<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Courtesy of today’s (October 25, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Gary Bryan.<div><br></div><div>— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 itemprop="headline" class="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 42px; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Letter: Don't believe the rumor</span></h1></div><div><br></div><div>Are you a pro-business, small-government fiscal conservative? Don't be fooled by the false rumor that Moscow's current elected officials are of the same mind. Ironically, under their watch, the municipal budget ballooned from $57 million (with a $12.7 million General Fund) for 2014 to nearly $80 million (with a $15.2 million General Fund) for 2018. Did your household budget increase that much after the recession?</div><div><br></div><div>They've increased fees and dipped into foregone property taxes conserved by their predecessors. They're pursuing a $10 million bond before explaining why, because it's not a citizen-driven initiative. Despite public opposition and more pressing needs, they found over half-a-million dollars in the General Fund to install a motor vehicle bridge on Third Street (instead of spending about $80,000 for a bicycle-pedestrian crossing), while failing to budget for safety along that corridor.</div><div><br></div><div>As for business friendliness, do you miss Macy's, Hallmark, Office Depot or Hastings? In free-market economies, businesses come and go, but we know of no efforts by Moscow politicians to persuade parent companies to keep those retailers here, as the previous administration did successfully with Walmart.</div><div><br></div><div>The scenario revives an image from childhood, when parents paid for children's pony rides around fenced arenas and well-trodden paths. Too often, those unfortunate animals were on auto-pilot, oblivious to outside stimulation, one foot in front of the other, furrowing deeper, unwavering trenches, laying the groundwork to get stuck in the mud. That's what comes to mind when I think about Moscow's entrenched mayor and council and those who blindly follow them.</div><div><br></div><div>Look at the whole picture. Vote for candidates who will listen thoughtfully to citizen concerns, budget prudently and work diligently to preserve and grow community-supportive businesses in Moscow. Join me in voting for Linda Pall, mayor, and Brandy Sullivan and Anne Zabala, council, on Nov. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Gary Bryan, Moscow</div></div><div><br></div><div>— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —</div><div><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></body></html>