Once again the city fathers of North Bend have shown their anti-business attitude. The truly outrageous thing about this situation is that the business in question isn’t even in our city.

The council has approved $30,000, roughly the average yearly salary for a resident, to oppose a county amendment allowing development along the I-90 corridor. I’m sure the Zemp and Yerkes families have invested a great deal of time and money in the development of this area, not to mention the enormous amounts of hoops they had to jump through for the county in order to get the approval. In reading the previous articles, it seems they played by the rules and did nothing underhanded or devious.

Where was the city of North Bend during this process? Is it fair that these families should go through the entire process again for North Bend officials? Is it reasonable to spend our tax dollars outside the city because it impacts us indirectly? There are lots of things going on in this world that directly affect us; should we spend public money on all of them?

Since these lawmakers are working outside our jurisdiction, are they required to register with the Public Disclosure Commission as a political action committee? What is the tax money to be used for specifically?

The more important issue here is the agendas of some of our council members. Do members of our council live in Forster Woods and have the “not in my backyard syndrome?” Also, if my old memory serves, did the city not reject a plan by this same individual to build a small hotel in our city? Do these folks have it in for the Zemps?

Kudos for Mr. Gildersleeve for his clear thinking on this issue. I think in the long run, his way of thinking on the issues will be the smart one. This $30,000 could be better spent on a tax cut for North Bend residents or a traffic control device on the main street that would allow old folks like myself to get across the street on weekends.

Lastly, Mr. Carlson is quoted as saying that he is working valiantly to maintain a rural quality of life here in North Bend. Well Mr. Carlson, that was gone long before you came to town.

Dan McCarthy

North Bend