Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

In an idyllic world, building a paved trail that connects the towns of Dayton and Waitsburg is a lofty idea. And if the current state of our world were such that people showed respect and concern for the safety of others, then The Port of Columbia could count on our support for the Touchet Valley Trail. Regrettably, this is not the case, and my husband and I feel compelled to let the folks of Columbia County know about our own, first-hand experience in living along the Sacajawea Heritage Trail in the Tri-Cities for nearly 40 years.

The paved trail behind our home along the Columbia River was great for many years. You could take your dog for a walk and let your mind wander as you took in the scenery and wildlife along the trail. No motorized vehicles were allowed and walkers, not bicyclists, were the norm. Those riding bikes were usually individuals or families riding at a leisurely pace. They would call out to let you know they were approaching from behind and slowed down as they passed by anyone traveling at a slower pace.

My how things changed over time! With the advent of what I call the “Lance Armstrong Effect”, the trail became (and continues to be) a dangerous place for walkers and casual bike riders due to the large number of people who engage in cycling as a competitive sport. Traveling at speed, and often in large groups, most of these cyclists feel no need to exercise caution or care by slowing down as they approach and many give no notice as they come up behind you. I can’t begin to tell you how many times we would be walking our dog and had to get completely off the trail because cyclists were approaching us head on, with no intent of either slowing down, or moving into a single line, in order to share the trail with others. For our own safety, we found we had to constantly look over our shoulders as we walked along the trail to see if any cyclists were coming upon us from behind. And it wasn’t just us! We had a neighbor tell us they would never again walk their dog on the trail after a cyclist hit their dog with his bike and didn’t bother to stop and see if it was okay. It seems that many of these cyclists have aggressive personalities and treat the trail as if it’s not intended for varying kinds of use. Perhaps their attire of spandex shorts, shirts, gloves, helmets, and goggles leaves them feeling completely anonymous and so they believe, rightly so, that their rudeness and lack of concern for others will never catch up to them.

With the arrival of COVID, new dangers became more prevalent on the trail! Although the trail is signed “No Motorized Vehicles Allowed”, we began seeing motorized bicycles, along with electric skateboards and scooters use the trail. Oftentimes these were being operated by young, unsupervised children no less! Was there anyone to contact about this unauthorized use of the trail? We chose not to do so until we observed drug transactions taking place in broad daylight along the trail. We did contact police and watched as a young man with an outstanding, felony arrest warrant was arrested near the entrance to the trail.

An additional concern caused by the trail along the river was that it created a place for illegal fireworks to be set off each year during the days before and after the 4th of July. We experienced three fires behind our home, all related to illegal, aerial fireworks!

I guess it’s no surprise to those reading this why we chose to leave the Tri-Cities last fall and move to Columbia County. Living along the trail was not a peaceful experience for us over time. We can only hope that if the TVT is built, that your experiences will be different than ours. We further hope that the people who reside in Columbia County be given the chance to vote on whether or not the trail should be built in the first place.

We appreciate you reading of our concerns.

Ron and Stacey Foraker

Dayton

To the editor

As if the black and brown lives that have been snuffed out by police without justification isn’t enough, there are other recent events that reveal the inadequate training and/or integrity of some police and law enforcement personnel.

A 73-year-old woman in Colorado left Walmart without paying for $14.00 worth of goods probably because of her dementia, was tackled and handcuffed, later providing entertainment for those police. People who have mental disabilities are met with violence by law enforcement, as probably the case of the 70-year-old woman at the Spokane County Jail.

Then, two weeks ago, a deaf woman in Las Vegas was arrested by police who put handcuffs on her – relying on her 11-year-old child to interpret as she couldn’t communicate through American Sign Language. There are immigrants, international students or foreign visitors who may not be fluent in English and may not understand “freeze”, resulting in being shot and killed for not complying with commands.

Lastly there are people from other cultures who don’t know our customs, bring a shopping bag to the mall, like they would at home, put the merchandise in the bag, and looking for where to pay walk out into the mall resulting in the store security arresting them for shoplifting.

What kind of comprehensive training is required for police officers? Do they know that not everyone can obey verbal commands? Do they emphasize de-escalation over shoot-to-kill–even someone with a knife? The public deserves satisfactory answers and accountability.

Nancy Street

Cheney, Wash.