City hall
New city hall is incomprehensible
The more I look at the city of Poulsbo’s downtown choice for a new city hall, the more fiscally incomprehensible it appears. At the risk of beating a dead horse, the city government should have been in its new 10th Avenue quarters by October.
Approximately six acres of land had been purchased at that site for $2.1 million, not only for city hall but also to provide space for a new expanded and updated police department. Room for expansion for both facilities (without purchase of more property) was a given for the next 100 years or more.
Now, the city finds itself faced with the problem of trying to shoehorn a downsized building onto a site whose future expansion can only come at the disposession of homeowners. The properties to be used at Third Avenue and Moe Street have been bought at exorbitant prices — $425,000 for 7,500 square feet, of land; $1.2 million for .44 acres. Almost $2 million for less than one acre of land.
To help fund this expenditure, the city proposes to sell off a part of the paid-for 10th Avenue property and will, also, sell Mitchusson Park whose retention as a green belt could prove to be of inestimable value to the future of Poulsbo as its growth continues to escalate.The more I look at the city of Poulsbo’s downtown choice for the new city hall, the more fiscally incomprehensible it appears.
Muriel Williams,
Poulsbo
Breakfast
We missed some eating spots
Enjoyed the where to go for breakfast article, but wanted to add a couple we’ve enjoyed. 1. Gliding Eagle Market Place at Little Boston Rd and Hansville. Offers a decent brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for $5.99, including coffee!
2. Wild Horse Barbeque in Poulsbo Village, across from Rite Aid. Has a good breakfast Monday through Saturday; don’t miss their “Cheesy Potatoes”!
Polly Tarpley,
Poulsbo
Breakfast is served around the Korner
The Herald published an article on Feb. 2 about different places to get breakfast in Poulsbo and the surrounding area. There was one place that was missing. The Ya Betcha Korner Kafe in downtown Poulsbo.
It is on the corner of Anderson Parkway and Front Street. Our menu is extensive for such a small restaurant. We have tons of breakfast items that range from hashbrowns to French toast, omelets, pancakes, burritos, etc.
We also serve lunch with a wide variety of specialty burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, homemade soups and salads. The cool thing about our place is if you’re craving breakfast in the afternoon or a burger for breakfast, we serve both all day long.
We are a viking-themed restaurant that is family oriented. We even have an art wall to display the kiddies’ talents. So do we serve the best breakfast and burgers in Kitsap County? Yeh, ya surely betcha, but don’t take our word for it. Come on in and judge for yourself.
The staff of Ya Betcha Korner Kafe,
Poulsbo
Kitsap primaries
What was that?
I am writing to express my dismay at the statement by Karen Flynn, Kitsap County auditor, that “the primaries belong to the parties.” It wasn’t so long ago that when one voted, it was at a local location where one was greeted by a poll worker who received a day’s pay. You showed your voter registration card, had your signature verified, received and marked a traceable ballot, or pulled some levers in a voting booth and your civic duty was done and your voice was heard. Your vote actually counted and those who got the most votes appeared on the general election ballot.
Now you get this purple piece of paper, you’re told that you have to exclude yourself from 50 percent of the electoral process by signing an oath and oh, by the way, if you choose the Democratic candidate, your vote won’t count. Democratic Party insiders obviously have more sense than any of us mere voters when selecting candidates for the general election ballot. And if you sign the Republican oath, then you only have half of a brain and the Republicans Party insiders will fill in that void with their party insiders, making their choices for the general election ballot.
Both parties are aggressive about asking for money when you sign an oath saying you are a member of their party. That sure seems like a poll tax. Why aren’t Sam Reed, Secretary of State, and Rob McKenna, Attorney General, doing something to insure the integrity of our primary vote?
Most people I talk to look for candidates with principle and character who they can count on to stick with their principles once elected. This current form of primary excludes people from having that choice, in my opinion. It is no wonder the initiative process has become such a popular way for voters to look out for their own best interests. And it’s no wonder the current batch of elected officials are trying to deny, we the people, our right to the initiative process.
John Eastman,
Poulsbo
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
No name, please
Bob Oke’s widow wants to rename the Tacoma Narrows Bridge “the Bob Oke Bridge of Faith.” Sen. Derek Kilmer agrees. When I moved to Bremerton, Bob Oke was my state senator. He was opposed to homosexuality, “Hands off Washington,” and his own lesbian daughter. In a letter Oke told me his opposition to homosexuality was based on faith.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge belongs to all of us, regardless of our sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Oke was intolerant. A bridge named after him would become a bridge of intolerance. I do not want my tax dollars to honor bigotry.
Michael Sondheimer,
Bremerton
