The economic downturn that is presently engulfing us was brought on subtly by two basic events.
The Review’s editorial in the Aug. 23 edition (“”Council needs to make some big decisions”) is a real jaw dropper. The editorial derides as “bellowing,” and “prone to emotional outbursts” the three council members who have vocally challenged the Kordonowy administration’s spending practices. Having thus nuked the dissident threesome, the piece then magnanimously invites them to try “a little civility,” an admonition to which I’m sure all three will accede once they pick themselves up off the floor.
Further about your Aug. 20 editorial (“Neighborly way is best”), being “neighborly” is as island neighborly does. And this has got to get more close and personal.
Mr. Stevens’ letter placing blame on the mayor for the city’s financial woes misses the mark entirely. We learned in the last few years that we are suffering from an entirely dysfunctional City Council that cannot find a way to compromise on significant issues. Even when they do sometimes agree on a policy or program they come back later and pull the rug out from under some poor city employee that had the audacity to enforce their stated wishes.
It’s official: the city finance director is projecting that the city will go $4 million in the hole this year, a loss of almost one in every six dollars of the taxes, fees, grants and loans taken in. Unless the city issues councilmanic debt (what an apt name!), the city will burn through almost all of its cash by the end of 2008, leaving us in a liquidity crisis.
Janet Kragen’s letter (“Foxes would take care of varmints,” Aug. 9) denounced deer as varmints. I would like to offer another view and some suggestions. I admit I’m not much interested in gardening, but to me having those beautiful wild animals strolling past my window is worth any number of posies all standing in a row.
In a recent letter to the editor (“City needs to communicate,” Aug. 6), islander Joe Honick expressed hope that younger working people with families would weigh in on the controversies surrounding our city government.
It has been a few weeks since the Kitsap County “Notice of Value” statements were sent to property owners. We received our statement with some consternation. As was reported, our home was decreased in value from 2008 about 15 percent for the 2009 assessment. However, the dirt we have lived on for 22 years magically increased in value by 83 percent in 2008, according to the Kitsap County assessor.
Those that plant “heritage trees” never get to see the full glory of the fruits of their labor. The trees are planted often with future generations in mind.
The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens. Therefore, we encourage all voters to become informed about the candidates running for office in the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
What does it matter to the dead, the maimed, the widowed, the orphaned, whose homes and work are destroyed, whose cities lie in ruins, whether the mad destruction is done in the name of brutal dictators or in the name of noble defenders of peace and democracy?
It’s a disgrace that it took the FDA over three months to trace the salmonella saintpaul outbreak to jalapeno peppers, and to finally only be able to “warn” us to not eat jalapenos and serranos on July 21. (Thanks to food industry lobbyists, the FDA lacks mandatory recall authority.)
“Say buddy, can you spare any change or a couple ‘Forever’ postage stamps?”
