My husband and I joined the festivities at Saturday’s Black Diamond’s Miners Day. We had a chance to see the candidates for mayor of Black Diamond, and hear the buzz about the effects of YarrowBay on our community. It was a surprise to hear so many citizens voicing this was a done deal.

We also read your recent newspaper article on the topic. It is astounding to us that the incumbent mayor and the planning commission chair actually think YarrowBay housing is going to be some kind of cure all for budget needs of our town. The real estate taxes are years away and we will be paying for most, if not all the new services and infrastructure that will have to be put in place.

But of course, the two candidates from the old regime are going to defend YarrowBay’s monstrosity of a development plan. It happened on their watch and they are responsible for the looming disaster.

Things will not get better when YarrowBay starts building. Their first clear cut will hurt our local property values.

The thousands of fill trucks will damage not only our roads but our peaceful and quiet surroundings. As our forest goes down, so goes the wildlife, and the purity of the streams and our lake’s water. The ultimate insult is the idea that the inevitable traffic gridlock will be solved by no less than nine traffic signals on 169!

What we need are some new people representing us in the Mayor’s office and on the City Council.

A plan to progress us as a community, but one that will work for not only for the budget, but for our fellow residents.

Even if the impending court ruling is mixed later this year, we need a mayor that stands up for us against a huge and powerful land developer.

Dave Gordon is running for mayor because he can handle the job. Dave Gordon has our vote!

Richard and Linda LaConte

Black Diamond