To the editor:

Every day, we hear how the city is strapped for funds. Talk is of fuel cost increases for the T, but little about the increases for police, fire, medical, trash and other services. How will those impact the budget? The T is one source of those problems. But the real problem is a lack of leadership downtown. The “people” did not get to vote on the T, Eagle Bend or other city amenities. The city isn’t paying its bond obligations from revenues gained, but from the reserve fund. Now, they feel that taxpayers should dip into their pockets to bail the city out.

A vote to fund the T may be coupled with street repair so voters have to take a bad deal with a necessary item. The commission brought the T into being. It should stand up and take responsibility for any future form, if at all.

The city should take a hint from major corporations, who faced unfavorable results in a venture, made hard decisions to discontinue it. Ford Motor Co. bought Land Rover and Jaguar for huge sums, but recently sold them at a loss to stop bleeding money. Coca Cola spent millions on “New Coke” but did not hesitate to drop it when it did not perform as expected.

If the city commission can’t live within the revenue limitations of Lawrence and take a stand on bringing new revenue sources to the tax base, then maybe we need new commissioners.

Ken Meyer,
Lawrence