Old but powerful economic interests want you to vote no on Prop. 2. Railroads, oil, coal mines and their property developers have been around a long time getting lots of practice convincing us their interests are in the “public interest.” We know better now. Spokane’s history tells us that these extractive industries maximize profits, while minimizing their public responsibility.

A close study of the “No” campaign literature exposes fallacies in their arguments. “Jeopardizing thousands of jobs” … what jobs? Job growth in Spokane comes from companies who see the advantages of our quality of life, not dinosaur industries.

Prop 2 doesn’t “put Spokane taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars in lawsuits.” Where do these “millions” come from? City attorneys would defend the legal challenge. That’s their job, to protect the public interest. The millions will be spent by the corporate interests hiring expensive private lawyers to protect “business as usual.”

The bottom line: The coal and oil-based extraction corporations and their partners will say anything to save their dying industries Why should we protect them? They’ve polluted our communities for over 150 years. Don’t believe or trust them. Vote Yes on Prop 2.

Ian Cunningham

Spokane