Letters to the editor, Feb. 9 | Letters | jhnewsandguide.com – Jackson Hole News&Guide

Focus on assisted living

Assisted living (housing that is designed for elderly or disabled people who need assistance with daily activities but don’t require care in a nursing home) in Rafter J began in the early 2000s when what would become Legacy Lodge, an assisted living center, became home to some of our beloved elderly Teton County residents. It ended in February 2021, when 35 of our Teton County elderly residents were told to move out in 30 days, in the middle of winter and the middle of COVID, because the owners were shutting its doors. Residents had to leave their homes, and some of them had to leave the county all together — away from their families — during a time in their lives where they are the most vulnerable in their health.

Sage Living, specializing in skilled nursing, rehabilitative services and memory care, opened its doors in August 2021. According to its website it has 56 suites — for all of Teton County. Having opened only months ago, we’re hearing Sage already has a waiting list of 50 or more.

There is no assisted living in Teton County. There is so much discussion in our county regarding affordable and workforce housing, but what about the housing needs for our elderly population?

According to the Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department website, we counted around 444 affordable and workforce units and 23 affordable dorm beds, either built or projected to be built between 2019 and 2024. According to a July 7, 2021 News & Guide article, there were eight significant workforce housing projects in the works.

In addition, the new owners/developers of Lot 333 in Rafter J, formerly Legacy Lodge assisted living center, want to change the land use regulations and convert the only building in Teton County currently designed and intended for assisted living into apartments.

What is in the works for assisted living? What is in the works to decrease the waiting list at Sage Living?

It’s time we focus on the missing gaps on the continuum of specialized care and housing for our elderly Teton County residents — our elderly mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters. It’s time we balance in our community the needs of all our residents, including our retired workforce who are contributing members to this beautiful valley we have called home for many, many decades.

Steve and Gina Lipp

Teton County

Cultural connection

It all began with a cowboy hat.

Our local nonprofit organization, Vista 360, does cultural exchange programs in Central Asia, connecting American cowboys with other horse-centered cultures. Vista 360 helped pull together a team to represent the U.S. at kok-boru, a wild horseback game. At the World Nomad Games in 2016, I gave a cowboy hat and my business card to the head of the Afghan team at the closing banquet when all the teams exchange gifts.

Early last September I received an email from this man, whose name is Sayfuddin. He asked me if I could help his family escape the Taliban. He had no other contacts so I said yes, emphasizing that I had no idea how to help but would try. Thanks to a network of more than 50 people who provided both money and essential connections, they were finally able to escape last week. They are in Iran and safe!

Sayfuddin’s family includes his wife, six children and two of his children’s spouses. Before leaving the country he was director of the National Buzkashi and Local Sports Federation. His wife is a surgeon of 35 years and an assistant professor of medicine, as well as a lifelong advocate for women’s education. The family includes three doctors (two women) and four medical students (two women). This entire family was in grave danger because Sayfuddin has been a vocal opponent of the Taliban and because doctors are being targeted for kidnapping, and sometimes death, all around Afghanistan. (No one seems to know if the perpetrators are associated with the Taliban or ISIS or are common criminals.)

Now this family needs support while waiting for their American entry applications to be processed. They need both financial support and help navigating the maze of border controls. Their visas in Iran will expire in 30 days. Most of the world is closed to Afghan passports and, like most refugees, their ability to earn a living is almost nil until they are resettled. They must now depend on the kindness of strangers.

We’re hoping that the Jackson Hole community will adopt this family for the next six months and be part of saving their lives and giving them a future. We’ve created a fund at Vista 360, the Afghan Friendship Fund, that will be used 100% for direct support to this family. If you would like more information, please contact me at candra@vista360.org.

Candra Day

Jackson

Wisdom misses mark

Well-intentioned mom Rachel Wigglesworth titled her Jan. 26 Parent Talk column “Instead of molding kids, behold them.”

This philosophy of child rearing suggests children are born with all the equipment they need to negotiate the treacherous terrain of the modern American world. Just let them be and see what happens!

However, it turns out, kids are not quite like wildflowers. They don’t just grow up straight and tall and beautiful in whatever rocky soil they find themselves. Human beings have a lot of moving parts that have to be trained to interact with the environment, including the complex institutions of society. When we relieve children of proper parenting, of healthy schooling, of gainful work and dignity, they wilt and die like wildflowers pulled from the ground. Human beings are the neediest species on planet Earth.

The soil for human wildflowers is history, law, science and ethics/religion. Their sunshine is parental love. Their rainwater is good counsel, regular employment and the opportunity to live out their dreams. We’ve got a long way to go in America, and in Wyoming, before we can behold the beauty God intended our children to radiate. Beauty isn’t in the eye of the beholder; it’s in the hands of the community.

Kimball Shinkoskey

Woods Cross, Utah

Just for tourists?

I started coming here in 1993. There was a housing issue then. However, I was part of the seasonal crowd. I lived in my van and headed south when it got too cold to do so comfortably. There were a lot of people living that lifestyle then, and there are a lot of people who do that even now. I am amazed at the number of people who do it all winter. Employers need to treat them with respect and pay them well!

COVID-19 has changed things so dramatically for this valley. I do not believe there is one business that is fully staffed. The employee/housing issue is beyond ridiculous.

Today there are 10 pages of “wanted” ads. One studio available for rent goes for $1,700 a month. Houses available for rent go from $4,200 a month to $6,950 a month. Now tell me who is paying $50,000 a year for rent and working in this valley?

