We all realize that the whole police issue really is hitting a nerve in Snoqualmie. Any time public safety is changed, questioned or scrutinized, public opinion will condemn those who initiate the process. But because a council, in this case Snoqualmie’s, is looking at its options, it shouldn’t have to endure personal attacks that have nothing to do the issue. One attack went so far as to accuse councilman Greg Fullington of hiding behind his baseball hat. Now, honestly, does the person that said that really think that the hat, its size for obscurity, or the team initials on the hat had anything to do with public safety? Give us all a break.

Maybe it’s the first real issue that the “New” Snoqualmie has had to face, and a refresher in council etiquette may be in order. First and foremost, focus on the issue. It’s a fair question to ask the police department to review its budget for reductions and it’s a fair question to set a plan to reduce the number of officers per household. Maybe the answer lies in freezing the department’s growth while Snoqualmie Ridge Phase II is built. Yes, we all know it was a mistake to bring in the King County Sheriff’s Office up front, and I would bet that the council now recognizes that. Maybe at some point, when all local measures have been exhausted, it would be wise to negotiate with the county, but based on response times, the county will never likely be a viable alternative.

Honestly, do people think that personal attacks on a council member will get anything done? Based on several members of the audience with whom I talked, it was more of a lynch mob mentality, not an educated group of people getting together to talk about the issues.

Maybe it’s time to consider taping and broadcasting the council meetings to the entire city population. That way people can reflect on how they acted and maybe learn something about their presentation skills.

Yes, I am probably being a little harsh, defending council members who are sometimes the subject of an editorial. But the key is to focus on the issue and, honestly, if you don’t like the decisions they are making, then vote them out of office. Don’t attack them for their ball cap.