Why give the city more money?

Bend is my home, and I live here by choice. As we would anywhere else in the world, we will still have our complaints. Certainly I would voice my opinion about the lousy condition of our streets.

What we are hoping with an increase in tax revenue is that our streets would be in much better condition because those in charge of allocating and utilizing those monies would “do the right thing.”

Recently my wife was returning home during the 5:15 p.m. congestion on Neff Road and was involved in a severe pothole incident.

She was one of six cars needing a tow, while others could do the repairs by themselves to get back on the road. There were many emergency vehicles besides four wreckers at any one time trying to remove the carnage. Our car suffered damage of $2,800 when it hit a 4-feet-long and 1-and-a-half-feet-deep pothole. There were three in the right-hand lane of traffic that were nearly the same size.

The Bend Police Department was contacted in the evening of the previous night as well as the morning of Jan. 19 and passed the information to the Department of Public Works. Needless to say, there were no immediate repairs made and it resulted in stopped traffic from St. Charles hospital to Third Street.

The next day an article was in the paper on how overworked they are trying to keep up with road damage.

This article also said that during bad road conditions, who knows where, drivers should be hugging the center line to avoid potholes and not using low-profile tires. The contact information was also given in case we needed to let someone know about any excessive damage that may have occurred to our vehicle.

I have been in communication with the city of Bend and its insurance carrier in Salem. They have denied our claim twice, claiming no responsibility. Now I need to get a lawyer and sue the city I call home. Why, because the people responsible for keeping our roads safe will not and have not “done the right thing?” Why should I expect them to do the right thing with more money?

Robert Altvatter

Bend

Unite for climate action

I want my grandchildren to be able to enjoy clean streams and lakes as well as lush green forests, just as I did growing up. I want them to be able to paddle a kayak in the crystal-clear Cascade lakes. I don’t want to be the last generation to be able to eat delicious fish caught in Oregon streams. I don’t want catastrophic fires and floods to continue to destroy our land.

We need to act now to protect this planet so it is available for our grandchildren and for theirs. It’s our responsibility to preserve it for them.

A recent initiative by Republicans on climate change, such as the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the U.S. House, offers the hope of a bipartisan dialog. If a Democrat joins the caucus, he/she will need to bring a Republican along, too. The purpose of the caucus is to “serve as an organization to educate its members on economically viable options.”

Let’s write to our Congressman, Rep. Greg Walden, urging him to find a willing Democrat and join the U.S. Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus. Here is his address: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515, or call: 202-224-3121.

Be sure to thank him for his service. Personal communication with him is the best way to make a difference for our grandchildren, but the window of opportunity is quickly disappearing. Do it now!

Judy Paulsmeyer

Bend

Ducks win, Bulletin loses

The Oregon Ducks win the Pac-12 men’s basketball championship for only the second time since World War II and this story is relegated to the bottom of Page 3 of the sports section, below the story about the Beavers, currently in ninth place in the conference, losing to USC?

I guess there was too much big news to warrant first-page treatment, such as the story about pro golfers not wanting to play in Rio before the Olympics, Lindsey Vonn’s season-ending injury, an article previewing the Pac-12 women’s tournament and of course, local boys basketball.

How bizarre that such an accomplishment receives such ho-hum treatment in this or any community in our great state.

Dan Neal

Bend