are protected and climate change taken seriously?
At the local level, demand that our officials pass strong policies to protect our trees, forests, and shorelines, and tell them that you want them to be a priority for their 10-year Comprehensive Plan mandated by the state. Send an email or comment at a public meeting.
At the state level, let Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and DNR board members (bnr@dnr.wa.gov) know that you want our “Legacy Forests” left off the auction list permanently before their next tree auction in July.
Melinda Hughes, Olympia
Another view of Outward Mindset
I am a proud Washington State Department of Health (DOH) employee. While there, the Outward Mindset was rolled out. As a veteran of state government, I was skeptical. I quickly learned that I had much self-reflection to do.
In my role as a manager, a good part of my job was spent using my words to convey ideas, collaborate and inspire others to bring their best selves to work. I always thought this was one of my stronger suits. However, when I started using the concepts, I realized that even my best intentions could negatively impact others.
I learned some other things, too. Everyone comes to the table with various lived experiences that provide them with the lens through which they viewed the training. The Outward Mindset is a microcosm of issues we face as a nation. Regardless, interpersonal problems and how they are approached in the workplace are critical in cultivating success through accountability and transparency.
Is Outward Mindset a panacea? No. I had some very uncomfortable conversations. However, I could navigate through conversations with more empathy and understanding when using the training.
Some trainings claim they can accomplish the same thing with better results. My experience is that I successfully used these techniques five years after DOH. In the process, I’ve learned the most crucial concept professionally and personally: The road to empathy starts with my willingness to take it. There have been a few potholes along the way; going outward has made the road smoother.
Shawn Murinko, Tumwater
