Illinois Valley News Vol. 73 No. 19 Dated: July 21, 2010

Letters to the Editor

From our weekly issue dated July 21, 2010

(Editor“s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)

Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you“ submissions are not accepted as letters.

Defending the League
From Jane A. Gigler,
Education chairman,
League of Women Voters of Oregon

The League of Women Voters of Oregon would like to respond to Art Robinson“s misleading comments about the League in Scott Jorgensen“s recent article (Illinois Valley News, June 30, 2010).

While the League has its roots in the women“s suffrage movement, today it is a dedicated grass-roots organization of men and women who work to encourage participation in government. The goal of our members is to empower citizens to understand governmental issues and to participate in the political process.

As the League grew and developed, it evolved into two separate organizations under the same umbrella. One advocates on issues after thorough research and study. For example, we recently completed a study of “Water in Oregon“ and will establish a statewide consensus on that topic, and then advocate for that position. This side of the League works through education and advocacy to influence public policy and to build better communities.

The other side of the League focuses on civic engagement through its Education Fund. It seeks to provide balanced, accurate, nonpartisan information to all citizens, and to empower citizens to vote.

League members register voters, publish a neutral “Voters Guide“ and host candidate forums that are scrupulously neutral. The League“s neutrality on candidates extends to a policy that invites all the candidates running for a particular office to a forum, not just the two larger political parties.

And, if Robinson is interested, the League of Women Voters of Coos County would be happy to host a debate among all the candidates running for Congress in District 4. It would be a neutral debate, because while the League is political, it is most definitely nonpartisan.

CJ post office comments
From Kirk Van Stone
Takilma

Is anyone in Illinois Valley as fed up as I am with what I contend is a rude and dishonest Cave Junction U.S. Post Office“

I“m a retired/disabled wildland firefighter. I was permanently disabled while fighting the Silver Fire in 1987. I worked on the Longwood Complex fire too.

I feel that everyone has the right to get their mail at their street mail box, which we did until a couple years ago. At that point two postal carriers took out a vendetta against us from a neighborhood dispute from the 1990s just after Myrna Hooey, the best mail carrier the world had seen, retired.

My next door neighbor took over Myrna“s route, and that“s when the trouble began. Since then, I have seen behavior that disturbs me. Because of that, I reluctantly reported her to the USPS Office of the Inspector General. I was told that an anonymous complaint was filed, but the next day my mail carrier had an e-mail from USPS with my anonymous complaint on it and was at my gate.

I can no longer get street mail, so I got a post office box, but was locked out before the rent was due. I requested a change of address back to my street mail, but due to allegations that I’m “abusive“ we have to go to Selma to get our mail.

Many people in I.V. have told me about their complaints about the CJ Post Office. If I“m the only one who complains, nothing will change. Those who feel the same as I do and know the truth behind what I feel is a corrupt post office, phone 888-877-7644 and put a stop to what I see as an abuse of power.