Editor,

I support with reservation the actions taken by the Island County Commissioners to deny the Town of Coupeville a grant after many intemperate remarks toward Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

I’m happy Commissioner Jill Johnson is, according to the audio, “not caving on this issue.”

I hope the town council will rethink its strategic position. In previous communications to the council, I pleaded, “I ask your letter please be about coexistence with OLF, because the Navy was asked to consider alternatives to OLF … instead of listening to me, I would rather ask you to please listen to VAQ-129 Vikings’ instructors on YouTube explaining OLF.”

I must accept accountability for failure in this aspect of my mission to defend OLF if the final Town of Coupeville letter remains belligerent.

I’m not indicating agreement or disagreement when I place into the record that the Trump Administration has made clear that communities that don’t support the national security agenda find federal grants at grave peril. Please Coupeville, blink. Support Scenario A, and mitigation for the very real impacts or support COER, or risk forfeiting all grants. The choice is yours.

Joe Kunzler

Sedro-Woolley