The next big idea for Bainbridge Island | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 11:11 am Wednesday, August 3, 2016

To the editor:

Arguably, happiness is wanting the things you have. I feel lucky to live in a small, quirky town located in a naturally beautiful part of the world — but I can’t get past this Bainbridge utility idea.

There are an idealistic few that want their small town island experience but also want their big town trail blazing ideas to be based here. Following this path will risk financial exposure beyond what our population’s tax base can weather. We cannot afford to do the same trail blazing that other towns like Portland can. They can screw up an idea and watch the tax revenue fill in the wound within a fiscal year. Bainbridge does not have this luxury.

I would like to express my disapproval of our city council who quickly and recklessly approved yet another study — this one just over $100,000.

I would ask that the authors of this big idea take it to a community that can pay for it and let PSE do their job here. Is anyone really upset with PSE anyway?

Chip and Dan Heath explain in their book “Decisive” how poor decisions are derived with Yes or No options to a single idea. “What if we started every decision by asking some simple questions: What are we giving up by making this choice? What else could we do with the same time and money?” I would ask, how can we make what we have better? Bike lanes, anyone?

ERIK WOOD

Bainbridge Island