Letters to Editor for July 9, 2020

Nonpartisanship, fresh views important for charter review
I refer now to the “10 Camas-Washougal candidates vie for charter review commission” article published in the July 2, 2020 Post-Record:
This is an important commission, by design non-partisan, that is going to be implemented soon. Out of the 10 candidates presented to us, only three will emerge to represent all of us via an election in Clark County District No. 4, the largest in Clark County and the most diverse in demographics and geography. Historically, these people and those areas in District 4 are not represented well in Clark County. So, it will be very important who these three candidates are and must be the very best of us to represent all of us.
I will not be voting for any previous or present city or state or county legislator as a candidate. I feel they all have had ample opportunity to make a change in their previous or present positions. Rather, I feel this commission should be made up of people who will be new to this kind of position and thus will represent well their own backgrounds and connections within this district and will not be encumbered by partisan political positions, right or left, and will bring fresh views to this board. This eliminates four of the 10 candidates.
I would never vote for any legislator who participates in social media but also blocks some constituents in social media merely because, “they do not wish to hear other sides of issues.” Add to this any legislator who does not wish to protect others by masking up in our current pandemic and calls the governor’s actions “bull crap.”
I also would never vote for any candidate who chooses not to publish a photo of themselves nor to answer questions put to them by the press. This is simply unacceptable.
This leaves me with only four candidates: Jeff Angelo, Parker Davidson, John Lotta and Rainy Rau. I must pick three.
I intend on voting for Angelo because of his extensive community outreach and his history of protecting human rights. I know (Angelo) to be a well-rounded individual not afraid to offer his opinion.
I intend on voting for Latta for his civil engagement in our community and desire to serve us all … and his experience “facilitating solutions to complicated problems in diverse team settings.”
Lastly, I intend on voting for Rau. She has long been involved in her community. “The point of public service should not be to further personal belief or possible gains but to see the community as it is heading and to serve as best you can to that end,” Rau said. Few candidates could make this statement honestly.
I believe this County Charter Review Board to be very important, and I do not think it wise to let other regional or national issues to take away from this election.

Mike Briggs,
Washougal

Former legislator’s views on masks ‘very helpful’

Liz Pike is really a helpful voice to have in the public debate on the best path forward to fully reopen our economy.  Public health officials be damned. What do they know anyway?

Liz is right: mandating masks is an infringement on her rights. As long as we’re rejecting the advice of public health experts, let’s reject the need for seat belts in cars and helmets on the high school football field. What is the state telling us freedom loving citizens how we need to live? Clearly sound public policy does not require any help from public health experts.

Liz can handle these questions all on her own. Thanks Liz. Keep it up. Really helpful.

Richard C. Locke,
Washougal

Councilwoman incorrect on mask assumptions

In the July 2, 2020 edition of the Post-Record, Camas City Councilwoman Shannon Roberts is quoted as saying “Cloth masks don’t allow the carbon dioxide to escape the mask before you take another breath.” 

That statement is incorrect. Carbon dioxide goes through a cloth mask just as easily as oxygen does. 

An oxygen molecule has two atoms and a carbon dioxide molecule has three atoms. Both molecules are linear and both have oxygen atoms at each end; carbon dioxide has a carbon atom in the middle. The carbon atom is a tiny bit larger (77 picometers) than an oxygen atom (66 picometers). 

Therefore, they are very similar molecules, both are exceedingly tiny, and have a very similar ability to go through cloth masks. 

According to scientists at the University of Texas, the coronavirus has roughly 200 million atoms. A well-functioning mask will let the much smaller oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules through the gaps between its cloth fibers and capture the much larger coronavirus. 

Bruce Stanton (retired chemistry teacher),

Washougal

Longtime Camas resident wonders why city council ignores pleas to ban fireworks

I appeared before the Camas City Council to speak about the damage of flying rockets, along with other Camas citizens protesting the noisy and dangerous fireworks.  The Council ignored our pleas to end the types of damaging fireworks.  

One year, the rockets caught my Alberta Spruce tree on fire. For each year, I have to remove the flying rocket pieces and stems from my roof. I had burned spots on my roof.  I have a new roof and, each year, need to be ready with the hose to prevent fires.  

A forest is nearby, and the rockets can possibly catch it on fire.  One flying rocket landed on the hood of my neighbor’s pickup truck, doing damage. 

Why does Camas allow flying rockets to go into other people’s property? What celebration is that for the Fourth of July for a couple of days? It happens, and the Council is obviously bent upon the notions of the people who make money off of selling fireworks.  

The Council did not hear the cries of the citizens who protested the flying fireworks, only the persons selling the fireworks.

Dean Osterman,

Camas