Stuckart understands livability

After reading the positions of the mayoral candidates it is clear that only Ben Stuckart understands what makes a great city. I am incredulous that the rest of the field is caught in a 1950s view that cities are places you drive through to get somewhere else. That is the outdated view that emptied urban neighborhoods and almost destroyed American cities.

Prioritizing high-speed transportation corridors always destroys city neighborhoods.

We have had at least 80 years proof of this. Spokane’s “road diet” and beautification plans are intended to make neighborhoods truly livable and to encourage people to slow down and patronize their neighborhood businesses. If the candidates for mayor don’t understand that the rebuilding of Monroe and Sprague have been boons for those neighborhoods, then they shouldn’t be trying to lead Spokane.

As someone who lives close to the city core and wants to live in a green neighborhood full of people (Kendall Yards anyone?), my concern and the concern of our city leaders should not be to make it convenient for those living on the northern fringes of Spokane to get home quickly. That is their problem. Our city leaders should be concerned that I go to my favorite coffee shop on Monroe as much as possible.

Perhaps those candidates who are interested in getting people quickly out of town should be running for county office. Then at least they would be serving those who care little for the livability of the city of Spokane. That’s what I care about.

Jim Becker

Spokane