LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Whidbey Fair plan was not so great

Editor, I found the recent proposal to remake the Whidbey Island Fair in Langley breathtaking in its scope. Along with wholesale change in character comes a huge debt, creating both a community-support gamble and a financial threat. The outcome could readily be failure and sale of the property within five years. Pulling up the Island County Fair by its roots and creating another Puyallup Fair-type venue may not be what urbanites seeking a dose of reality wait in ferry lines for.

March 14, 2014 6:39 pm

Editor,

I found the recent proposal to remake the Whidbey Island Fair in Langley breathtaking in its scope.

Along with wholesale change in character comes a huge debt, creating both a community-support gamble and a financial threat. The outcome could readily be failure and sale of the property within five years. Pulling up the Island County Fair by its roots and creating another Puyallup Fair-type venue may not be what urbanites seeking a dose of reality wait in ferry lines for.

Puyallup is, after all, accessible by freeway. That this wholesale change is rolling forward was brought home to me by the front page ‘Group Forms to Fight Fair Plan’ article (March 5).

The absolute lack of inclusion and sense of betrayal reminded me of the effort to close Langley Middle School and borrow $25 million to save money.

GEORGE RUSCH

Clinton