With all due respect to Mr. Ribeiro (“No-turn-on-red sign needs to be heeded,” Feb. 25), I believe the new sign is unnecessary.
When the sign went up I contacted the WSDOT and was told it put the sign up in response to a very persistent individual who had advocated for it for years, despite the fact that there was no history of serious accidents caused by free right turns.
I was also told that WSDOT would be happy to remove the sign if the city requested it. I contacted the city’s Public Works Department and they are considering making such a request. If you believe this sign is not needed, call the city at 842-1212 to express your opinion.
Unfortunately, this is another example of one person or a small group inflicting their sense of perceived danger on a community. It’s the same flawed process that results in a 25 mph speed limit on Wyatt Way from Madison to Finch – a straight road with clear sight lines and grade separated sidewalks that should be posted at 35.
Hopefully, the city will find the courage to make these decisions based on rational engineering considerations rather than responding to narrow neighborhood interests.
Fritz Feiten
Bainbridge Island
Doubling of licensing is untimely action at best
(The following was sent to Ellen Schroer, the city’s director of Finance and Administrative Services).
Why, pray tell, did you raise the business license fee 260 percent in the midst of a grand recession? I have held my rates constant for four years, the lowest in my field, because businesses and individuals cannot afford further strain.
Weren’t the sales tax revenues I’ve generated over the past 20 years enough? Did you really have to go and kill the golden goose? Since there has already been business activity this year, I am compelled to pay, but not required to continue.
On Dec. 31 of this year my business doors will close – I refuse to tolerate the idiocy of the City of Bainbridge Island any longer.
I strenuously object to the unconscionable imposition of multiple late fees. Should a hapless business owner be late by so much as one day, you double the license fee, impose a late fee and charge interest. The doubling of the fee is nothing but a super-imposed late fee. Late fees on top of late fees on top of interest.
Instead of this city extending an open hand to its citizens and businesses, you go out of your way to be obstructionist and obnoxious. Why is it that service to the people is an unknown concept in the local halls of governance?
I’ve had enough of COBI’s perfidy. Consider this golden goose gone. By your incredulous behavior, your future revenues will drop even further. But why should I believe you care? Please share this missive with the mayor, council and anyone there who gives a tinker’s damn.
Varon Mullis,
Old Mill MicroComputing
Bainbridge Island
