Last Saturday, the Lynwood Center Neighborhood Association held a street vendor sponsored exhibit and fair open to the community and public.

Children’s rides, story reading and games were available. Electric power cars, tanning and skin-beauty products could be found, medical practitioners and live music entertainment were provided. Food vendors and businesses spiced up the neighborhood.

Bainbridge Island TV had exhibit space and the Kitsap Regional Library exhibit provided flyers, pamphlets and bumper stickers promoting its levy campaign.

That struck me as odd, since I was requested by an LCNA staff member only a few minutes earlier to leave the area because I was wearing a “Watkins for Congress” T-shirt and had brochures describing his principles and beliefs.

I found the request quite un-American as it flies in the face of free speech while the public library had a political booth approved at the event.

The sad part of my experience of the Taste of Lynwood is that across the street, partially finished business buildings sit empty and a beautiful waterview restaurant sits closed – both caught in a financial banking crisis partially caused by legislation voted for by Jay Inslee, the incumbent congressman.

Empty homes, lost jobs and financial crisis abound on Bainbridge Island and lack of respect for dissent was the experience I tasted.

Ron Luke

Fort Ward