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Put storm costs to a vote

The Spokesman-Review

Thank you for accurately portraying the dismal failure of our Spokane municipal government to address the December snowstorms (“Slow to respond,” Jan. 13).

I concur that “a city our size that aspires to success and prosperity can’t just capitulate to weather, even when it’s beyond the norm.” I suggest that Mayor Verner take these two steps: 1. Convene a public meeting where she transparently and candidly informs us citizens about what led to the failed response to the storms and what changes have been made to prevent such a future failure. 2. Draft a ballot measure so that we citizens can directly decide about increasing our sales or property taxes specifically for the purpose of ensuring adequate plowing of both arterials and residential side streets. Transparency and empowerment are the best solutions given Mayor Verner and the Spokane municipal government’s repeated (remember last winter) failures to address this basic obligation to us citizens.

Edward C. Byrnes

Spokane

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