The form of government that is in place at this time gives sole power to the Mayor. This may have been ok when there wasn’t the massive, complex and controversial development, but that time has passed.

The newly elected City Council has been stopped at every avenue to try and do their job by the mayor. You only have to attend the council meetings or town hall meetings to witness the frustration of the council. This isn’t going to change with so much at stake financially for the master developer.

My observation is that the council, which represents the people, are being kept in the dark on many important issues only to learn things at the last minute or from the citizens. They lack timely information and at times when they are provided information from staff and legal counsel is appears biased and serves only the city administration.

Additionally, they are being treated disrespectfully in public by staff. This is shameful.

Years ago the mayor-council system worked. Even if you had an opposing view with the mayor they would sit and listen and discuss the issues with you. Now you are either an opponent or proponent. For example, if you have a different view than the Mayor than you are an adversary. Difficult and complex decision shouldn’t be made based on personnel feelings; it should be on what is best for all the taxpayers.

We don’t need the master developer’s trickle down economics here!

One should also note that you are not losing your city. There is no move for disincorporation — the city will still be here either way. This is a scare tactic that those voted out of office overwhelmingly want you to believe. They want to confuse you with similar looking signs and scare you with cost and change.

My father fought in WWII so people could be free to speak their minds and have the rights afforded us to organize and speak our minds. So I am speaking my mind. When you see signs that say, “Save your right to vote for mayor,” I ask you to just simply save your rights. They are being trampled on over and over again.

Our family has long ties with Black Diamond, my husband was a City Council member, my sister-in-law was the first city clerk and I personally worked to start the first senior center.

We continue to have family and interest in Black Diamond and will be directly impacted by the huge tax increases needed to pay for the proposed seven schools required by the MPDs. We need a professional government in Black Diamond that work with the ESD and their taxpayers. I will always love Black Diamond. My husband is buried there and my heart and 46 years of memories reside by his side.

Please vote yes for Prop 1.

Vicki Harp

Enumclaw