Oops. Former Tacoma teacher’s op-ed slamming DEI in schools proves how vital it is | Opinion
DEI in schools
While reading Mike Jankanish’s recent op-ed on DEI training in The News Tribune Opinion section, I kept thinking it was satire. I was waiting for the bazinga at the end. But no, he seriously suggested that teaching educators about diversity (people with different backgrounds) and inclusion (making people feel included) is a threat.
I have attended numerous DEI training sessions and while I can’t speak for each trainer, the goal is not Marxism, it’s treating all people with respect and equity.
For a groups that like to spout ‘All Lives Matter,’ some sure don’t believe all people matter.
If acknowledging, learning about and welcoming people who are different is threatening to Mr. Jankanish, his op-ed proves why it is necessary.
Angelie Coy, Tacoma
Pharmacy Benefit Managers
As the caregiver to my husband’s parents, I’ve seen how difficult it can be for patients to manage their conditions.
While I’m grateful for the bright spots in our healthcare system, whether it’s patents that allow for research into cures or rebates to make sure patients receive the care they need, too many people in our state must jump through hoops to access the treatments they need due to the harmful impacts of pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs.
That makes it all the more frustrating and disappointing that Congress continues to drag its feet on reform.
Anyone who has had to fight with PBMs to get a medication covered or paid high out-of-pocket expenses for their prescriptions knows how bad these groups can be for patients. Insurer-owned PBMs are only in it for the profits, and their policies reflect that.
Our federal legislators, including Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Marilyn Strickland, must come together to pass PBM reform during this Congress.
Many patients literally can’t afford to wait any longer for a solution to this growing problem.
Stacy Mattson, Puyallup
Lawn fertilizer
Before buying fertilizer for the upcoming spring season, there’s something you may want to consider: many lawn fertilizers contain high levels of nitrogen that can pollute our water, and some contain PFAS, a class of highly toxic, health-threatening chemicals that stay in the environment forever.
Initially developed in the 1940s for water and stain resistance, PFAS are now ever-present in many consumer goods, making their way into wastewater from disposal and lax regulations. Wastewater treatment plants convert PFAS-laden waste into “biosolid” fertilizers. Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers with polymer coatings may also contain PFAS. Exposure poses health risks such as cancer and developmental problems in children.
Fertilizers with high nitrogen content (exceeding 12%) cause nitrogen leaching, which leads to harmful algal blooms, fish fatalities, hypoxia (an absence of oxygen in the body) and contamination of underground aquifers.
You and your landscaper can reduce these risks by choosing fertilizers free from sewage sludge, opting for slow-release fertilizers without PFAS, and selecting lawn fertilizers with nitrogen below 12%.
Mindful fertilizer choices are vital for Washington’s environment and your health and safety.
Genevieve Hammatt, Bellingham
