Lower speed limits won’t help traffic safety in Tacoma. Issuing tickets will | Opinion

Speed limits

I saw the recent front-page article in The News Tribune regarding speed limits being lowered in Tacoma.

I believe accidents and speeding issues are largely caused by folks not paying attention to the posted limits, for whatever reason, whether it’s cell phone use (which is also illegal) or something else. Lowering the speed limits will not help the issue in any significant way.

I have been walking and biking a fair amount over the past few years. I have always been somewhat aware of folks not abiding by the laws as I drove around during my daily routine, but since I started walking and biking I have become much more aware. Speeding and phone use were the main issues when I was mostly driving, but now I see it all: failure to stop, windows tinted too dark to even see the driver, outdated plates, tires outside of fenders, etc.

A significant amount of our citizens choose not to follow posted speed limits and other laws. Holding people accountable by issuing speeding tickets works. Signs do not seem to.

Jerry Foss, Fircrest

Substation attacks

I use a CPAP machine to sleep and would die without it. Any of the people caught, charged and convicted of damaging local power stations — whether they’re Antifa, MAGA, Elmer Fudd or the Easter Bunny — should be charged with attempted murder, or murder if a death occurs (in addition to all the other property damage charges).

I am sure those with other ailments who depend on electricity for their medical equipment, heat to keep from freezing to death or refrigeration to keep medicines viable and safe feel the same way.

William Severson, Stanwood

Tent cities

I feel for those who, for whatever reason, find themselves with no place to call home. But we also need to be mindful of the tax-paying, hardworking homeowners of our city. When “tent cities” pop up on our residential streets it presents even more problems. Garbage, drugs, noise, traffic, trespassing on private property, etc. These are only a few.

With police limited in what they can do in response, it makes this a city government problem, and more needs to be done to address it.

Tamara Lewis, Tacoma

No new airport

The people of Pierce County want to stop the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission from destroying a large part of Graham or Eatonville-Roy with a huge commercial airport. Only cargo companies like Amazon and FedEx would benefit from this.

A new airport would create major deforestation and have harmful effects on the entire ecosystem of Washington state. Pierce County is not just a community of people, but a gateway to Mount Rainier, home to wildlife and historically home to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

As a commercial airline pilot, the geography of this land wouldn’t allow for such a large airport to promote a continuously safe low visibility approach. A better option is to expand or operate more efficiently already existing airports such as SeaTac, Paine Field or Olympia Regional Airport.

Sarah Palmer, Kapowsin

Don’t ruin our dream home

My wife and I saved money for several years to purchase our dream home. Our five-bedroom, three-bathroom home has been just that for 14 years.

Our five sons and eight grandchildren have celebrated all holidays here. My wife’s birth family and my birth family have spent time together at this same dream home.

So please don’t destroy it to build a new airport.

Steven C. Harris, Graham