Local media (television and radio), are making our city council the “laughing stock” of King County. Apparently, we have an ethics code that is considered “aspirational.” As one TV anchor said, he wished he could “aspire” to do many things, but sometimes it’s too difficult.
If the ethics of the Council are only “aspirational,” then that means basically that “anything goes,” even though you “aspire” to do the right thing. You can aim to do better, but sometimes other things get in the way. Sometimes, even your pocketbook can get in the way, especially when it comes to developing the last green area in south Bothell. Sometimes the lack of traffic studies, or bridge overload restrictions just happen to be overlooked, even though you “aspire” to do better.
Aspirational ethics remind us of other politicians that “hoped” to do the right thing when they said: “Read my lips – no new taxes” or “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” and the list could go on and on. How can our mayor remain silent, while the council meetings are turning into a public condemnation? It has become embarrassing to watch, especially when so much of the local media is watching us.
Turning on the car radio talk shows or watching the local TV news has become upsetting, when you constantly hear about the problems in Bothell, including the mayor, the council and the city staff.
The mayor, and others on the council, and the city staff, need to reveal what is going on with the sale of the back-nine of the Wayne Golf Course. It is past time to just hope to do better.
Obviously the mayor is following the rule of “aspiring ethics.” You aspire to do the right thing, but it’s just too difficult. Apparently the loss of historic landmarks and the removal of vast numbers of trees just keeps happening, but somehow the mayor and his staff are aspiring to “do the right thing.” The mistrust of almost everything the council is doing has become epidemic. There must be a better way than just to aspire to do things better. Obviously a “real” code of ethics is also needed, rather than just “hoping” that we will aim to do better.
Dr. Robert Tadlock, Bothell
