Immigration: Bar association failure
Re: “A huge WA immigration law firm rises and falls: The inside story” (June 21, Local News):
I am an attorney who speaks Spanish fluently. My practice is limited to U.S. immigration law. Thank you for reporting on the Alexandra Lozano case. There are so many honest, reliable and diligent immigration attorneys in Washington state. The majority of us charge a fraction of what her firm was charging.
I want to highlight the failure of the Washington State Bar Association in this case to fulfill its mission: “The mission of the Washington State Bar Association is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.”
The actions of this attorney went on for years, and what this firm was doing was available to the public via social media, easily accessible by the WSBA. Further, her former clients reported these issues to the WSBA for years. However, only after a group of her former clients sued her firm did the WSBA act. The result is that tens of thousands of members of the public were harmed, as well as every single lawyer in the state.
When a bar association does not regulate its members, it fails in its purpose. Why did the WSBA not act?
Sylvia A. Miller, Seattle
Immigration: ‘Catastrophic policy failure’
Re: “No timeline for ending military mission at border” (June 21, Nation & World):
As a retired math teacher, my default mode is to crunch numbers embedded in articles and see what can be extrapolated. This article indicates 9,000 military personnel deployed at the border for more than a year. The Pentagon reports that the first four months of the operation cost $525 million. At that rate, the cost of a year of operation would equal $1.575 billion. The military claims to have apprehended a total of 116 individuals crossing the border during this operation. That equates to an expenditure of $13.6 million for each person caught crossing the border illegally.
By any metrics this is a catastrophic policy failure as well as an egregious squandering of U.S. tax dollars, not to mention the detrimental impact on force training, readiness and morale.
What to do? Update the 35-year-old Immigration Act of 1990. Resurrect the Border Act of 2024, an $118 billion compromise negotiated by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., modern legislation to deal with today’s immigration challenges. Candidate Donald Trump called the Border Act of 2024, “A great gift to Democrats.” Without immigrants to fear, he knew his campaign would collapse.
Jack Gribble, Oak Harbor
Juneteenth: An unsurprising presidential snub
As a die-hard newspaper reader, I scanned The Seattle Times on June 20. I knew that I would find news of the USA beating Australia. I found much coverage of the World Cup; Pride Week; locally, at least, Juneteenth; and a third of a page devoted to President Donald Trump taking possession of his Boeing 747-8 plane given to him by the government of Qatar.
I scanned the entire paper twice, but found not a word from President Trump on Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, despite the fact that June 19 is a national holiday. The banks were closed, the stock market closed, but evidently, not a word from our chief executive in support of a substantial racial minority.
Given his absolute silence and lack of any support for minority rights when his “Secretary of War” violated rules and protocols, striking the names of Black Americans and of women from general/admiral promotion lists, and his opposition to anything that might advance minority rights (diversity, equity and inclusion), I guess I should not be surprised.
Robert C. Alexander, Langley
Jones Act waivers: ‘Real harm’
Re: “End Jones Act waivers that rock U.S. shipbuilding” (June 17, Opinion):
As a result of the waivers, U.S. vessels and crews are sitting idle while owners weigh whether to proceed with critical maintenance, send mariners home or pull back on the very fleet reinvestment this administration’s Maritime Action Plan was meant to spur. It’s happening now, in the middle of a 90-day extension.
The nationwide scope of the waivers is really the issue. Puerto Rico, Hawaiʻi, the West Coast, the Gulf Coast and the East Coast are not capacity-starved markets. They are Jones Act-dominated trade lanes with ample qualified American vessels already in place. Waiving the law for the whole country simply hands business to foreign-flagged vessels that didn’t earn it and have nothing to do with supply.
The Jones Act mariner is the backbone of this country’s maritime security and economy. When these waivers were put in place in March, the reasoning behind it was already questionable. Months later, we now have real harm and real evidence to confirm exactly what was predicted from the start, that this would harm everyday Americans.
Sarah Freyer, director of government affairs and operational excellence, Centerline Logistics Corporation, Seattle
Voting: Ensuring election legitimacy
Re: “Federal judge halts Trump’s election executive order seeking to create a federal voter list” (June 25, Nation):
Two decisive approaches can resolve future challenges.
Solution 1 proposes a “court with teeth.” Any claim that an election was stolen must be taken to court. If evidence proves fraud, both the perpetrators and the defendant’s legal team face mandatory jail time and large fines. If the evidence fails, the plaintiffs and the prosecuting legal team face the same penalties. No appeals would be allowed. The goal is to deter baseless claims and ensure accountability for proven wrongdoing.
Solution 2 calls for eliminating nearly all vote-by-mail, except for those covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or individuals with a qualifying excuse. Election Day would become a national holiday, requiring in-person voting with ID and signature verification. Anyone choosing not to vote would pay a $2,000 fee dedicated to election-education efforts.
Both proposals aim to end disputes over election legitimacy by either enforcing strict legal consequences or returning to a fully in-person voting model.
Michael A. Lumia, Maple Valley
Homelessness: ‘Collaboration at every phase’
The Seattle/King County homelessness problem is lost without direction because the city, county and Regional Homelessness Authority refuse to follow proven, successful, well-researched models that other cities are successfully following.
These models have reduced other cities’ homelessness population over the last three years by 40%-60% while saving taxpayers 30%-35% in taxes. Seattle could do the same, but we insist on following an outdated fragmented system, resulting in our continued ranking of having the third worst homelessness crisis in America.
The state-of-the-art recommended best-practice programs call for the coordination of all our existing quality services through collaboration at every phase of the homeless-recovery journey. Individuals stay connected from the street to self-sufficiency. The fragmented system drops people between phases, sending them back to the street, with the cycle continuing.
