ShoWare and its study do not serve the people

The Kent City Council's decision to deny the Resource Center for the homeless would have cost the city nothing versus the ShoWare Center that costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, plus another $36,400 for a study to determine its benefit to the city.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Wednesday, May 2, 2012 7:14pm
  • Opinion

The Kent City Council’s decision to deny the Resource Center for the homeless would have cost the city nothing versus the ShoWare Center that costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, plus another $36,400 for a study to determine its benefit to the city.

What benefit could it be when it’s bleeding people of their hard-earned dollars in an economy where every dollar counts.

We have a problem when government of all levels spends more money than it takes in for projects that do not serve all of the people. Their answer then is for taxpayers to bail them out. There is no accountability or responsibility. And who bails out the taxpayers when they no longer can absorb all of these taxes? Who stands up to them?

Are buildings and entertainment more important than people? How many studies does it take before they do the right thing? Does avoiding or denying the truth change the truth or consequences for wrong decisions?

Our values and priorities reflect where we are as a people. Most people have been taught the golden rule to do to others as you would want them to do to you. There are some things that are right and should not change because they are the foundation of a society.

Our priorities need to be reevaluated or we will continue down the wrong path and self-destruct. If we don’t return to the truth and the basics of what is really important, we cannot solve or correct the problems.

I applaud Councilmembers Boyce and Ralph for standing with the people and voting no on the study. It is time for all of us to stand up for the truth, speak up for what is right in order to make a difference for everyone.

– Wanda Steiner


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Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He is a former president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. Contact thebrunells@msn.com.
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