Short-term rentals
I am perplexed and somewhat shocked at the community's silence after the March 7 Daily News front page article about the proposed city of Pullman zoning changes which will allow short-term rentals (i.e., Airbnb and VRBO to name a couple) in all R1 and R2 residential areas without going through conditional use approvals.
The article, written by Emily Pearce, quoted Pullman Assistant Planner Ariel Medeiros as saying the reason for these changes is that "the city is trying to make it easier to have these rentals."
My first question is: For the purpose of what? My second question is: What are the intended and especially unintended consequences of these changes?
According to the article, occupancy will be limited to 10 people (can you say party house?!) and the owner has to be within a 30-minute drive of Pullman. Absentee? The article did not define “short term.” Any thoughts about parking problems? Noise issues? Property values? Homeowner association restrictions?
My wife and I have lived in Pullman for more than 25 years and enjoy the reasonably peaceful existence in our community and our R1 neighborhood, despite the occasional noise of fireworks and college parties. Now we will have to be on constant alert for nearby residences being rented, by potentially absentee owners, to up to 10 strangers per residence coming to Pullman to do who knows what. What could possibly go wrong? When many cities are enacting restrictions on short-term rentals because of problems, Pullman wants to go the other way? We are totally against these changes, especially in R1, and I hope others in our community feel the same way and will speak up to our new mayor and city council, as will I.
John Thielbahr
Pullman
He’s not an authority
I am concerned about the recent headline in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News regarding Ed Schweitzer's opposition to the Washington bill prioritizing electric energy over natural gas. I believe there are significant reasons to reject Schweitzer’s stance.
Natural gas extraction and usage pose substantial environmental and health risks. From contaminating groundwater to polluting the air and contributing to atmospheric heat-trapping, the implications of relying on natural gas are dire. The health hazards associated with burning natural gas in homes cannot be understated. Compounds released during natural gas combustion such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides act like a cancer slowly taking its toll on your body. We don’t need this.
Shifting our energy choices ensures that future generations might live comfortably. A forward-thinking approach that prioritizes sustainable alternatives to natural gas is affordable, sensible and health-affirming. We have a responsibility to consider the wellbeing of all life forms and mitigate the impacts of climate change for the sake of our collective future. We need this.
It's imperative to prioritize evidence-based decision making and consider the perspectives of younger generations who will inherit the outcomes of our choices. We can do better than cling to natural gas just because it is familiar. History has shown that proactive measures, such as removing lead from gasoline, can lead to positive outcomes for both public health and the economy.
Considering the broader implications of energy use, animal health and the voices of future generations, a thoughtful reconsideration of the Washington bill is needed. Regarding news coverage, I’d rather know what the 25-year-old residents think about phasing out methane use in Washington. It’s their future we should consider. Ed is a successful, philanthropic businessperson, but that does not make him an impartial authority on natural gas. Let’s embrace cleaner, safer alternatives to natural gas.
Trish Hartzell
Moscow
Stop the wind project
Have you ever hiked Kamiak Butte County Park? Have you enjoyed the expansive views of the rolling fertile food-producing agricultural fields of the surrounding Palouse countryside? Did you know there is an Industrial Wind Company (Harvest Hills Wind) who wants to place 45-plus ginormous wind turbines around the south and west side of Kamiak Butte? They want to place these monstrous machines (they could be 600-700 feet tall) in prime farm ground (which is designated as agricultural ground of statewide importance). These wind turbines will be very close to residents’ homes and livelihoods. I am not here to debate the pros and cons of alternative energy. I am here to express the utter insanity of placing this industrial conglomeration in this proposed location.
There is a growing opposition to this effort. There is a Facebook group called “Stop Kamiak Butte Industrial Wind Project” with current membership at 1.4K. There is also an online petition on Change.org titled “Protect Kamiak Butte: Stop the Harvest Hills Wind Project!” that in less than a week has more than 800 signatures. If you wish to join the group or sign the petition — put the title of the petition in your favorite search engine and join us. If you care and cherish the paradise of the Palouse and want to protect the acres of farmland that feeds the world, please help stop this. Write to your elected Whitman County Commissioners or even better, attend a commissioner’s meeting. Here is their web site: whitmancounty.org/367/Board-of-Whitman-County-Commissioners. The Palouse has been referred to by many national publications as the Tuscany of America. Please help it keep it that way.
Gwen Anderson
Pullman
Jewish opinion
Recently, there have been at least two letter writers to this newspaper who, based on biblical interpretation, think Jews support Israel in its assault on Gaza. So, for the record, the Jewish writer of this (brief) letter thinks that the suffering of Gazans caused by Israel is horrible.
Miriam Hertz
Moscow
In need of a chance
I’ve worked at Pullman Community Montessori, Pullman’s now infamous charter school on the brink of closure, since its beginning. We’ve had a long road, with lots of late, sleepless nights, long hours before and after school, and weekends spent in classrooms. I wouldn’t trade a second of it for anything.
Over the years, I have been devastated to hear the stories of my students who have not been served by the traditional school system. They are kids with heavy trauma, complex special needs and gaps in their social and emotional learning. During their time in traditional schools, they have been left behind, forgotten, discarded. Make no mistake, I believe in our public school system. It just does not have the capacity to serve all children. This is where my school comes in. We serve an incredibly diverse population. When I last checked, 24% of our students are qualified for some kind of special education. Charter schools, on average, are funded 25% less than a traditional school. These combined facts mean that the educators I come to work with every day take the little that we are given and make magic. The staff at PCM are the most hardworking, kind, knowledgeable, dedicated people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. You would be hard pressed to find individuals who care more about their students or are more passionate about their well being. We are so aware of the issues that we face. All we need is a chance.
Katie Kendrick
Pullman
