Editor,

I’m responding to Steven Myres’ April 30 letter, “Amend the emergency moratorium to protect small businesses,” where he warns us about the possible harmful consequences of the county’s temporary moratorium on new construction in the mixed-use RAID areas.

Mr. Myres – who lost the 2024 primary race for county commissioner (and then backed loser Damian Greene) – is following an all-too-familiar pattern of divisive behavior from the Island County Republican Party.

First, Mr. Myres identified the enemy, which for him are the county commissioners (and the building and planning departments); then he identified potential victims – who are, according to Steven, small businesses, “the backbone” of our local economy. Finally he offered up a solution: People should go whine and complain to the county.

The problem is, this is all just political theater.

Myres claims to be reasonable and that he’s done “extensive research” into this matter. (He actually did his own research, oh my!) But if that were even remotely true he would have called the commissioners or county staff and learned the facts:

The county is already aware that some of the language of the RAID ordinance needs to be changed and staff is already working with the commissioners to address this.

And FYI: the intent of the temporary moratorium on new construction was never to harm local businesses, or take away their property rights, or hold up permitting until April 2026, as Myres suggests.

We have to ask, why does Mr. Myres feel compelled to engage in this drama? Is he trying to stay relevant after his election loss? Is he jealous that former ICRP leaders Hazelo and Abuhl are hogging all the attention? Or, with elections happening this year, is Mr. Myres planning to run for office and lose … again?

David Freed

Clinton