Are we idiots?

To the editor:

City Council last week committed about $1,200 of your money. That’s $1,200 from each of you. Do you know why? Should you care? Well, you might — especially if you knew this is just the beginning.

The subject is the Harrison police station. Your city paid approximately $9 million for a $3 million building. Who would do that? The people you elected took an oath to be custodians of public funds. Did anyone benefit from this Harrison transaction? Yes. Only one. The seller, Harrison Hospital — not Bainbridge. Not you. Harrison made $6 million on a medical facility nobody wanted. They must think Bainbridge Islanders are idiots, and we are.

Did any staff object? On the contrary, both the past city manager and current assistant city manager stated we should pay a maximum price. And the new city manager said he did not have staff resources to check out the claim. Who does all that? Would you? Do we need a police station? Most say yes as do I. But do you know the city also took out an $8 million bond to pay for it? Do you remember the voters rejected a referendum to do just that by 80%? But the city did it anyway. Is that good?

Were there options? Yes. Including at least one option for a ground-up faculty basically across the street for $8 million less, and the bond nobody wanted would not have been necessary. Did council know? You bet they did. Politics got in the way. Was the public watching? Oh yes. Residents complained. Professional appraisers complained. Professional architects complained.

You, the public, let it happen because the truth was never served. Question: If you could, would you like to have your $1,200 returned and put to better use? It is possible.

Dick Haugan

Bainbridge Island

Rowing ready

To the editor:

Reading the article in the Review about the Bainbridge Island Rowing Club hosting a regatta was the start of a good day for me. Knowing our harbor is being used for things other than broken down ferries and an inept ferry system made my day.

If the city had anything to do with allowing this to take place in Eagle Harbor, kudos to them. Rowing is a challenging sport, and it is wonderful to see so many young people involved.

Colleen Keilbart

Bainbridge Island