Editor,

Eric Levine thinks the opponents of the city’s plan to spoil the view from Cascade Avenue with a funicular are “few,” but he really has no evidence of this. What we do know is that when the city asked for comments on the elevator, the response was overwhelmingly negative. We know that when the city had a meeting on the subject, with very little notice, the room was packed, standing room only, with people primarily opposed to the idea. That’s pretty good evidence that opposition to the idea is more than just a few people.

As to whether we have “all the facts,” we can only know the facts we have been given. From those, many of us have concluded the project is costly or ugly or useless or dangerous or all of the above. If there are other facts, let them be published for consideration by residents.

The Dubuque, Iowa funicular is basically an amusement ride that costs $3 round trip and has people taking the money from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. This prevents joy riders from just going up and down repeatedly for the heck of it. It is open only seasonally. Is Eric proposing that the city pay someone to monitor funicular use? If so, why not just have them run a golf cart up and down the road instead, for a fraction of the cost?

Another thing I know is that when I say, “funicular,” my iPhone’s built-in voice activated assistant, Siri, autocorrects and types “fitness killer” instead. As my daughter said, that’s perfect.

SHARON EMERSON

Langley