Mayor Tim Leavitt betrayed us regarding the Interstate 5 Bridge tolls, and for that I’ll not soon forget. Some would excuse his conduct as campaign politics or that our mayor changed his mind due to a post-election revelation. I find his conduct reprehensible.
Why should we be surprised by an elected official’s mere betrayal when political history is rampant with wink-wink, back-slapping, backroom deals? In his June 2 letter, “Respect must be earned,” John Burke states that the conduct of six out of seven Vancouver City Council members in backing the tolls and light rail “scheme” makes them “unworthy of respect.” I and a host of other Vancouverites would join in agreement with Burke.
The city council’s support for the CRC’s fiscally irresponsible light rail project — Vancouver’s transportation Trojan horse — is a grim decision for our community that will generate downtown congestion, urban sprawl and economic strain. A majority of state and local officials from the top down bought into this scheme, have plugged their ears to a concerned electorate and rolled over our First Amendment rights with censorious tactics.
Whether sensible or imprudent, a community gets everything it allows and more.
Bruce R. Randall
Vancouver
