We don’t need more commerce | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 10:19 am Tuesday, June 30, 2015

To the editor:

Once again, the specter of “economic development” raises its ugly head (“City looks for new logo,” June 5).

A major reason Bainbridge Island is an attractive place to live is the relatively limited commerce and industry that exists here. With two supermarkets, three pharmacies, two gas stations and adequate professional services, residents are adequately served by those existing enterprises.

More commerce and industry means more congestion and more demand for public services — law enforcement, firefighting, judicial and penal systems, all at increased costs to taxpayers. We don’t need more commerce and industry. Economic development will come in response to consumer needs expressed through the marketplace.

Let’s just not burden ourselves with arbitrary additional costs by encouraging development beyond that natural growing consumer demand.

DONALD MARSH AND TAKAKO SATOH

Bainbridge Island