To the editor:

The taxpayers of Lawrence have recently discovered a new species of invertebrate (animals without a backbone). This new species joins the ranks of fellow invertebrate jellyfish, snails, spiders, earthworms, etc., and is capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. The scientific name for this new species: City Hall.

We taxpayers cannot allow this new species to continue devouring our community by favoring the few at the expense of the many. Developers (puppeteers) pulling the strings of City Hall (puppets) is a government of plutocracy (rule by the wealthy).

A government operating as a democracy would not be wasting taxpayers’ dollars with staff studies to determine whether or not to subsidize a developer’s parking lot for his corporate office. A vertebrate would simply say no. Your request is denied because it is not in the public’s interest.

In my opinion, our community would benefit from the following: (1) No commissioner should be allowed to hold a public office if they are delinquent in taxes. They should resign; (2) During a severe recession with 10 percent unemployment, there should be no new taxes assessed or bonuses paid before a 10 percent reduction in the number of government employees. This is a slap in the face for every taxpayer and is totally irresponsible; (3) All forms of subsidies to benefit developers should be abolished; (4) Reinvent our public transit system whereby the cost per passenger mile is not the most expensive on planet Earth.

Please join me in making our community a better place to live and prosper by holding our elected officials accountable for their actions. Democracy is a team sport.