To the editor:

We came to Lawrence in 1978. We moved here for KU and the quaint hometown feel. It’s a different town now. The price of gas, groceries, sales tax and vehicle taxes are at their highest and your city commissioners are proposing a large increase in property and sales taxes. Why? To help fund the already huge existing homeless problem and offset sales tax shortfalls. To follow this logic is difficult. The homeless issues have caused multiple deaths. Businesses near the illegal camps have had to be extremely vigilant, and some have closed. The city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to try and clean up the mess created by these camps, and Lawrence has continued down this path and to provide “homes,” using your tax dollars.

A recent J-W article mentioned a shortfall in sales tax for 2024. It’s happening due to people no longer feeling safe in downtown or any part of Lawrence. Business is going elsewhere due to the lack of handling the excess population that roams Mass and the streets of Lawrence.

Commissioners work for you, the people. Hold them accountable. When it comes time to vote, vote out the ones that continue to bow to unsuccessful programs. The commissioners have squandered and misused dollars they have been entrusted to steward. The solution is to gouge you for their mistakes. There’s a primary coming up in a month, vote while you still can.

Mike Everett,

Lawrence