EDITOR:

“Stupid is as stupid does” (Forrest Gump-1994) This quote seems to aptly describe the Escanaba City Council along with the Delta County Board of Commissioners. City council: It’s not enough that we’re known as the drug capital of the U.P. and “Methanaba” and now you have added marijuana to the mix. All in the name of money. The city council is supposed to be protecting its’ constituents and our fair city. You certainly have a strange way of accepting that responsibility.

I have yet to see or hear what our local police force thinks about this and how they are going to be given the tools to handle the extra work — because there will be extra time and effort that will have to be put into protecting our citizens. During a recent council meeting someone on the council asked why all of a sudden the increased interest in the marijuana moratorium? We had just gotten through the holidays and people were busy with family and all the events that encompass the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. They had other things on their minds. And truthfully I think that the people of Escanaba keep thinking that common sense will prevail. So much for that.

Last fall with the discussion of the old jail property, Jared from the Terrace mentioned boat trips on the bay. Then nothing more was heard; now we find out that a contract has been signed with a cruise ship line to have cruise ships coming into Little Bay de Noc. Watch out. Aside from the many chances of pollution to our Bay, you will find your cost of living going up down the road as you invite more people into our small, relatively quiet town. The people coming in will have money to spend but really how much tourism do we need? Most of us like Escanaba the way it is: quiet, low population and not an extremely high cost of living. Kiss it goodbye people. This is happening all around our country to rural areas.

Do the members of the council ever read the articles in our own Daily Press about what is happening across the country? Does the City of Escanaba and our council have a long range plan to keep Esky the wonderful place it is to live? Another thing they should be tending to is the amount of properties being grabbed up for Air-bnb’s. This has cut down on the amount of middle income housing available in Esky, which is greatly needed. It feels as though you’re selling your (and our) souls for the almighty buck.

Ditto the Delta County Board of Commissioners. The fiascos at the last two meetings speak loudly about the Delta County Board. There are those commissioners who ran for that board only to promote what benefits them. Be careful voters whom you elect.

Bonnie Cowell

Escanaba