Editor’s note: Hits and Misses is a column I’ve written for years in different communities. I’m introducing it to Bainbridge Review readers this week. It’s basically snippets of my view of things good and not so good in the community.
Hits
The city of Bainbridge Island for moving its executive sessions to before the regular City Council meetings start. Putting them at the start of the meetings was inconvenient for the public, having to wait and wait, and then having to wait some more to make public comments. This is much more customer-friendly.
Locals who have shown support for Ukraine by demonstrating in Bainbridge and Poulsbo. Keeping the issue out in the open is important because such actions should not be tolerated anywhere.
Special shout out to locals like Dale Perry, Jake Gillanders, Lena Levin, The Bainbridge Jewish Community, Bainbridge Community Foundation and others for their more hands-on approach in helping Ukrainians in the war against Russia.
Respecting each other regarding personal decisions to wear COVID masks or not. Now if we could just do that with all issues.
The Bainbridge Planning Commission for considering Housing Resources Bainbridge executive director Phedra Elliott’s recommendations on affordable housing. She really is the expert, as humbling as that might be for that panel.
The city plans to put more money into maintaining its roads and facilities so they will last longer. That makes sense. So does using more climate-friendly materials, but that needs to be balanced with the cost.
The city wants to get a lot of public input before putting together its Housing Action Plan. That’s a great idea since we’re the ones it’s going to affect.
The city for realizing its responsibility for taking some of the growth needed for Kitsap County in the future, and figuring out the best place for it.
Events that have taken place to remember the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is such an important part of the history of Bainbridge, and it should never be forgotten.
Merrill Keating, 17, of Bainbridge for putting on an empowering women summit. What a great young community leader.
The Suquamish Tribe for offering so many types of housing for people in need. Now, if other areas would just do the same.
The city for improving the intersection of Sportsman Club and New Brooklyn roads.
All the activities planned for Earth Month. There’s nothing more important to all of us than the earth. The activities will help remind us of that.
Students who walked out due to alleged racism at Kingston High School. Such activism for things that are wrong is great to learn in school and carry through adulthood. That is the best way to bring about peaceful change.
The Giving Garden program in Kingston, which provides items for the food bank to help those in need.
Everyone who participates in the Kitsap Great Give next month. What a wonderful way to help the many great organizations in the county that help those in need in so many different areas of life.
Misses
The city of Bainbridge Island first for taking so long to build a police station-court facility – 20 years or so – and then tying their own hands by purchasing municipal bonds for a project with too many issues. It’s not a good location – near a church and senior facility. It was too expensive. And we will never know for certain if there was anything fishy going on in paying too much for the facility because there’s been no investigation.
Whoever made the bomb threat at the ferry dock. Does not make any sense. Just a waste of resources.
All the litterbugs who have been busy the past two years during COVID. The many organizations that did those cleanups have had to cut back their efforts during this time of many restrictions. So the garbage just piled up. We’re glad to see efforts starting back up again as the pandemic eases. We hope many get involved with new programs and take more pride in our communities.
Underfunding of the state ferry system. It’s going to cost us more in the long run that these vessels have not been kept ship-shape.
