To the mayor and council members of the City of Poulsbo,

A “Y” in Poulsbo? I could have answered that question in just a few minutes and saved you and the taxpayers of Poulsbo $20,500, wasted time and misplaced effort.

From my perspective in this period of time, the idea of inviting a competitive non-profit, indoor athletic facility to Poulsbo is so wrong on several levels:

1. SILVERDALE Y. A surprisingly large facility is already ensconced not 10 minutes away from your study location. By inviting a non-profit corporation into this community, you are pitting small health clubs against a giant, an entity that does not survive solely on income from consumers of health club services. The Y can use tax-deductible donations to support their operation, which is not typically available to small businesses. The free enterprise concept is out of balance here.

2. SMALL HEALTH CLUBS. Do you really believe that an expensive study is necessary to determine the effect that a new facility may have on those existing small businesses? Which incidentally, may not be having an easy go of it as it is, given the location of the Silverdale Y and the 2008 crash? Is the government of Poulsbo not sympathetic to or supportive of their existing small businesses?

3. KITSAP FOREST AND BAY COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN. A $3.5 million capital campaign to acquire approximately 3,000 acres of Port Gamble forest for public outdoor recreation and athletic activities was recently launched to create one of the largest open space, environmentally sound places west of Puget Sound and most likely farther afield. An idea as big as Central Park in New York City. This from a huge coalition of visionaries and support groups that advocate education, conservancy, environmental protection, competitive sports and include the “get-outside-to-improve-your-health” movement.

This place will attract many people from around the state and beyond, people who will spend money in our region and contribute to our local economy. The $20,500 you are in the process of wasting would have been much appreciated by this coalition and been more indicative of forward thinking by a governing body that will benefit mightily by the vision, hard work and resolve of those working on this campaign.

What we are so sorely in need of here, in our country and everywhere, is a strong sense of community building, coupled with forward thinking and economically sound governance. Bless your hearts, but where is it in this instance?

Robert Jones
Indianola