Editor,

Look out, city taxpayers. You’re about to subsidize the fantasy of a few politicians.

Concerning the proposed plan to remake the Oak Harbor Bayshore Drive area, it is commendable that Oak Harbor leaders want to revitalize downtown. But this vision needs to be tempered with reality. The extravagant wishes detailed in the Feb. 1 article in the Whidbey News-Times are unrealistic.

Is there demand for this much retail space? I think not. The current shops on Pioneer barely make it now. And the locals can’t subsidize this pie-in-the-sky dream until some day, maybe enough small businesses come in to make it self-sustaining.

It was once shown through research that the Oak Harbor economy is largely driven by the budgets of married E3 to E6 military personnel. These families do not spend a lot of money on downtown finery. They can’t afford them. Instead, they mostly buy fast food and shop online.

The truly funny part is, they are proposing a shuttle bus service from a remote parking lot to bring people in to downtown. LOL. That is a huge disincentive to people who will see that as a waste of time and an inconvenience. It’s not going to help.

Another study once revealed that tourists come to the area to see the Deception Pass Bridge. They then stop in Oak Harbor only for gas and a snack, then ferry off to see other things elsewhere. They don’t come here to stop and shop.

Why don’t we start with upgrading and maintaining the infrastructure we already have? How about we start with the basics, like repaving Pioneer Way.

Oh, and the real kicker! Just wait until they start digging up the waterfront and find human bones, again. The last time that happened is when they made Pioneer Way a one-way street. They found human bones. And it cost a fortune to pay off the tribes looking for a cut of the action. Those bones are sacred to them, and it takes lots and lots of our money to assuage their injured spirits.

Years ago, two Oak Harbor city council members hired a big shot Seattle tourism consultant without authorization. The city council retroactively approved their foolish decision and spent big money on an 18 point plan to lure tourists to downtown. All we got out of that boondoggle was an expensive name change for City Beach Park. Is this going to happen again?

Ty Welch

Oak Harbor