The charade called a “public informational meeting” two weeks ago, regarding the Syrian refugee placement, was the most shameful pandering to a political base that I have seen in this county. The inappropriate letter produced by the Ravalli County commissioners, intended to generate baseless fear regarding the acceptance of Syrians into our county, was created by our county commissioners for a specific reason – as a smokescreen to cover their malfeasance in generating certain large attorney’s fees that we – the taxpayers – must pay. Check your tax statement! And, of course, it never hurts to stir up the political base during an election year.
At the meeting itself, our commissioners chose to create an environment of hate and disrespect, while allowing differences of opinion to be heckled and yelled down. When you establish such a climate of incivility and hatefulness, why would any business want to locate itself in Hamilton, providing the jobs we so badly need.
Time and time again, these commissioners have made decisions that reflect their personal ideological bias. Remember the river setback rules, which they chose to ignore? How about their desire to sell off our public lands?
Clearly, these commissioners do not represent all the people of this county, and often, do not even represent the majority. It is time to look beyond party affiliation, and examine the truth of the job they have done. Their self-interested behavior can only be corrected at the ballot box.
Bill Peters
Hamilton
Elizabeth Sands says
Well said.