The Review

Less opining and more reporting

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.

I confess to having limited interest in what our editor thinks of these council members. I don’t know the editor, but do know two of the three council members whom he targets, and respect all of them for their spirited attempts to restore sanity to the city’s spending practices. They are solid people.

When it comes to the Review, what I do care about is how the paper covers local government, and in particular the city’s financial crisis. As Bob Fortner’s guest opinion piece published adjacent to the editorial makes clear, we are in quite a fix, with the administration now reduced to proposing the municipal equivalent of a 20-year “payday loan” to carry the city through December. Dr. Fortner’s analysis shows this financial squeeze didn’t develop overnight; it’s been building for years.

Where has the Review been as this crisis developed? Twenty minutes spent on the paper’s website reveals that of the 68 issues of the Review published since Jan. 1, 2008 only eight have included news stories which might generously be described as addressing the city’s overall budget problems. Of these eight news stories, only three concerned the general fund; the others focused on capital spending. All of the stories were reactive to council meetings; none were the product of journalistic initiative; none included any original reportorial analysis; none did any original arithmetic.

Our editor might consider that a little less opining and a little more shoe-leather reporting is in order. The only reason anybody takes editorial opinion seriously is the supposition that professional newspeople are better informed than the average reader. But so long as basic fact-digging is left to “civilians” such as Bob Fortner (to whom this community owes a considerable debt), one might reasonably conclude that all the journalists know is what they read in their own paper. Around here, that isn’t much.

JIM MOONEY

Pleasant Beach Drive

Business

Loss of cafe far from tragic

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kevin Dwyer needs to get a better understanding of words and what they mean before he calls the closing of a local restaurant “tragic.” Darfur is tragic. The war in Iraq is tragic. I could go on, but I think you get the point. And what’s even sillier about his comment is that he’s saying it about a place that was known more for, “late nights and cocktails.” Has Mr. Dwyer read the police blotter lately? Most of it is alcohol related problems – primarily drunk driving. Now that’s tragic!

Before I get labeled a party-pooper, know that I have nothing against having fun and drinking in moderation. Also, I’m well aware that rents are high and people losing their jobs is sad. However, I’ve lived on this island for 20-plus years and have seen dozens of restaurants come and go. I’ve also worked in the restaurant industry and know it’s a tough job if you do it right. But on many, many occasions I’ve dined out with friends and family on the island and been met with slow and indifferent service, mediocre food and a large tab.

In my opinion, any eating establishment anywhere that consistently offers great food, great service and has a decent location, i.e., adequate parking and foot traffic will do all right. There’s a handful of island restaurants that have that recipe for success.

T. MURPHY

Wing Point

City

Priority should be public safety

I was disappointed in Barry Peters when he backed down from his position on funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities as the City Council voted last week to make senior center expansion and a new police and municipal court building the top priorities in the Capital Facilities Plan (“Senior center project brought back to table,” Aug. 23).

As he had noted, surveys have shown an overwhelming public support for additional bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the island. I’m frankly amazed that the council and administration can turn their backs on what is primarily a major public safety issue to fund other projects, which, though no one can argue are not necessary and worthwhile, do not rise to the level of serious public safety concerns.

As with all capital planning processes, public safety must come first and foremost in the minds of planners and all public officials. To not consider public safety when prioritizing public works projects is, in my mind at least, tantamount to a dereliction of public duty. I strongly urge the council and the administration to reconsider their recent vote on funding priorities for capital facilities, and to make public safety the top consideration when doing so.

MARK FOLLETT

Kallgren Road NE

Environment

‘Positive energy’ begins at home

How do we make our country less dependent on fossil fuel for energy and have a positive impact on climate change? We think a good place to start is here on Bainbridge Island by finding practical ways to generate, use and conserve energy at home and in the community. It will also require partnerships with business and government.

Come to the eighth annual Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference to learn more about these topics and share your ideas. The conference will be held at IslandWood from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, and is entitled “Positive Energy.”

Speakers and discussion groups will address renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation, and green transportation. We’ll also have city and state elected officials tell us what they are doing to meet these goals. For more information, go to the Sustainable Bainbridge website, www.sustainablebainbridge.net, send an email to biabc2000@yahoo.com, or call 842-9483.

This community event is organized by the Association of Bainbridge Communities (ABC) and the Bainbridge Island Land Trust with assistance from Sustainable Bainbridge and Community Energy Solutions – local nonprofit organizations which we represent.

CHARLES SCHMID, CONNIE WADDINGTON, SALLIE MARON and JOE DEETS