Letters and Comments for May 15, 2009

Letters and Comments for May 15, 2009

Workers take the economic hit

To the Editor:

I’m responding to your editorial piece of April 30 in which you criticize the labor union’s vote. Wow, do you not get it!

You or your editorial board are certainly entitled to your opinion, as with all citizens of this country. But I would think that an opinion from a newspaper would be based on a fraction of relevant data and not just pure hatred of labor unions.

For you and the rest of the county let’s put this in a little perspective. The average worker at the particleboard plant in 2008 lost a third of their work hours and related income. Yes, that is one third. Some have lost less and some have lost even more to the point of losing their jobs completely.

This vote that you criticize so openly, in reality meant nothing. If the union would have accepted these amendments it would not have changed a thing. My belief is that the sawmills in La Grande and Kettle Falls would still be in “extended curtailment” status. Yes, the company is fighting to stay alive in this economy and has suffered losses, and its salaried employees have suffered losses and made sacrifices but they are still receiving significant paychecks. The hourly workers, on the other hand, are losing hours of work and related pay.

Companies make profit, break even or lose money. The CEOs, presidents, vice presidents and all the managers down to the local level receive relatively decent incomes, but it is always expected that the people at the bottom should give in the interest of and for the good of the business.

Please do not judge the employees at Boise Cascade by this one vote or merely because they are members of a labor union. There is much more going on than most people know.

Mike Moran

La Grande

No to health district

To the Editor:

Vote no on South County Health District.

I urge voters of South Union County to take the effort to evaluate the costs and benefits of forming a special district in order to subsidize health care costs. A major function of this district will be to provide a revenue stream (assessed tax) for the subsidy. A feasibility study has been done and it indicates no relief from the need for tax support in the foreseeable future.

Considering the current talk in Congress regarding national health care, I do not feel burdening the people with new taxes for health care is a prudent action. Subsidizing health care at this location while health care is available within a reasonable distance at established providers drives up national health care costs for which we are also taxed.

It is my opinion this health district proposal has as much to do with subsidizing growth as it does with any attempt at trying to provide health care to the people. Trying to keep the cost of health care in check is far too important to dilute the effort by coupling it with an economic development agenda.

For more information on costs you may contact the Oregon Office of Rural Health through OHSU and I strongly urge you to review the feasibility study.

Charles LeBold

Union

Hartmann for school board

To the Editor:

The school board elections are upon us. I applaud Jamie Baker and Rebecca Hartman for throwing their hats into the ring. This year provides an opportune moment to put a woman and mother back on the school board. I write to support Rebecca Hartman’s candidacy.

Dr. Hartman is a history professor at EOU. She was recently rewarded with tenure and promotion, and upon reaching this milestone chose to step up her community involvement.

Rebecca has lived in La Grande for five years, and her daughter attends La Grande schools. Dr. Hartman would be a thoughtful and articulate board member. She brings to the job the perspective of an educator, an historian, a woman and a mother.

As an EOU faculty member, she would strengthen the link between K-12 and higher education. This is critical at a time when there is acknowledgment that the university must play a key role in regional economic development by finding ways to add value to our workforce.

Dr. Hartman has chosen to run a minimal campaign. She lacks a war chest.

She expresses no ambition for higher office, nor has she solicited letters of support. Rebecca just feels an obligation as a community member, as a scholar and as a mother, to contribute and ensure that La Grande has a viable and responsive public school system.

It is time, once again, for women to have a voice on the school board.

We have a chance to elect someone with all the skills needed for effective and thoughtful service.

Please support a diverse school board by voting for Dr. Rebecca Hartman.

Shelley Cimon

La Grande

Sprenger for school board

To the Editor:

As positions for the La Grande Board open up I would like to express my support for John Sprenger.

I have known John for 32 years and he is a great man. I had him as a teacher, student taught for him at La Grande High School and later became his colleague and worked with him in the business department until he retired. I can honestly say, I have never heard a student say a bad word about John. You just say “John Sprenger” and even to this day, students say nothing but great things about him. That is because he always puts students first and he understands the education system.

He would be a good board member because he was a teacher for 33 years, and 24 of those were in La Grande School District. That knowledge gives him the foundation and background of what actually happens in a classroom. He has respect for the teaching profession, is familiar with the community, has knowledge of business procedures and truly has the students’ best interest at heart. He is willing to speak up, but he is also willing to listen and work cooperatively and collaboratively.

I encourage you to consider John Sprenger when you cast your vote.

Teresa Dowdy

La Grande

Berglund for school board

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Mike Berglund, candidate for La Grande School Board, Position 5, Zone 3.

Mike’s personal integrity and his knowledge are exactly what we need on our school board. Mike has experience working in a large organization where he had to struggle with the challenges of setting and managing ever-tightening budgets while still ensuring that all the work could get done in the best possible way.

Those budget decisions involved the same difficult choices that face our school board. Mike understands that the most important resources in our school system are the teachers and staff that keep our kids moving forward. He also understands that we cannot ignore the costs of the facilities that are needed to enable our teachers to do their work more effectively.

Mike knows that schools are an important part of our neighborhoods where we live and that facilities must be safe and accessible for students and for their family members.

Finally, Mike understands that important decisions, such as those that face the school board, require a structured and orderly approach so that all of us with a stake in this community can understand how our school support is being spent.

Mike Berglund is committed to his investment in this community and I strongly support his candidacy for the La Grande School Board.

Rod Sands

La Grande