The Editor:
May marks the 40th celebration of Public Service Recognition Week, which was created to honor the millions of dedicated public servants at the local, state and federal levels, whose work benefits the lives of all Americans.
As we recognize public servants this year, federal employees are under attack. The recent changes to the federal workforce makes this year even more critical to honor the invaluable contributions of our nation’s public servants.
Federal employees provide the incredibly difficult task of delivering services to the public day in, and day out, that touches every aspect of our lives: They protect the air we breath and the water we drink; provide care for our veterans; ensure the fair enforcement of our laws; analyze the research data or findings that we rely on to keep our transportation system safe, our food supply disease-free, and our economy prosperous.
Every day, when you enjoy electricity and clean water, hear about your children’s day at school, utilize emergency services during a crisis, communicate with loved ones far away, or even go about your day free of danger, you have a public servant to thank. There is not a corner of the U.S. that does not rely on public servants for our society to function.
We as Americans, who enjoy our lives and freedoms because of these patriots, should thank them more often – or at least once a year. I hope you will join me in expressing your appreciation to those who serve for what they do for our communities and our country.
D. Brady Green
Blaine
The Editor:
I just wanted to give you my heart-felt thanks for the articles you’ve published in The Northern Light this spring about my teaching career and our beautiful primary school students. It is so appreciated by me and the parents, staff and community who share an interest in our youngest students. Your reporting and publishing do so much to help build up our Blaine community, especially with the schools.Thank you so very much!
Terre Shapiro
STEAM specialist, Blaine Primary School
Blaine
The Editor:
How to improve and revive business in downtown Blaine:
Call Surrey mayor and area Members of the Legislative Assembly, and encourage them to follow through and complete the B.C. feasibility study for the Blaine Amtrak stop.
This is the main hold up for having a restored depot passenger Amtrak stop for Blaine and community.
It would be one of, if not the busiest, stops in state ridership – estimates of 300,000 passengers a year. Call BNSF and ask for “quiet zone” designation for Blaine? Enables no 120 decibel loud horns to be blown at Bell Road, Hughes Avenue and Marine Drive. Also, like White Rock has done, get trains to travel slower through Blaine. They can do this and it would be less disruptive to the citizens and vastly improve sleep and quality of life here. Install flashing speed limit signs along Peace Portal Drive from city limits south to Marine Drive at north end. Same as D, H and Mitchell. Also, pedestrian activated crosswalks at Martin, H, G, and F streets.
Remove stop signs at southbound (once cleared) truck stop U.S. Customs and install only signs like at Lynden/Aldergrove. Also, remove 25 mph speed limit sign and replace with 40 mph which is speed limit of entire roadway similar to Lynden, then 50 mph of entire Guide.
I believe there is a noise ordinance of quiet time from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The following are offenders:
See *2. Train horns.
City street sweeper at 4 a.m. If they start later, more street will get swept as many cars will have left for work.
Lawn mowing in Marine Park as early as 5-5:30 a.m. – can hear throughout marina.
Hill’s Chevron – music 24/7
End ward system
Too much red tape and massive over regulation per R F.
No dense residential downtown. Build 100 stories on top of H Street hill. Not downtown.
Bill Becht
Blaine
The Editor:
We are deeply concerned about the war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis. For more than two months, now, there has been no food, water, fuel or medicine allowed to reach over two million Palestinians and the remaining Israeli hostages.
Massive starvation is imminent.
The problem is not a lack of food. Aid agencies are poised with 3,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid waiting at the border but banned from entry. Gaza is on the brink of catastrophic famine that could claim tens of thousands of lives.
This is an entirely preventable crisis.
Congress must act now to press for the immediate reopening of Gaza’s borders. This will allow humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need.
We ask that our representatives in Congress, Rick Larsen, take the following three actions:
• Co-sponsor legislation to restore funding to UNRWA, the agency charged with facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
• Co-sponsor legislation to stop the flow of offensive weapons of war to the region.
• Make a public statement calling for unfettered humanitarian access into Gaza in compliance with international law.
The way to build peace is to provide aid, not arms. We want our tax dollars to alleviate suffering, not prolong it. We are grateful to U.S. Representative Larsen for supporting humanitarian relief measures in the past. We ask him to step up again at this crucial time.
Bruce Radke, Micki Jackson and Allen Stockbridge
Bellingham
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here