Campaign contributions

Payday lenders have too much influence

We never have to look far to see the corrupting influence of campaign contributions. Each year Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) introduces legislation that would cap interest charged by payday lenders at 36 percent (down from currently allowed fees equal to about 391 percent). And each year her bill dies in committee because some legislators seem more interested in campaign contributions from these predatory lenders than in protecting the vulnerable poor.

The same sort of legislators oppose banning toxic chemicals in plastic baby bottles and curbing the misuse of workers compensation program refunds by the BIAW, which routinely diverts this money to fund their ultraconservative attack ads.

Gene Bullock

Poulsbo

Stop signs

Poulsbo has failed in its mission

When I read the stories on the new stop sign proposal for downtown Poulsbo, I didn’t think much of it. The speed limit of 15 mph with ample crosswalks was a great way for me to window shop and many times purchase new items tastefully displayed in the downtown area. Wow, what a difference a day makes! The added stop signs are such a pain in the rear that I now travel State Route 305 to avoid the downtown area. Having to stop at every intersection past the downtown area or deal with those huge speed bumps made my normal, pleasant drive insane. Sorry Poulsbo, you flunked in my opinion. Instead of helping the downtown businesses prosper, the added stop signs have deterred folks like me from the area completely. In your quest to become more “pedestrian friendly” you are driving people away. Maybe the folks who live within walking distance will shop more and spend more now that the traffic is decreasing, or not.

Kathy Miller

Suquamish

Thank you

Spay Day was successful

The first ever Kitsap Spay Day on Feb. 24 was a huge success: 574 discounted cat and dog surgeries were performed, preventing countless unwanted litters, and decreasing health risks for animals all over the Kitsap peninsula.

We would like to thank the following veterinarians and rescue groups for participating (the animals thank you, too). Listed with the total number of discounted spay/neuters done by each in honor of Kitsap Spay Day.

Kitsap Humane Society: 277 (whole month of Feb.); CATS (Linda Dennis): 140 Kitsap area cats at The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project in Seattle, Shelton Vet Hospital, Bayview Vet Hospital and Bremerton Animal Hospital (whole month); Bremerton Animal Hospital: 55 (whole month); Bethel Animal Hospital: 44 (whole month); Woodside Animal Hospital: 17; Poulsbo Animal Clinic: nine; All Creatures Animal Hospital: eight; Peninsula Mobile Vet Clinic: seven; Purdy Veterinary Clinic: six Wheaton Way Veterinary Clinic: six; Companion Animal Wellness Center: two; Evergreen Animal Hospital: one; Peninsula Pet Hospital: one; Pet Medical Center: one.

We would also like to thank Bremerton Wal-Mart and Naturally 4 Paws for letting us hold our bake sales there. Thank you to McGavins Bakery and Susanne’s Bakery and Delicatessan for donating to our bake sales.

Thank you to Dana Lerma and the KHS for all the much needed and appreciated support and for taking time from your already busy schedule to attend our meetings and offer support.

Thanks to Frances Jung for dedicating many hours to taking more than 200 phone calls from people needing low cost spay/neuter help and keeping track of it all. Thanks to Tara Trezona for organizing everything and providing the spark to try to get more low cost spay/neuter help in our area. Thanks to Doreen Dickson for her many hours spent baking goodies for the bake sales.

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers, together we can make a difference for the animals.

The tremendous community response proves that spay and neuter assistance should be a top priority in our area. The Kitsap Spay & Neuter Council is committed to increasing awareness, and will continue to hold fundraising and education events throughout the year. We are proud to announce that Kitsap Spay Day 2009 has been proclaimed at the county level, and in the cities of Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Poulsbo and Port Orchard. We will also focus on getting spay and neuter state legislation passed, specifically State Senate Bill 5329/House Bill 1406, which would provide funding for low-income families in need of spay and neuter services by raising an existing pet food fee.

All of us would love to see a day when every animal has a loving, responsible home. Reducing shelter euthanasia and alleviating needless suffering is something that we can all strive to do.

Thanks to everyone who participated and please remember to spay/neuter your pets to save lives.

Linda Dennis

Bremerton