Where is the affordable housing?

Our friends just got a shock — their landlord raised their rent by $400 a month! With only one paycheck coming in, they are having a hard time even making their regular rent. These people are grandparents and are also raising their granddaughter. With rent prices in Bend, where can they go to live? Under a bridge? Please tell them where the affordable housing is!

Barbara Leaha Hermann

Bend

Don’t change air traffic control

Private jet manufacturer and owner Doug King’s column misrepresents a proposal to modernize America’s antiquated air traffic control system.

It’s true that America’s ATC system is the safest in the world, but King doesn’t mention that our ATC technology is woefully outdated and inefficient, relying on World War II-era ground-based radar to guide planes around the country. Upgrading to the NextGen satellite-based GPS navigation system would reduce delays and allow planes to fly more efficient routes.

But because the Federal Aviation Administration’s uncertain funding structure makes it difficult to complete long-term capital investment projects, necessary technology upgrades are years behind schedule. The 21st Century AIRR Act would remove ATC operations from the FAA — allowing the agency to focus solely on overseeing safety and national security — and create a federally chartered nonprofit to both manage ATC operations and implement long overdue technology upgrades.

King also fails to mention the billion-dollar tax subsidy wealthy private jet owners enjoy under the current system. Private aircraft utilize approximately $1 billion in ATC resources annually but contribute less than 1 percent of the taxes that fund the ATC system, and private jet owners like King are keen to maintain the status quo.

King is right — America’s ATC system is the “envy of the world.” But if King is truly interested in keeping it that way, he would support reforms to modernize our ATC system that benefits all flyers, not just him and his “1-percent” private jet customers.

Sean Williams

Washington D.C.

Support La Pine fire levy

As a member of the board of directors of the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, I wanted to thank the voters for supporting the fire district and ask for your continued support by voting “yes” on the renewal of our operating levy for another five years at the same tax rate of $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. No increase in the tax rate!

The levy allows continued grant matches for equipment, apparatus and facilities, which lower overall costs. In the last few years we have received over $1,700,000 in grants. We are debt-free, so all of the taxes go to support the district.

Your “yes” vote will maintain 22 career firefighter paramedics and 12 volunteer students, who provide an average of four additional staff per shift. It will also keep at least one paramedic/firefighter in the district 24/7 to ensure quality service.

For 20 years we have effectively used taxpayer funds without a tax rate increase. We are debt-free!

The district’s five elected directors have years of business and fire-service experience providing cost-effective operations.

With your “yes” vote on the levy, we will be able to operate the most cost-effective rural fire district in Central Oregon.

Please vote “yes” on our levy.

Jerry Hubbard

La Pine fire vice president and director

No military parade

Why would an administration that is supposedly trying to cut the budget deficit spend our tax dollars on a military parade? Especially when so many people oppose the idea?

Yes, a total of 45 percent of people polled oppose the idea of a military parade. And 71 percent say a display of power is not necessary. A majority of Republicans, Democrats, military members and family and veterans all agree. “When you’re the most powerful nation, you don’t have to show it off.”

In my opinion, a military parade has more to do with Donald Trump’s huge and fragile ego than anything else.

FYI, YouGov and The Economist conducted the polling.

YouGov is an international internet-based market research and data analytics firm, headquartered in London. The company was founded by Stephan Shakespeare and Nadhim Zahawi. Shakespeare, the firm’s CEO, once stood as a Conservative candidate for Colchester,a town in Essex County in England. (I have no idea if he’s related to William Shakespeare!)

The Economist is also based in London, and has a reputation for being “extremely centrist.” It sometimes criticizes conservative policies and sometimes criticizes liberal policies. In case you’re wondering, they dislike President Trump.

Paula Surmann

Sisters