LETTER: Port Townsend needs new direction with MickHager

The mayor sets the agenda in Port Townsend’s weak mayor form of government.

In Deborah Stinson’s eight years on the City Council, the last four as mayor, she has done little to lead council in the hard policy work needed to address the many pressing issues confronting us: no support for construction of work-force housing; no attention to growing traffic issues needing policing; no forward motion on the festering parking issues; no plan for streets becoming more dangerous; no investment plan for failing pavement; no leadership on the looming crisis of GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions.

On the other hand, we have a new and empty commercial corridor on Rainier; a new and unsafe two-way bike lane no thinking bicyclist will use; a new dog leash ordinance that won’t be enforced; a new $600,000 city beautification project of concrete and steel; a new unenforceable city prohibition against feeding wild animals; and a new plan for city staff maintenance of trails instead of volunteers.

When one finds you’re going the wrong direction, change course and then get crackin’ to catch up.

One candidate has a long history of community service, from former volunteer firefighter to 10 years on our planning commission, where wrangling policy for council action was always on the agenda.

Vote for Monica MickHager.

Scott G. Walker,

Port Townsend