Vote for Prop 2

In response to the Oct. 15 editorial “Prop 2 Means Well but is misguided,” I find the conclusion defies logic. S-R states, “concern with the increase in oil trains is legitimate. It notes, “from 2008 to 2014 there was a 5,000 percent increase in crude oil shipped by rail or up to 750,000 barrels per day.” That’s 3,150,000 gallons. It also notes that some trains derailed causing explosions and fires.

The S-R made a very compelling case that Spokane is in significant danger.

However, the S-R wants Spokane to 1) rely on the federal government, which has studied it since 2013 without results, 2) rely on our minority Democratic senators who drafted a rail safety bill in 2015, without results, 3) suggests CMR “hop on board” while she has never expressed any interest in this issue.

Opponents claim legal costs could be high. Council President Stuckart has confirmed that the city has highly qualified staff lawyers that handle lawsuits all the time. The legal costs associated with Proposition 2 would not impact city services.

What can we lose if we make this a bigger issue by voting yes on Proposition 2? What could we lose if we do nothing? The downtown?

Michael Bell

Nine Mile Falls