Decide now
To the editor:
Friday’s edition of the Bainbridge Island Review illustrated what’s been troubling decision-making at the City Council level for some time- inability to implement.
We have three immediate needs and uses for the money “right now”, and they show up on every island-wide survey I’m aware of.
1. Fix the sewage treatment plant.
2. Fund some affordable housing.
3. Resolve and build a replacement police station.
Instead we seem to want to “boil the ocean” by getting more input and having everyone’s input considered.
How about this as an idea?
Let’s quit kicking the can down the road and have the council get off the dime and move these projects ahead now as they benefit all islanders in some way, and this money could be used now.
I’m sure there is an argument to be made that more grant money might be obtained in the future but I’m getting too old to keep waiting for promises to come true.
Dave Lindsey
Bainbridge Island
Headline wrong
To the editor:
Once again, the Review has chosen a flashy headline over the facts when you trumpeted “Another No on Affordable Housing”.
The facts are that this developer’s proposed agreement to the council would not guarantee that affordable housing would be maintained for 99 years and was asking for variances (e.g. one-third to half as much setback from the highway as required, overriding the Design Review Board’s recommendations, an exception to the ordinance requiring 99 years of affordability).
Rather than a “No on Affordable Housing”, the council members who voted against accepting this agreement were watching out for the quality of development on the island, the city’s (our) investment and for good government practices.
I appreciate their attention to the details of this agreement – as I am very supportive of affordable housing, but not substandard affordable housing created by undermining public process and state and city ordinances.
Gloria Sayler
Bainbridge Island
Pick Deets
To the editor:
In these times when “the big lie” can metastasize beyond all the fact-checking in the world, it is saddening and disappointing that on Bainbridge Ron Peltier needs to resort to misinformation and mendacity against his opponent. The only truth in Peltier’s recent ad was his characterization of Joe Deets as an environmentalist, which Joe has always been.
When I served on council for eight years we confined political discussions to issues relevant to islanders within the guardrails of honesty and transparency. Fortunately Deets shares that philosophy and is committed to campaigning on the issues about which our community cares.
Joe has a great record from his first term on council, and campaigns should be run on records and issues. But, if your only record is one of divisiveness, which so sadly characterized Peltier’s last stint on council and got him turned out of office, then it is easy to understand why Ron turns to innuendo instead of issues.
His evasion of relevant issues does little to promote the kind of campaign islanders would prefer. Peltier’s recent failure to disclose major campaign ad expenditures to the PDC make his concerns about transparency tragically ironic. We must keep Peltier’s history of fractiousness and falsehood in the rear-view mirror (instead of a fog in the headlights). Joe has a proven track record. Join me in voting for Joe Deets — concerned, caring, capable. Probity counts.
Jim Llewellyn
Bainbridge Island
Pay workers
To the editor:
I’m writing you to express my disappointment with the decision to publish the guest viewpoint by Christine Flowers on July 30. I have not read anything that disconnected from reality in a long time. As a person who has worked since I was 15, and a part of a younger generation coming up behind you, I’ve watched pensions disappear, wages stagnate and longer term tenures at companies become the exception, not the rule.
To Christine: If you’ve never had to work for a living, then butt out of the conversation. Having worked my share of food service jobs making $5.13 an hour as a bus boy I understand why people are fed up with customers who have become mean.
Workers are no longer willing to listen to you complain about the food making 1/20th of what you make off dividends. Either raise the wages or do it yourself. If you can’t figure out how to attract workers, you’re not a successful entrepreneur.
So the workforce realizes it’s own dignity, and you’re upset that everyone else gets to be as entitled as you?
Your father, who worked three jobs and went to school at night, would have killed for the opportunity to stick up for himself and demand a better life. They’d be ashamed of their entitled brat kid. You don’t have to beg people, just pay them.
To the editor: This type of entitled complaining piece doesn’t help anything. What’s the goal of putting something like this in our local newspaper? Do better.
Jeffrey O’Meara
Bainbridge Island
Like Deets
To the editor:
I met Joe Deets in a meditation group on Bainbridge Island. Joe was interested in people, spiritual practice and being a good father and husband. I was impressed by his knowledge of the issues that affect island life. His actions on City Council reflect his commitment to equity, repairing the environment, and promoting healthy and sustainable economic growth.
Joe took a leading role in advancing a bold Climate Action Plan. Sustainable transportation, green space and reducing carbon emissions are a few of the many elements in the plan. Joe is aware of our housing crisis and supports the Affordable Housing Task Force Final Report and has made suggestions that improve the original document. Joe also recognized the importance of equity and inclusion in how our local government does its work. To that end, he served as council liaison to the Race Equity Advisory Committee.
Joe advocated for the training and education of City Council members and staff on issues relating to racial equity. This training helps people understand how systemic racism shows up in local government. Joe also took part in the 2020 Black Lives Matter rallies. We all remember the summer of 2020. Business was shuttered. Joe supported local business recovery and a drive down Winslow today feels like a pre-pandemic tableau of filled parking spaces and local business flourishing once again.
I will vote for Joe Deets so that he can continue the work that he began in his first term.
Mark Lancaster
Bainbridge Island
