Pride is drying up

It is very disturbing to see our beautiful city going to ruin due to the penalties enacted by our mayor and City Council. Dried-up yards all over the city. Didn’t we already have too many neglected properties throughout our community?

I understand a water rate increase to finance the infrastructure upgrades; however, there is no justification for a nearly 80 percent penalty for citizens who wish to demonstrate pride in their homes and community. In drought years, these actions would be justified. However, the past several years we have experienced heavier than normal precipitation.

This summer it’s mostly lawns that are dying. Next summer it will be shrubs and trees. As proof of this fact, witness the property on Northwest Boulevard, between Ash and Maple (a closed Albertsons store). All those beautiful trees and shrubs are dead because Albertsons did not turn on the sprinkler system last spring.

I never thought that I would reach a point of giving up on Spokane. Our community is just too embarrassing to visitors that must inquire: “My God, have you people no pride?”

Allan LeTourneau

Spokane