I will say this again: It is time for our local leaders to seek advice from the professionals working at the street level who know how to successfully coordinate solutions to homelessness. Currently, it looks like our leaders are doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Peter Moote, SUDP, MSW, Seattle
Transportation bill: All drivers should contribute fairly
Re: “Federal transportation bill should not punish EV drivers” (June 8, Opinion):
America’s federal transportation system funding relies on the principle that users help pay for what they use. The challenge is that we haven’t updated our main “user fee,” the federal gas tax, since 1993.
Since then, electric vehicles and hybrids have gained popularity, but EVs have not paid into the Highway Trust Fund. This “free rider” problem has contributed to massive funding shortfalls, short-term fixes and reactionary responses to transportation crises demonstrating the dangers of aging infrastructure.
Washington U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act tackles that problem head-on. His legislation updates user fees to ensure all drivers, including those with hybrids or EVs, contribute fairly. At the same time, the legislation — which passed out of the House committee nearly unanimously — would help provide additional long-term funding so states can plan and deliver the projects communities need.
We all pay the consequences when outdated infrastructure wears down our cars or puts us in danger. Drivers already pay those hidden costs, whether their cars have combustion engines or batteries. It’s time we pay to have stronger, safer roadways instead. Hopefully, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell will embrace Rep. Larsen’s bipartisan leadership and keep Washington building.
Jeff Tiegs, co-owner of Lincoln Construction, Puyallup
Obama Center: ‘Bravo, America!’
Re: “Obama Center opens in Chicago with a call to defend democracy and a celebrity crowd” (June 18, Nation):
What a glorious day! How wonderful to see the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Center in Chicago and the many people in attendance. How fabulous to see the four living ex-presidents and first ladies together, smiling and sharing and enjoying the event. The music, the fabulous speeches, the happy crowds, no police incidents to mar it — even the touches of humor, like Stephen Colbert and Dave Letterman wearing beige suits.
This is what America should be like and what it should be about. It was a joy to watch the official opening, especially in light of the date (Juneteenth). And the World Cup win by the U.S. National Men’s Team at the temporarily renamed Lumen Field was the icing on the cake.
Bravo, America! I am proud of you, and I am proud of Seattle!
Carol Lake, Federal Way
Westlake Park: Still a Seattle gem
Re: “Seattle’s Westlake Park makeover rushed ahead of World Cup, some say” (June 20, Local News):
Thank you to artist Robert Maki and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department for enabling Seattleites to reclaim a third of the precious land that comprises Westlake Park. Colorful chairs and tables and Ping-Pong games with eager players and onlookers have brought wholesome activity to what was a misused and sterile south end. I, with scores of other residents, property owners, skateboarders, retailers and parkgoers participated in many public input forums hosted by the Seattle Parks Foundation. And the Berger Partnership and Sellen Construction brought that input to life.
Am I chagrined that the notorious Seattle process, in this instance to deaccession Maki’s art, had to accelerate so the park could shine for World Cup visitors and locals rediscovering their city? Hardly. A space defined by unrelenting hardscapes is now greener, safer and more welcoming, and another park can enjoy Maki’s structures for years to come.
Evelyne Rozner, Seattle
Colorectal cancer: Start healthful diets early
Re: “Seattle scientists seek answers as colorectal cancer trends younger” (June 22, Health):
Society can help reduce the colon cancer that is increasingly striking our young adults. Let’s promote fiber containing whole plant foods beginning in early childhood when precancerous changes begin. Today’s young adults have been consuming carcinogenic processed foods like deli meats and sugary dairy products their whole lives. Ninety-five percent of Americans are deficient in fiber. This deficiency opens our gut walls to the toxins contained in foods like beef, pork, pepperoni, deli turkey and prepackaged snacks.
Fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains, like oatmeal and brown rice, help us avoid colon cancer. Even better: Our taste buds adapt, making biting into a fresh mango more delicious than ever.
While scientists seek additional information, let’s do all we can to protect our own health and that of our loved ones.
Gwen Hanson, MD, Bellevue
Social workers: ‘Proud of my profession’
Re: “To boost social worker diversity, should WA reconsider its exam?” (June 17, Mental Health Project):
I have been a social worker my entire life and I am proud of my profession.
I am a person of color and from a lower socioeconomic background. I was able to meet the requirements expected of me to become a clinical social worker. I have also worked in the community mental health and adoption fields.
I believe in supporting professional responsibility and accountability and ensuring competency among our members by upholding the highest possible standards — which are ever evolving.
Rena Perez Grant, Seattle
Social Security: Regressive tax structure
Re: “Raise Social Security taxes — and cut benefits, too” (June 16, Opinion):
The Social Security program is funded through one of the most regressive tax structures in the federal government. For example, an individual earning $500,000 a year pays an effective Social Security tax rate of just 2.3%, while someone earning $50,000 faces a rate of 6.2%.
This disparity stems from the cap on taxable earnings, which is set at $184,500.
To address this inequity, the maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax should be increased to $500,000.
James J. Farrell, Bellevue
State budget: Same old song
Re: “Ferguson presses agencies for spending cuts” (June 9, Local News):
The article is a, “guess what?,” we are out of money to spend again.
After raising taxes last year by $9 billion and the $3 billion millionaires tax in the pipeline, Washington Democrats don’t have enough money to spend.
Last time around, Gov. Bob Ferguson was against raising taxes to meet new spending needs until all of sudden he wasn’t. Now he is replaying the spending cuts rhetoric.
Is this a lead-up to another Washington state tax hike to make those profitable corporations and wealthy people pay their fair share?
David Cutler, Medina
