Letters to the Editor for Nov. 25, 2009

‘Can’t do’ attitude bad for Baker

To the editor:

Respectfully, I take issue with the tenor of the BCH editorial (11/18/09) on the Community Visioning Project. It had the distinct taint of the “Can’t Do” attitude that has encouraged my age demographic to stay away from Baker County more than any other factor (including lack of good-paying jobs) and deeply frustrated longtime residents.

The editorial staff contends that there is no “growth button” for local officials to push. I agree with that. However, what I and many other mid 20s, early 30s find so disappointing is that at times Baker pre-laments failure by looking backward at the past economic lethargy of this area — before even making an attempt at positive forward momentum! We love our quality of life and most of us that grew up here want to remain (or move back) among our immediate and extended families; but, to do so, we need more economic stability than the “missed opportunities” and fly-by the seat of our pants approach of the past.

States like Montana, Kentucky, Idaho and Colorado have dozens of small communities which very successfully integrated both newcomers and a higher level of prosperity for existing businesses without sacrificing quality of life or historic character. As a matter of fact, with the infusion of new artisans, investors and lovers of historic infrastructure, heritage has been rescued and the culture further enriched. We have even witnessed this in our own downtown!

I do not believe it to be an impossibly elusive concept (nor do the greater majority of residents) to enjoy tempered growth with a higher quality of life (many correctly believe the two are intertwined). However, we can achieve nothing if we the residents continually buy into self-defeatist assumptions and fail to challenge ourselves and our leadership to achieve realistic benchmarks.

The “Haven’t Done, Can’t Do” argument is invalid. In truth, if all economics (which translated from the Greek is Household Management) is local, then why is it so hard to imagine the people of Baker County authoring an improved economic reality?

Davey Peterson

Baker City

Baker City residents care

To the editor:

I want to thank all the people that came to my husband Leland Royal’s aid in the Bi-Mart parking lot, Wednesday the 18th. He had fallen and was unable to get up.

I was in the store and came out to find a crowd of young men helping him up.

The kindness and caring they were showing was very real! There were two Bi-Mart employees that came out, and were greatly concerned for both of us, too. God bless them all.

Also, thank you for being kind to a very frazzled wife — me!

Baker City can be very proud of the wonderful and caring people it has. 

Rowena Royal

Baker City