TNT letters: Warm library greetings; the scourge of idling cars; capital gains hypocrisy

Library greetings

I was telling a friend about a recent observation I’d made in the course of visiting various Tacoma public libraries.

Namely, that the staff at the 56th street branch is the most friendly of all the branches I’ve had the pleasure of patronizing.

At first, I thought the greetings were the exception. However, I’ve since learned that greeting patrons is the rule.

I complimented a staff member at this branch, and encouraged her to continue the policy of kindly greeting patrons.

Acknowledging folks with a brief greeting is such a wonderful gesture. It means more to people than many realize.

I mean, here I am singing their praises. What would it be like if all libraries embraced such a policy?

What a City of Destiny Tacoma would be.

L.A. Watkins, Lakewood

Stop idling

One would have to be living under a rock to not be aware of skyrocketing gas prices and the devastating impacts of climate change. Many feel helpless about how each of us can make a difference on both fronts.

One very easy way to make a slight difference is to stop needlessly idling our motor vehicles. How often are we idling while waiting to pick up our children from schools, while sitting in a drive-through line or while waiting for our turn at a road construction site? Idling is wasting gas, and polluting the air in addition to our lungs as we are breathing that exhaust.

Most newer vehicles do not need to be warmed up prior to being driven, and idling is actually harmful to the vehicle.

Idling for more than 30 seconds is simply wasteful and unnecessary. Schools, municipalities and other places where idling too often occurs can easily enact no idling policies. People who idle to keep the heat or air conditioning running can turn off their vehicle with little to zero harm to them.

Idling gets us nowhere.

Donna Green, Steilacoom

Capital gains tax

I just read Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson remarks on the state’s capital gains tax law. His quote was, “There’s a great deal at stake in this case, including funding for early learning, child care programs, and school construction. … Consequently, we will continue defending this law enacted by the peoples’ representatives in the Legislature.”

I am confused with Ferguson’s “peoples’ representatives” comment, given the fact the people of Washington residents called for the law to be repealed by a significant margin during an advisory vote.

So, I ask who is this man representing? Clearly not Washingtonians.

Jay C. Stewart, Puyallup