Hold your nose and vote yes on Proposition 1 | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 8:48 am Saturday, October 24, 2015

To the editor:

I think I have now read nearly all the pro and con perspectives about Proposition 1. Almost all of them have some merit, and the alternatives proposed all have some advantages and disadvantages.

For myself, I have particular misgivings about the institutional capacity of our city to properly scope a project to the actual needs. We have a history of going for Porsche solutions when a high end Toyota would serve better. Cost overruns have also plagued many of our ambitious public works projects. I would prefer different solutions than those proposed.

But it is not up to me or even others who may share my concerns. It is about the essential element of a functioning democracy. You can’t always get what you want. Mick Jagger even knew this. We have to find solutions that get the job done, even when it is not likely to be done to our personal satisfaction. Compromise, something the U.S. Congress has forgotten to our peril, is part of the game.

So, even though I also think I have a better idea, I am voting for the proposition. We need these facilities. We will be better off than without them. We need to know when to let go and get behind these essential projects, even if we have to hold our noses at the ballot box. Democracy is messy.

If we send this back to the drawing board, the ensuing process will likely be more delay, bickering, road side signs and another cycle of political processes that may not yield a better result. Let’s get this passed and THEN keep a good watchdog on the city’s plan to execute on the program.

DAVID HAGER

Bainbridge Island