Marina sale a bad idea

As a Sequim taxpayer I vehemently oppose selling the John Wayne Marina to a developer or any private party. John Wayne’s family donated the property to be used as a marina, selling to a developer ignores the intent of the donation.

Beauvais asks, ”Does the public really care”? Yes, we care. A private developer can change the environment and not maintain facilities as expected.

McAleer said, “300 families use the marina and 3,000 families pay property tax.” I disagree. My family does not have a boat in the marina, but we often go to the property to enjoy the beauty of the park and/or bring guests for lunch or dinner.

We feel our tax dollars are well spent keeping this marina pristine and a jewel in the crown of Clallam County.

The marina pays for itself — why give control to a private party who might mismanage this beautiful property?

Colleen Rayburn

Sequim

Don’t let developer take ownership of marina

With reference to “Community members show concern about possible marina sale” (Sequim Gazette, March 21, page A-1):

In 1999 my wife and I brought our boat from Silver Gate Yacht Club in San Diego to John Wayne Marina. The voyage took 60 days and we were in port every night at a marina or yacht club. The only privately owned marinas were those associated with “landed” yacht clubs.

In our estimation John Wayne Marina is far and above all the other marinas on the West coast. This is largely due to the management and hard work of Harbormaster Ron Amundson and his staff.

In the article I note scant mention of the Wayne family, it was my belief that the water area and surrounding acreage at Pitship point were a gift in perpetuity to the Port of Port Angeles with the stipulation that a marina be built.

I would like to see a continuation of this issue with emphasis on input from the Wayne family.

Lastly, I’m all for private property, but I cannot see how selling John Wayne Marina will improve the marina or enhance its availability to the public.

Ethan Harris

Sequim

The ‘New’ Greatest Generation

I am proud of the “new” Greatest Generation: the children I witnessed at Saturday’s “March for Our Lives.” This generation is our hope and promise for the future. It is clear they have had enough of a society that does not protect the most vulnerable among us, school children who must leave their homes for an education where their safety is always in question.

But it is more than schools. It is our neighborhoods, our homes where gun violence is stealing our youth and innocence leaving us in a semi-constant state of awareness and generalized fear.

They, this “new” generation of youth, will be more engaged in our democracy and will demand change, change that will address responsible gun ownership, that will ban military style automatic weapons, and universal background checks for all gun purchases. And they will vote. They will not stop until this change is achieved. Congress, the National Rifle Association, and Mr. President listen closely.

What you hear is the sound of democracy. Get swept up in it or get swept away!

Roger Briggs

Sequim