In the March 30 Cheers & Jeers, The Columbian jeered the city council “wasting time in Washougal” by discussing a resolution opposing the Columbia River Crossing project plan including light rail. The Jeer also called the resolution “inaccurate.” In my April 2 Camas-Washougal Post Record op-ed “Take a Stand!” (Available on my website http://dave-shoemaker.com/news), I identified such objections to discussion as a tactic for defeating proposals that council minorities oppose by shutting down discussion. If it never comes to a vote, the minority will not lose that vote.
The question of accuracy is more difficult. Suffice to say that neither side of the CRC question has a monopoly on truth. Each of us must sort out that question for ourselves. Openly discussing issues helps.
As a Washougal city councilor, I must ask: Why should council members not publicly debate and register their concerns over this profligate misuse of public funds, some of which come from Washougal residents in the form of federal, state, and local taxes — to say nothing of the inevitable tolls? We would be remiss if we did not.
See my website http://dave-shoemaker.com/news for a more detailed discussion of these issues.