The employee positions available at $21.96 an hour come out to a yearly salary of $42,163.20 for a full-time worker. At that rate you cannot afford a studio unless you are sharing it. Even at $35 an hour a full-time employee would be making $67,200 a year and still couldn’t afford a studio. A human resources director who makes $104,000 to $118,000 a year can afford a studio!

Now how about our custodians, bus drivers and substitute teachers? They all make substantially less than $21.96 an hour. This is the housing issue. This is the employee issue. This is the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, issue.

I bought property in Alpine in 2000 and built a home. I became part of the commuter population. I drove 45 minutes in good weather and good traffic conditions each way every day for over 17 years. During the construction era of the canyon that drive could be anywhere from an hour to three hours one way. The life of the commuter is never knowing how long the drive can possibly take.

I began renting my place out and living in Jackson. I was so excited to find an affordable five-year lease. I was promised they would never sell. Halfway through the lease they were approached and offered enough money that they sold. I do not begrudge them. They probably have their kids and any potential grandkids set for life.

And guess what the building is now being torn down for? Nope, not a bank. Nope, not a gallery. Yup, you guessed it — a hotel! So much for nine businesses and an apartment that were in the building. The building next door is being torn down, too, to become part of the new hotel. That building has at least eight different businesses in it as well, in addition to workers living in the upstairs apartment.

Of course, just what this valley needs is another place to house tourists.

My questions are: Is Jackson becoming a place just for tourists? Is that truly what the Planning and Building Department has been shooting for all this time? Where do they plan to find the workers for the businesses? Places are closing earlier and earlier and not opening but a few days a week all because they have no employees. What are the tourists to do? Eating out is a practice in patience because there is always a shortage in every position.

So come this year, or who knows when because it is I am sure all dependent on permits and such, there will be at least 17 businesses seeking a new place to run their business out of. Will these businesses continue to work here or opt to leave Jackson altogether?

I have loved running my business here and living in the area since 1993. It is just so sad to see the ridiculous prices on rentals for workers, and to see the lack of places for men and women to run their businesses. It is feeling like those that oversee the development and infrastructure of Jackson just want tourists, not people who actually live here.

Tina Seay

Jackson

Glorifying death

As a resident of Rock Springs, I think it is shameful that Buddha Bob’s allowed participants of a coyote killing contest to gather and celebrate on Feb. 5. In these cruel and unsporting wildlife killing contests, participants compete for cash and prizes for killing the most, the largest, and even the smallest animals over a specified period. Wildlife management professionals, responsible hunters and scientists across the country have stated that these contests serve no wildlife management purpose, they don’t prevent conflicts with wildlife and are an embarrassment to their states’ hunting tradition. As a result, eight states have now banned them, including many western states like Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Washington.

Our group, Wyoming Wildlife Protection, held peaceful demonstrations outside Buddha Bob’s bar at The Sands for seven days until Feb. 5. While we were respectfully exercising our First Amendment right to assemble, we were called all kinds of names, given the middle finger, and were told — inexplicably — to “go back to California.”

And the abuse didn’t stop here. On Tuesday evening during the protest, two people pulled up in a car, and while one man tried to distract us with small talk, another placed a dead coyote’s body next to us. The man then jumped in the car and sped away.

How can anyone justify these egregious, violent acts by the contest’s supporters toward peaceful protesters?

But appalling behavior like this did not distract or intimidate us. It only made us more determined to fight for Wyoming’s wildlife that has been treated like trash. These animals cannot defend themselves, which is why we were there to speak on their behalf. We are representing their lives and the life of our ecosystem.

Buddha Bob’s should decline to allow future embarrassing events like these in its establishment that promotes violence against our wildlife and our peaceful community members. Until that happens, we will continue to protest their support.

Read more from wildlife management professionals, scientists and responsible hunters on wildlife killing contests and predator control at HumaneSociety.org/wildlifekillingcontests.

Madhu Anderson

Rock Springs

Do it for Danny

We recently celebrated the life of Danny Mayer, well known as the Voice of the Broncs as he announced high school games on the radio for 21 years. I knew his health history and had asked him in 2012 to write a paragraph about the importance of giving blood, as I thought it would be more meaningful to local donors if they heard an appeal from someone they knew. I also asked him to speak at an assembly at Summit Innovations School. You’ve never seen an audience with more rapt attention as Danny told his story in his inimitable way. Here is the condensed version of what Danny wrote for the blood drive:

“A lot of you know me as the ‘Voice Of The Broncs.’ I announce all of the football, basketball and baseball games. In 1995 I was involved in a head-on collision here in Jackson. I needed 52 units of type O blood at St. John’s Medical Center. My recovery was very lengthy. This spring, I was involved in another accident which caused severe internal bleeding, requiring me to receive several units of life-saving type O blood. I’m proud to be the fourth generation in my family living in Jackson. I am so grateful for those individuals that took the time to donate blood — I am here today because of their generosity. It is now my turn to give back to the community; will you please help me and donate blood?”

Our next blood drive is next Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 16 and 17, at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church. If thinking of Danny brings a smile to your face, please consider donating blood in his honor. Appointments can be made at Vitalant.org or by calling 877-258-4825. Walk-ins are also welcome but those with an appointment are expedited. Blood is always needed and you never know when it might be someone you know who needs it. Let’s grow the ranks of Blood Heroes and honor someone who had such a big personality and such a big heart for Jackson! I will be thinking of Danny this week when I “lend an arm.”

Jolene Moulder

Jackson