Letters to the Editor, Week of Oct. 16

Support for a Performing Arts Center

Thank you for your September 25 article and your October 2 opinion piece about the need for a performing arts center in Central Oregon. I would love to see this come to fruition. I am concerned, however, that all acreage that would support a large center is being gobbled up by commercial and residential development.

How about purchasing the Regal Theatre and converting it to a multiplex live performance center? Considering the cost of a movie and snacks, the population of movie goers must be dwindling. Streaming has taken over movie watching. The Regal Theater could be repurposed to support the performing arts. Yes, some walls would need to be taken down but restrooms are already plumbed, the snack bar is working and the ticket booth is ready for use. There is plenty of parking and there are a number of restaurants nearby for pre- or post- performance dining. Can we crack open this other door before all others close?

—Eileen Katz

Renewable Natural Gas doesn’t belong in our Homes

Human-caused climate change is driving wildfires like the Flat Fire, which endangered thousands of homes and lives. Policymakers at every level of government need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert more dangerous, unpredictable weather.

City Council is exploring policies to electrify our buildings — responsible for around 50% of Bend’s emissions. In particular, they are focused on new construction, where 95% of single family homes have gas hookups.

Gas industry representatives and city officials expressed interest in using renewable natural gas (RNG) as an alternative to zero emission appliances like induction cooktops and heat pumps.

RNG is mostly methane, similar to natural gas, but derived from organic waste. Proponents argue that RNG reduces methane emissions while delivering low carbon fuels to the economy.

As an engineer in the industry, I recognize that RNG creates good jobs using skills from the oil and gas industry, while potentially reducing emissions. However, RNG creates a dangerous incentive for methane-emission intensive processes. Additionally, there simply is not enough RNG to replace current natural gas demand. If all RNG were developed nationally, only 16% of current natural gas demand could be met. Cascade Natural Gas, Bend’s gas utility, has a total RNG production capacity to serve 5% of customers. 95% of their gas supply continues to come from fracking.

RNG is too scarce and costly to waste in buildings when heat pumps and induction cooktops already offer a proven, cleaner, and cheaper path to rapidly cut emissions while delivering long-term energy stability.

—Brennan Breen

Red Light Cameras Don’t Violate Privacy

As noted in your recent editorial, the City of Bend is going to spend about $780,000 per year on 10 red light cameras. That is money well spent if it saves just one life or spares an innocent person from a lifetime of debilitating injuries. My wife and I lived and worked in Australia last year. We drove quite a bit and visited each of the six states and Northern Territory. Early on, I was picked up by a traffic camera/radar speeding 6 mph (10 kph) over the limit on a downhill highway and was fined $541. That made me sit up and take notice! I knew a lad who did not notice the speed limit drop as he came into town from the open highway and was fined $4,000 for going 18 mph over the limit (30kph). He certainly is more observant of the speed limit signs now and I am sure his friends heard his story as well. Australia has cameras at many stop lights and radar/cameras on many highways. Fines are high. Consequently, you see little speeding and almost never see someone run a red light. Australians drive plenty, but their annual national death rate from crashes is about five per 100,000 people. In the USA it is about 13 per 100,000, with Oregon slightly higher at 14 annual deaths per 100,000.

Americans tend to be insular and look at our navels a lot. My year living in Australia showed me that we Americans should pop our heads up and see how other people are solving serious problems, like highway deaths. Technology is preventing deaths and injury in other places, why can’t we get on board?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and education. According to IIHS:

“Red light running happens frequently and is often deadly. In 2023, 1,086 people were killed in the U.S. in crashes that involved red light running. Red light safety cameras are an effective way to discourage red light running. Enforcement is the best way to get people to comply with any law, but it’s impossible for police to be at every intersection. Cameras can fill the void. An IIHS study found that cameras reduced the fatal red light running crash rate of large cities by 21% and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14%.

Cameras don’t violate privacy. Driving is a regulated activity and people who obtain licenses are agreeing to abide by certain rules. Red light safety cameras are a way to catch people who break those rules, just like traditional enforcement. Proper signal timing makes intersections safer. Adequate yellow time reduces red light running and leads to fewer crashes.”

I applaud the City of Bend for taking proactive measures to protect the health and safety of anyone using our roads, be they motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.

—Dave Morrow

Letter of the Week

Thank you to everyone who submitted letters this week. Dave, as letter of the week, you can stop by our office at NW Bond and Georgia for a gift card to Palate coffee. —Nic Moye, Managing Editor

This article appears in the Source October 16, 2025.