Bellingham should live within its means

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Faced with the unpleasant task of living within its means, Bellingham city administration's first concern isn't how to maintain city services, it's about maintaining employment levels.

Doubling downtown parking fines did not create one more parking space, just more vacant storefronts and city employees to make sure the folks downtown don't exceed their time limit. The blame that they get laid off because revenue falls doesn't fall on us.

City Council members and our mayor cannot decide what to do about the G-P property, the library, Squalicum Beach, Chuckanut Ridge, drinking water quality - all of which look to be rather simple decisions for the pragmatic, non-pandering people like me who don't live to be re-elected.

That these employees have their lives uprooted by the unfortunate reality of revenue shortfalls is tragic for them and their families.

Mayor and council members, spend what you have and own up to the employees you set up to be laid off. Or better yet, if you are smart enough to set policy for the entire U.S. on Iraq and Iran, you can certainly deal with a little overdraft on the checking account and make it work.

Leaders admit and deal with mistakes. Get some spine.

Robert Knudson

Bellingham

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