Opinion – The Columbian

Opinion – The Columbian https://www.columbian.com Sat, 16 May 2026 21:07:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.columbian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/columbian-insignia-2025-1-150x150.png Opinion – The Columbian https://www.columbian.com 32 32 In Our View: Data centers must pay their own way in Wash. https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/in-our-view-data-centers-must-pay-their-own-way-in-wash/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:03:33 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771815 Thus far, according to people who track such things, there are no major data centers in Southwest Washington. But as the giant warehouses with rows of computer servers continue to pop up across the American landscape, and with more than 100 of them in Washington, they create issues for policymakers.

]]> Brown: Electing the usual suspects https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/brown-electing-the-usual-suspects/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:02:50 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2772308 A new slate of candidates is set to seek local public offices this year. They’ll claim to bring new energy and new ideas.

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]]> Other Papers Say: College graduates face harsh reality https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/other-papers-say-college-graduates-face-harsh-reality/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:01:29 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771574 The following editorial originally appeared in the Boston Herald:

]]> Harrop: Decluttering until death do we part https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/harrop-decluttering-until-death-do-we-part/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:01:25 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771578 Margareta Magnusson was an artist in Stockholm who wrote a bestselling book, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.” Decluttering, the removal of unnecessary items from our living spaces, already had become an international obsession. That was doubly so for Americans, whose large houses became easy repositories for cheap goods.

]]> Letter: Arts center misses opportunity https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-arts-center-misses-opportunity/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:53 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771969 How disappointing to see Friends of Center for the Arts choose Portland architectural firm ZGF to design the Center for the Arts at Columbia Palisades (“More than a ‘wish or a dream’: Proposed arts center in east Vancouver moves forward with renderings,” The Columbian, May 6). With plenty of great architectural firms right here in Vancouver our “Friends” chose to go across the river to do business.

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]]> Letter: School funding model is outdated https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-school-funding-model-is-outdated/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:52 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771972 Washington’s school funding system has become an exercise in institutional self-deception. Olympia continues using formulas that no longer reflect the real cost of educating students in 2026. Districts are declared “fully funded” on paper while simultaneously cutting staff, draining reserves, and borrowing to make payroll. Both statements cannot honestly coexist forever.

]]> Letter: Rethink bridge plans https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-rethink-bridge-plans-2/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:43 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771981 We have saved heaven only knows how much money on not as yet trying to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge where it is now. We have, I think, proved that when it was put there times were different. We have to think outside the box and maybe build two bridges to replace this one and in more serviceable areas. One for interstate and one for local traffic. In the long run, it might be cheaper and in the meantime traffic could be using the one we have so no interruptions.

]]> Letter: Trump doesn’t care about Americans https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-trump-doesnt-care-about-americans/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:20 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771975 “I don’t care about you. I just want your vote,” said presidential candidate Donald Trump during a Las Vegas campaign rally in June 2024.

]]> Letter: Ridgefield port plans not compatible https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-ridgefield-port-plans-not-compatible/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:15 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771820 The Port of Ridgefield’s recently released conceptual site plan for the waterfront (https://portridgefield.org/ridgefield-waterfront) indicates the intention to develop this land to maximum density, despite being next to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

]]> Letter: Preserve Ridgefield’s character https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/16/letter-preserve-ridgefields-character/ Sat, 16 May 2026 13:00:09 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771985 Ridgefield residents are speaking clearly, yet the port and city continue advancing the proposed waterfront development while canceling community engagement meetings ahead of the June 1 development agreement. So far, more than 1,500 residents have signed a petition opposing the current plan, raising concerns that public input is no longer being prioritized.

]]> In Our View: Our state depends on reliable trade policy https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/in-our-view-our-state-depends-on-reliable-trade-policy/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:03:20 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771605 President Donald Trump’s trip this week to China has broad implications for our region. Washington is the nation’s most trade-dependent state, making it particularly susceptible to the president’s mercurial approach to international relations.

]]> Feldman: Va. ruling good for democracy https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/feldman-va-ruling-good-for-democracy/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:01:20 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771354 Distraught that the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a statewide referendum that would have enabled them to gerrymander their way to a 10-to-1 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation in November, up from the current 6-to-5 split, some Democrats are reportedly considering a novel response: firing the whole court.

