Letters to the Editor

Apology accepted

Editor, the Journal and Mr. Gordon Weeks,

I accept your multiple apologies via email, voicemail and personal phone call. Not only did I read the tone of your words, but also I discerned your sincerity with the tone of your voice. Additionally, I forgive you for any anguish your misquote has caused me. Finally, I expect the Shelton-Mason County Journal to keep its promise: a front-page correction and a “most sincere” apology along with admitting, “It is 100% our mistake.”

When your paper has used my words or quoted me in the past, it has been 100% correct and 100% in the correct context. However, the description of events in your article reporting the incidents of July 16 clearly does not match the footage depicted from MasonWebTV video of the Shelton City Council meeting.

I would like to break the cycles of sensationalist reporting and intentional infliction of emotional distress distributed by angry self-serving individuals looking to go viral and bring clicks to their cause. Making sure internet trolls did not intimidate policy makers is why I ran for office. Aggressive bullying is not the way to run a city. Making thinly veiled violent threats is never acceptable, especially now at this heated political time.

While the mayor and I prefer different political parties outside of our city offices, we take our nonpartisan council member seat seriously. We are neighbors first. We often come to mutually beneficial decisions and make compromises to move our city forward. In fact, in the first two years of my term, the council as a whole has voted unanimously on almost every resolution.

The mayor runs around all over the city and county with much vigor and passion hearing everyone’s concerns and integrating that feedback into his decision-making process. (Pro tip on voting: elect your politicians by that person’s actions, not his words.) The mayor has earned my trust. His love for living in this city and concern in bringing housing to Shelton at all levels is clearly evident. I look forward to continuing working with him in the future.

Furthermore, the mayor and I are looking to build a future where we resolve to put forward solutions to root causes of houselessness.

I believe that being poor is not a crime and I will not take steps to criminalize people who don’t have money. I reject the notion that cruel and unusual measures should be imposed on the most vulnerable of people.

And finally, I am not resigning. On the contrary, my resolve to change the business of politics and politics of business is reinforced, renewed and reinvigorated.

I believe that love is more powerful than hate. I believe that light erases the darkness. I believe we carry nothing into the next world except our memories of how we treated each other in the here and now. I implore us all to search within our hearts and share our gratitude and blessings of this truly wonderful life.

Peace, love & justice,

Miguel Gutierrez, Shelton City Council, Seat No. 7

Vote Tarzwell

Editor, the Journal,

I was very pleased to see Pat Tarzwell running for Mason County commissioner. People in Mason County have no idea the amount of work and effort Pat and his wife have put into the betterment of this county over the past decade without asking for anything in return or making it about themselves. This selfless work deserves all of our votes.

Jamie Bariekman, Elma

Pride is a bad idea

Editor, the Journal,

Recently, [Shelton City Council member] Miguel Gutierrez wrote a letter to the editor titled “Why Pride is important” and touted what he claims are the positive business aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and official recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month.

I am forced to take issue with his disingenuous comments as even cursory research shows that DEI initiatives are frequently used to cause conformity and infringe on our First Amendment rights. While the so-called Human Rights Campaign Foundation may push DEI policies as positive business practices, many are in fact turning away from DEI initiatives and proclaiming they will no longer support them.

These recently include Tractor Supply Co., John Deere. Nike and Amazon have DEI programs in name but are increasingly ineffective, according to workers there. Don’t believe me? Google it and you’ll see its true. Additionally, there has been case after case where DEI policy is used as a big club to cause conformity and if you dare speak out, you could find yourself out of a job like the former commander of our nation’s Space Force, Lt. Col. Matt Lohmeier, who lost his job and pension after speaking out against DEI initiatives he believed were dividing his troops and decreasing morale.

Again, even a limited Google search will reflect that DEI policies have a negative impact on companies and workers, particularly those who don’t support such ideology. Additionally, it was disappointing to see his support of a proclamation passed by the City Council to officially recognize June as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Month.” Shelton and Mason County have no need to seek to encourage DEI initiatives or acknowledge LGBTQ factions in order to attract new business.

In fact, it would most likely have a negative impact on businesses and the community here and would ultimately be just another bad idea in the long, sad history of bad ideas.

Jerry Shaw, Shelton