The Fix our Forest Act is flawed
It is great to see considerable local support to save The Roadless Rule, and I am one of those Roadless Rule supporters. I am writing this letter because there also needs to be opposition to the Fix Our Forest Act (H.R.471 /S.1462). Janelle Bynum voted in support of FOFA which has passed the House and moved on to the Senate. This bill might as well be called “Log and Clearcut our Forests.”
FOFA has no protection on what trees could be logged and that places large trees and old growth trees at risk. It would allow large 15 sq. mile logging projects and FOFA proposes to reduce public and scientific input. We rely on large trees and old growth trees to capture carbon and provide us with clean air, if these trees are cut, it would take hundreds of years for the forests to be restored. The impact of this bill would change the landscape of our public lands.
If you care about our forests, wildlife and recreational land please take a minute and thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for voicing strong opposition to the FOFA. More importantly reach out to representative Bynum and remind her of her duty as a land steward and ask her to vote NO if FOFA comes back to the House for a vote.
—Joe Craig
Immigration detention is cruel and unusual punishment
As a nation, we have long believed in proportionality in the administration of justice, The 8th amendment to the Constitution states: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Clearly, the Dept. Of Homeland Security and the agencies it controls, ICE and CBP, are in broad violation of this provision as it applies to the treatment of thousands of detained immigrants. People who, by the way, under our system are entitled to the protections of that same founding document. And who, moreover, do not represent a threat to the security of the United States.
Stories of deplorable, unsafe, unhealthy substandard conditions in detention centers are credible and widespread. Such conditions are themselves cruel and unusual. The fact that these conditions are being inflicted on people whose only crime was to flee for their lives, many of whom were aggressively or violently, sometimes mistakenly, detained, should seal the case for cruel and unusual punishment.
Given our failure to bring order, common sense and fairness to immigration policy, why are these detainees being so harshly treated, on their way out the door no less.
Taken together, these facts should make it abundantly clear why so many of us believe:
–The entire detention and deportation program is irredeemably racist and unjust;
–There can be no further funding for ICE and CBP until there is dramatic reform of policies, procedures, practices and training.
–We also need real and truly comprehensive immigration reform
— Jeffrey Richardson
Hooray for Bend Parks and Rec
The Canada goose problem in Bend’s parks creates a messy situation to any user. Goose poop hinders users from picnicking, laying on the grass, enjoying family outings etc. Unfortunately, the majority of the geese in Bend don’t migrate and defecate constantly in the grass. Limited methods are available to municipalities that oversee the parks. The common ones are: 1. Capturing and relocating geese to other flocks that do migrate in the hopes instinct will motivate them to also migrate. 2. Increase riparian buffers between the river and grass so geese don’t have easy access to grass directly from the water. 3. Use of trained dogs to chase geese from the parks. 4. Use of egg oiling. Egg oiling is actually approved by the Humane Society and provides the best and cost-effective way to reduce non-migratory geese populations. Egg oiling robs the embryo of oxygen while keeping the eggshell intact. This process is still labor intensive and requires one to find the nests during a small window of egg development. I hope Parks and Rec continues their goose reduction project. They should be commended for their efforts in trying to clean up the city’s parks.
—Steve Miller
Street safety
As the school year winds down with warm days ahead, more kids will be on the roads on bikes. To make this a safe season of riding, please remember:
-Kids under 16 are not legal to ride e-bikes. These are like electric motorcycles and these youngsters have never taken driver education.
-Helmets are required for kids 16 and under.
-Right hand turns are dangerous for bicyclists — though it is legal for motorists to turn right at a stop light in Oregon after coming to a full stop, it is always illegal in Oregon to enter a bike lane to do so.
-Roundabouts make intersections much safer for autos but create a layer of confusion for bicyclists. Drivers be aware and when in doubt of safety, cyclists should use sidewalks and crosswalks.
Another law to reduce collisions — it is always illegal to make a U-turn in Oregon UNLESS a sign allows it. Bikes are an awesome freedom. Enjoy them and be safe!
—Jim Reichle
Letter of the Week:
Good reminders! Jim, as letter of the week, you can stop by the Source office to pick up a gift card to Palate coffee. —Managing Editor Nic Moye
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