I am going to vote yes on Question 4 on Nov. 8, and I encourage you to join me.
This ballot initiative will allow every eligible driver, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a driver’s license. This is a no-brainer step towards improved road safety, as has been demonstrated in the 17 other states that have already passed similar measures. It will also make it possible for everyone to get around our rural region safely and legally for work and other daily needs. This is why many of the farmers I know support this ballot initiative — they work with immigrants daily and see their essential contributions to our agricultural system.
My view is also connected to my work as a farmer and my enjoyment of all foods. I treasure the richness and variety of the local food community here, and that includes the influence that so many different immigrant groups have had on this region over time. Food connects people to each other and to the land, and immigrants have contributed so much more to our food culture here than only their labor. It makes our worlds bigger to learn about and try new foods and to connect with people who have had different histories than ourselves.
Because of all this — the road safety, the necessity of legal driving for people who live and work here, and my gratitude for immigrant contributions to the culture of the Valley — I am voting yes on Question 4.
Kat H. Chang Laznicka
Reed Farm, Sunderland