Sequim scooter proposal begs several questions

If the company supplying the scooters is like others around the country, people use an app to pay for use, but they are allowed to drop the scooters anywhere when they are through with them (“Councilors approve temporary electric scooters contract,” Sequim Gazette, July 20, page A-1).

I visited Colorado a few months back and saw what this does to a small town: scooters were everywhere, in front of homes, stores, on corners and just laying on the sidewalks. A mess to look at and a hazard to walk around.

The company there allowed the scooters to lay around for a week sometimes before they collected them.

While the scooters are supposed to be for 18 and older, many kids have their parents credit cards and can use an app to rent one of the bikes that is just left laying around.

Who pays if someone is hurt on one of these scooters, the city of Sequim? Why would these be good for Sequim? Most seniors and people who use the downtown do not just walk around. They go to downtown Sequim to purchase things. How do you carry your purchases and use the scooters safely?

Where would these scooters be used? Just in the six-block area of downtown Sequim? Will they be using the same sidewalks pedestrians are walking on? What is the city of Sequim getting out of this? Is the scooter company paying them? Will there be law enforcement used to regulate and see the scooters users are ridding them lawfully, who pays for this?

I am all for saving fuel but this seems like a bad idea for Sequim. I don’t think the saving is worth the problems it might cause.

Mary Marsh

Sequim

Pruiett’s conduct found lacking

Was anyone else concerned at how Brian Pruiett, candidate for State House of Representative, District 24, Position 2 behaved while taking questions from constituents at Joshua’s Restaurant during a debate hosted by the Port Angeles Business Association?

The newspaper reported that “Mr. Pruiett was rolling his eyes at many of his opponent’s statements” (State hopefuls trade barbs,” Sequim Gazette, July 20, page A-10).

I’m one who communicates my concerns with our state government officials be it by letter, email or telephone. Is this how my communications will be treated if Mr. Pruiett were elected? I visualize him reading or listening to my concern, rolling his eyes and tossing it into the round file.

Butch Zaharias

Port Angeles

Preserving democracy with truth and accountability

The eighth Congressional Hearing on how former President Donald Trump and his advisors conspired to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election has now concluded. Testimony was mostly provided by Republicans.

Based on objective quality evidence, the following facts were established:

1. Trump knowingly spread false information about the 2020 election – his “Big Lie” was “the election was rigged and stolen.”

2. Trump tried to install loyalists at the Department of Justice so the department would “support his fake election claims.”

3. Trump urged state election officials and legislators to illegally change the election results.

4. Trump’s and his advisors instructed Republicans in multiple states to create false electoral slates and transmit those slates to Congress and the National Archive.

5. Trump pressured Vice President Mike Pence to help overturn the election, but Pence refused.

6. Trump summoned and assembled the mob in D.C. and directed them to march on the Capitol, knowing that many of them possessed firearms, and told them “ … if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

7. Trump ignored pleas to stop the Capitol assault from his own advisors and legislators for more than three hours.

Former President Trump violated his “oath of office” to protect the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, in all of the above incidents, and should be held accountable by DOJ.

The Jan. 6 insurrection was the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. View all hearings at january6th.house.gov/legislation/hearings.

Rich Snow

Sequim