To the editor:

The city of Lawrence needs to wake up to the agenda being set forth by our commissioners. The fact that this very vocal and active minority is setting our city on a path of regression is alarming. As a native of Lawrence, we had a work ethic and an opportunity to grow in a great community.

The alarms are sounding. Housing costs are climbing. Taxes are going up. City services are stretched to the limit and our leaders are spending time writing about issues that don’t concern our town and implementing Dada days.

They are now trying to increase our taxes by stealth mode. The impact fees that are being proposed by our leaders as a cost to be born by developers are another sign of ignorance. The builders will pass on the cost of these fees to the buyer and this will raise the costs of a comparable house. This in return will artificially increase our home values and we will pay even higher taxes. Commissioner David Schauner doesn’t want to drag this out but he is more than willing to send development plans back to the planning commission time and again until people willing to risk their own capital can’t afford to do business here.

I would like to see the town implement a requirement that our elected leaders have to own property and work in town. This would at least resemble taxation by representation.

Understand the issues Lawrence and vote.

Joe B. Jones,

Lawrence