Earthquake, landslides could cause problems after logging operation
The logging of Kopachuck State Park fir trees brought me back 40 years to early March 1972. Torrential rains caused massive damage to homes and land next to Kopachuck and the surrounding area.

We lived in the second lot north of the park, the only full-time residents at the time, and we were awakened by a huge “whump,” and the house shook at 3 a.m. My husband left for work later that morning, only to come right back and report a huge rift in our steep driveway.

The land continued to move, and the rift eventually reached 3 feet, and we ordered several truckloads of fill in order to be able to get in and out.

Our house had lifted 12 inches higher on one end, and our basement wall was cracked. Our bulkhead was damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced.

Later, during the summer, we boated along Vashon and could see many houses “on tilt” — obviously uninhabitable. Raft Island also sustained a lot of damage.

I thought we were safe because of the tall trees, but even they were slumping, as the land beneath them slid.

My former next-door neighbor, who moved in after the quake, called me the other day, and I was surprised to learn that no one in charge of the logging seems to know about this.

Perhaps a more gradual approach to removing the huge trees would be prudent.

Jean Balman
Gig Harbor

Three cheers for state government on issue of marriage equality
One cheer for Gov. Chris Gregoire for overcoming her own religious objections and recognizing that marriage equality is about a civil right that must be available to all citizens and protected under the law; One cheer for our state senators for conducting themselves in such a mature and civil manner while they presented their various positions on marriage equality; And one cheer for our House of Representatives for also supporting marriage equality, despite the efforts of a determined opposition to suggest that their particular religious restrictions should be allowed to deny a minority the privileges enjoyed by the majority.

I know there will be an effort to put marriage equality on the ballot in November, asking our citizens to vote on how they feel about this issue. But I’m not understanding how, in our democracy, that should even be allowed.

If a fundamental principle of a democracy is protection of the minority from the majority, then civil rights are not something to be awarded by a popularity contest.
Our system either guarantees equality to all, or it doesn’t; putting it to a vote undermines any claim to “equal rights for all under the law.”

I would urge all voters to oppose this referendum should it appear on the ballot, and trust that they will not suffer if others enjoy the same rights they enjoy.

Sue Redkey
Gig Harbor

City Council should have named new pier after founding fishermen

I, along with many others in the community at large, were amazed at the Gig Harbor City Council decision regarding the naming of the new pier to be constructed at the former Conan fuel property.
Originally, all submissions for the naming were sent to the mayor and to the council. However, it was decided by all of you that the city parks and recreation department should be responsible for naming the pier, along with input from the Harbor History Museum.

The parks and recreation department made Fishermen’s Pier its first choice.

Yet when the decision was forwarded to the council for review, they totally disregarded the motion made by the parks and recreation department.

The motion as stated on their minutes state: “Move that the Parks Commission recommend ‘Fishermen’s Pier’ as the name of the new pier as their first choice.”

Providing a pier named for the people who started the most important industry in this community and has been going on since 1934 when the Port of Tacoma commissioners first started a proposal for the fishing community.

I believe the city leaders did a disservice to those men and women when they ignored the overwhelming desire to have it named for the fishermen and their maritime endeavors.

Tomi Kent Smith
Gig Harbor