What is wrong on Bainbridge is “Politics.” Sure, people use political maneuvers to get elected, but once elected; they have a responsibility do the actual business of the City in a fair, just and legal manner. That is not happening and the resulting turmoil has created an atmosphere of which none of us proud or comfortable.

Yes, we should have open and vigorous debates over policy. That is good and healthy. It is neither good nor healthy for our City leaders, or one group, to use threats, retribution, and even revenge in the pursuit of their agenda.

I am personally disgusted with Councilman Knoblock and Councilwoman Vann for being so misguided as to suggest that is okay to take revenge on the Bainbridge Review for its editorial coverage of the Council and the City.

I speak of the City Council’s consideration of changing the City’s paper of record, where all official notices are published, from the Bainbridge Review, with a circulation that reaches 60 percent of the households, to the Bremerton Sun, which reaches less than 15 percent of the households, solely for the sake of revenge.

No, you can’t dress this rotten pig of politics up as open bidding and fair competition. The goal of official and legal notices is to inform the Citizens – The Bremerton Sun (the fine newspaper it is, and one that I pay great attention to) is incapable of providing adequate or comparable notification to the Island because of its limited circulation.

For a long time, the dirty secret of the Island has been the fear of retribution and revenge wheeled by the Island’s radical agenda-driven groups and the officials they helped elect. Ask anyone thinking of applying for a permit, in the middle of building a house or having just finished one, or any architect or builder, and they will tell you, City staff and elected officials will get even with you for disagreeing with them or challenging their decisions. This is exactly the main reason I got involved in City issues

Legitimate voices of dissent have been silenced by fear of retribution. The direct results are lawsuits because the court is the only venue left to air grievances and seek fair redress.

The agenda of a few has created this “us against them” attitude, which manifests itself in staff substituting their opinion for ordinances, the City Council writing ordinances with no consideration of the equity due all taxpayers, and legal advice that emphasizes defensibility of the action instead of action that is well supported and comparable to other Cities. The City government should represent all of us and not be used as the legal hammer to enforce the radical agenda of a few.

Let me be specific. The agenda I speak of is “no growth at any cost.” No one wants to see the Island change, including me. But I draw the line in my desire at the misuse of science in an attempt to dress up unlawful restrictions on normal use as environmental protection. I draw the line at unequal treatment under the law by arbitrary decision makers. I draw the line at complex procedures whose only purpose is to stop growth at any cost, even if it is illegal or unjust.

I hope the new City Council and the Mayor will adopt policies and oversee practices that recognize the interests of all the Citizens, not just the agenda of a few.

Gary Tripp, Director
Bainbridge Concerned Citizens