Funding priorities

In the April 13, Spokesman-Review, regarding the Gateway Bridge and the $8.8 million in state funds spent on it, Tomas Kelley Lynch asks, “Why would we spend so much money on a bridge to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians and then do nothing beyond the landing on the south end of it?” (“Bridge needs better bike access”).

The answer is - because it’s pretty, and we are not directly paying for it. The bridge could have been built at half the cost but our leaders thought it necessary to have an arched suspension bridge to show how modern a city we are. Even Gov. Inslee, on his tour of it, said, “This arch is a piece of art, it really is working art.” Taxpayer-funded art? I can’t wait to see what “art” we get if he is elected president.

Now, we have the bridge but due to a lack of state funding Spokane Public Schools will be laying off many employees for the coming school year. I’m sure increasing property taxes will be on the ballot in the coming year to make up the shortfall because … “It’s for the kids.”

I get tired of increasing taxes every year because our state and local leaders are not responsible with the funds they have.

Rich Zywiak

Spokane