I can not resist commenting on the Oak Harbor City Council members’ latest attempt at city tourism promotion. Your Saturday, July 7 edition portrays Oak Harbor City Council members giddily signing off on a $48,800 city tourism exploratory PR contract in a headlining front page article. While an article appearing on page A5 tells of the same city council members’ “unanimous” action changing downtown zoning to accommodate auto dealerships’ continued operation and possible future expansion.

I’m having a mental disconnect here or does tourism promotion now encompass sites of ambiguous urban sprawl and self-induced traffic congestion?

If only Will Rogers were alive today, could he find humor in this grand excuse to spend $48,800 of public funds.

Thomas F. Strang

Coupeville