Every day, more and more citizens of Mercer Island are waking up to the fact that they have been ill-served by our City Council. Elected representatives whom we had thought would protect us and our interests have done anything but that, as we are now sadly finding out.

Many Islanders are still unaware that they will be losing much of their easy access to Interstate 90 as a single occupant vehicle, and that when the train comes to our bridge, not only will our lifeline to hospitals be threatened by traffic jams, but also our children’s teachers will seek jobs off-Island where they do not have to get stuck in bridge traffic jams getting on and off the Island.

The City Council has also agreed to lease, for $1 a year for 50-80 years, almost an acre of Mercerdale Park worth multi-millions of dollars. “Nonprofit” is the flag they are flying under, but the Mercer Island Center for the Arts is a private organization, nonetheless.

Just like the loss of mobility due to light rail on I-90, citizens will see that one of our charming parks in the very center of the city will now be in private hands for the sum of $1 a year for 50-80 years. In addition, the taxpayers will be on the hook if and or when the private group needs ongoing operating funds. Unlike the loss of I-90 mobility, this can still be stopped. Contact your City Council members now.

The park belongs to the taxpayers. Public land should never be given to a private group.

Jean Dunbabin

Mercer Island