LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[February 7th, 2007] GORDIAN——NOT

Steve Novick's diatribe "If I Ran" was hard hitting, on point, and shows why he would be unelectable if he ran against Sen. Gordon Smith in 2008. Any progressive, even if they were not fully informed of Senator Smith's evil ways that Mr. Novick listed, was never going to support or vote for Smith.

Both progressives and hardcore conservatives are political minorities; both sides need independents and moderates to achieve a majority to win statewide and national elections. Gerrymandered House of Representatives districts are for each party's base.

As [New York Sen.] Charles Schumer proved last November, you need Democratic senatorial candidates that appeal to each state's independents and moderates to win a national majority. You do not get 100 percent of your agenda, but then again you no longer live under a Republican Senate and House and—if we reach out in 2008—nor under a Republican presidency.

In Mr. Novick's world in 2008, he would passionately list the many evils of Sen. Smith, rallying progressives to the cause while the rest of the state sees Sen. Smith putting on his moderate electable sweater.

Please put your passion into getting progressives behind candidates so that we achieve a Democratic majority of 60 in the Senate to prevent filibusters from conservative elements, which would allow the more progressive House leadership to move the agenda forward.

Jonathan Lett, Southwest Morrison Street

PPS I LOVE YOU! OUR FUTURE IS SUNNY!

I was recently interviewed by Willamette Week in response to the Metro area snow event of Jan. 16 [Rogue of the Week, Jan. 24]. Information from the interview with Willamette Week was used to support nomination of two local school districts as Rogues of the Week. The article draws a patently unfair and incorrect conclusion for the readers.

Local schools contract with my weather forecasting and consulting firm to help prepare them to react to winter events. At no time during the interview with Willamette Week did we talk about any specific school districts. For the record, I think the vilification of the school districts is completely unwarranted.

It is a professional reality that meteorologists will be wrong at times with certain aspects of a weather forecast. In the case of the Jan. 16 event, it is clear in hindsight that I forecast less snow than what actually fell. The discrepancy between what was forecast and what actually fell caught some of our clients off guard.

Our area sees infrequent snowfall. When snow falls in the middle of the night, decisions about how to handle schools and transportation equipment are easy to make. However, when snow starts falling during the morning commute, it presents a nightmare for those skilled professionals that have to decide whether to cancel school.

Philip Volker
President, ERF Company Inc.
North Lotus Isle Drive

Beth Slovic responds: As the column in question reported, Volker told WW the relatively heavy accumulation of snow didn't catch him off guard, and it didn't catch any of his clients off guard.

CORRECTION: In last week's article "Family Feud," WW misspelled the last name of the state's legislative fiscal officer. The correct spelling is Rocco. WW regrets the error.