After a brief hiatus (and a name shift from Reader E-Mailbag to the more traditional Letters to the Editor), we're back with a whole new set of compliments, complaints, suggestions and other remarks from Stranger readers.

Talk is Cheap

I just finished reading an article about our state's role in forming the United States Climate Alliance in response to the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement ("Following the Paris Agreement Fail, Washington State Is Joining a 'Climate Alliance' with New York and California"—published 6/1). While we should all be proud to live in a state that's leading on this issue, it's important that our actions reflect this commitment. Right now there are two massive fossil fuel export projects that are under permit review. One is the Tesoro-Savage oil train terminal in Vancouver, WA, which, if approved, would be the largest in North America. The other is a refinery being proposed in Kalama, WA, which would convert fracked natural gas to methanol for export to Asia and would be the largest such refinery anywhere in the world. If Governor Inslee were to come out against these projects, it would send a strong signal that he's serious about leading the charge to move us towards a cleaner, sustainable future.

Neal Anderson
Sammamish, WA 98075

Hi, I'm a black female, I listen to Dan Savage all the time on his Lovecast but recently I have been listening to Blabbermouth at work. Rich Smith is right on the last Evergreen podcast episode. I love Dan dearly but he can't relate to the underlining issue regarding race.

Oh, and I love Rich Smith's voice.

LF

Yesterday afternoon I went for a long run through the green spaces of Seattle while listening to audio of the Mudede-Mass debate on climate change (The Stranger should consider releasing this in the form of a podcast, by the way).

I thought Eli did a great job of moderating, particularly in highlighting the differing opinions on whether a "sense of urgency" about rising temperatures would ultimately serve the public good (I think it would), and in pressing Dr. Mass on his subtle inconsistencies regarding this point and the political support for effective legislation.

One thing that wasn't addressed in this discussion was the fact that rising temperatures are not something to be merely considered in a bubble. For example, there are indications that climate change will lead to further challenges in public health, and possibly in national security. The 2017 Climate and Health Summit, which was initially cancelled out of fear of the incoming administration, took place in February of this year. The effect of rising temperatures on more frequent infectious disease outbreaks was just one of the topics discussed. The fact that Dr. Mass's studies haven't shown any kind of "weather cliff" in the foreseeable future, as he made a point to mention, probably doesn't matter in the first place. Looking forward to more coverage on this.

Stephen Watson

Dear Editor,

Politicians who tell lies belong in dungeons.

Yours Cordially,
Leland Mellott
Mount Vernon, Washington

So I picked up your May 10-16 issue, with a larger than life mugshot of Trump with a bright yellow banner stretched across his face declaring "ITMFA" and took it home expecting an insightful article explaining why we should impeach the mother fucker already.

Nothing.

There was no article; just a cover art ad on your byline with props for the photo taker and the original photo sans splash "art."

Deceptive and disappointing are a couple adjectives that come to mind.

Seattle Weekly would never bait me like that—you should be better than this—I don't appreciate fake news "art"icles.

—Fat Marty
Sent from my iPhone