Road repairs aren’t free

Thu., June 5, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

Concerning Joe Burch (“Pay raise road-conditional,” May 31), I would like to inform him and all other complainers that neither the mayor nor the City Council fix our streets. They can only appropriate funds to put a Band-Aid on them, until next winter’s freezing and thawing washes out the patchwork. The arterial streets that are not on the list to be reconstructed this summer will be in even worse condition next winter.

Burch and all other taxpayers and voters who turned down one bond issue after another for the past three or four decades are totally responsible for likely the worst streets in America. Perhaps if you study this issue or call the city engineers, you would find that all of these arterial roads have to be rebuilt every 20 years.

Voters have approved bonds to improve only a fraction of the necessary reconstruction. That funding will end soon. If citizens wish to continue or fast-track the nearly $300 million required to finish the rest of the required reconstruction, you should inform city government and be prepared to approve that funding when it comes up on a ballot in the near future. Step up, pay up or shut up!

Allan LeTourneau

Spokane

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