]]> Westneat: In Wash., outsiders are in State House candidates rake in cash challenging members of own party https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/westneat-in-wash-outsiders-are-in/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:01:15 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771581 What do a MAGA megachurch pastor and a Jan. 6 prosecutor have in common? Well, neither has any political experience. Yet in a sign of the polarized times, they’ve raised the most campaign cash of any state House candidates in Washington.

]]> Jarvis: Makary is out, but FDA is still far from normal https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/jarvis-makary-is-out-but-fda-is-still-far-from-normal/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:01:14 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771582 In an ideal world, the resignation of Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary would signal the end of a troubling period at the agency — one where the job of overseeing a sizable chunk of the U.S. economy had steadily devolved into dysfunction and chaos.

]]> Letter: U.S. is getting smacked around https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/letter-u-s-is-getting-smacked-around/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:43 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771472 Sometimes it takes a smack in the face. In my own case, cancer has smacked me into giving up alcohol and eating a healthier diet. Of course, I have the option of ignoring the medical facts and continuing my hedonistic lifestyle as if all is fine. I’m pretty sure there would be consequences.

]]> Letter: Perez looks after constituents https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/letter-perez-looks-after-constituents/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:25 +0000 State Sen. John Braun is supported by President Donald Trump. Do we really want to be represented by another “Yes Daddy, Anything You Say Daddy?” You could show your worth by doing what you can do to get the governor to lower gas taxes so the residents of Washington can afford to go to work and take care of their families.

]]> Letter: U.S. must stand against aggressors https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/letter-u-s-must-stand-against-aggressors/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771208 This letter is sent from Latvia. I’m here to support one of the many nations that have known Russian aggression, occupation, violence, and russification. Latvia is large in bravery and intelligence, though small in size. Latvians have survived and thrived, and are determined to be free.

]]> Letter: Voting districts matter https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/15/letter-voting-districts-matter/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:03 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771475 My friend and I were discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to further gut the Civil Rights Act and gerrymandering in Tennessee. His thought was that it just didn’t matter if the Democrats lost one seat in the House of Representatives. I disagreed. Something felt more wrong than the loss of one Black representative.

]]> In Our View: U.S. must be prepared for infectious diseases https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/in-our-view-u-s-must-be-prepared-for-infectious-diseases/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:03:22 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771350 A deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has revived memories of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet while experts say the situation is not as threatening as a coronavirus, the situation highlights the need to prepare for another pandemic.

]]> Paz: Rubio dreaming of a kinder, gentler MAGA https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/paz-rubio-dreaming-of-a-kinder-gentler-maga/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:01:47 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771098 Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been having a moment — the kind that makes people wonder if he might be a candidate for president sooner than later.

]]> Letter: Trump lacks common sense https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/letter-trump-lacks-common-sense/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:42 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771042 This year we are celebrating 250 years as a nation. There is one more thing to celebrate. Published months before the revolutionary war began, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” pamphlet was sold/distributed across the 13 colonies and convinced most Americans that another form of government, a democratic republic, was needed.

]]> Letter: Administration is toxic to the public https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/letter-administration-is-toxic-to-the-public/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:42 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771173 By now, everyone has heard of a new proposed billion-dollar, tax-paid ballroom. This proposed ballroom says all we need to know about our current administration.

]]> Letter: Hold child abusers accountable https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/letter-hold-child-abusers-accountable/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:26 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771171 I was a nurse for over 30 years. Many of my co-workers, my best friend and countless patients experienced predation and abuse while growing up and as adults. It changes the person that you could be, it damages one’s soul. I am disgusted that the Republican-led Congress and this administration allow pedophiles, abusers and those complicit to go unpunished.

]]> Letter: Wealthy pay little in taxes https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/14/letter-wealthy-pay-little-in-taxes/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771176 Rick Hauser writes that the “Wealthy pay more than their fair share” (Our Readers’ Views, May 9). Let’s see who paid what:

]]> In Our View: Clarity, accuracy from start of project critical https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/may/13/in-our-view-clarity-accuracy-from-start-of-project-critical/ Wed, 13 May 2026 13:03:59 +0000 https://www.columbian.com/?p=2771062 Among the biggest frustrations for taxpayers is the inability of government to accurately estimate the cost of infrastructure projects.

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