I have read with interest the recent letters regarding the state of our city. At the same time, the Aug. 17 issue of Parade presented 16 finalists for their Best Main Street contest. Vancouver was not on the list.
Our city does meet some of the criteria: We have a national park within walking distance of downtown, a public living room in our delightful Esther Short Park, efforts are being made to revitalize our downtown area — but we fail at the criteria of civic pride. Our streets are a mess from the median on East Mill Plain Boulevard, to the weeds along the southbound entrance to the city along Interstate 5 (a fire waiting to happen), to the disgraceful state of the landscaping around the Hearthwood branch of the U.S. Postal Service.
Visitors do not just stay downtown. They travel our highways and arterials. Our city spent a great deal of money investing in planting throughout our area. Now these plantings are dying due to lack of water and lack of maintenance. We will have to face investing more money to replace these plantings. Shame on our city managers. Their penny-wise and pound-foolish management is causing our city to sink into major decline.
Linell Arbuckle
Vancouver