Politics & Government
Letter to the Editor: Joan Bloom Calls for Transparency
Bloom is a candidate for the Edmonds City Council. She is running against D.J. Wilson, but says she would have supported a public hearing prior to his censure on Tuesday.
I am for transparency in government—period.
On Oct. 18, the Edmonds City Council decided to take no action to move forward with an investigation of the Haines Wharf cost overruns. On Tuesday, the Edmonds City Council declined to grant D.J. Wilson’s request for a public hearing to air the circumstances that led to his censuring minutes later.
I believe that the citizens of Edmonds were shortchanged in both decisions. Whether or not an investigation of the Haines Wharf cost overruns would lead to ultimate legal action against former officials, and whether or not councilmember Wilson's actions regarding the subsequently withdrawn settlement with a City employee would be deemed profoundly inappropriate, Edmonds citizens have a right to know the thinking that went into these council decisions.
Once again, I believe that responsible governing starts with TRANSPARENCY and, within legal limits, our city government should be moving toward an open government process.
In the interest of transparency, I would have supported an investigation into the Haines Wharf cost overruns, and I would have supported a public hearing as requested by D.J. Wilson prior to a decision on censuring. I am for transparency in government—period.
Joan Bloom
Edmonds