I cannot let the letter from Dick and Dolores Nagle go without comment. I feel insulted by their statements. First, there are at least five homeowners associations in Lakeland Hills. Mayor Lewis is a member of one of the smallest. I would bet money that the majority of homeowners up here don’t even realize he lives in the neighborhood. I am, however, confident that each homeowner here pays their taxes, and therefore should be afforded the privileges of being a citizen of Auburn.
Next, how about that slap in the face to all of us who live here. I would venture that most of us shop in Auburn for most products. Keep in mind, the Top Foods and Drugs on Lake Tapps Parkway is in the city limits.
In my opinion, the downtown “eyesore” is a vast improvement over Tavern Row. Don’t blame the city for the failure of the Ace project; I believe anyone would acknowledge, if they are honest, that the economy over the last two years has played an enormous role.
The vast majority of things that Ms. Haugen and her supporters complain about are under the control of the City Council, which she has been a member of twice. If a mayor won’t attend any regional committees, good luck getting any outside support for things the city needs, or our fair share of county and state revenue.
While Auburn is a strong and growing community, we need to keep in mind a city is not an island unto itself, and federal, state and county laws are a large part of doing city business.
– Dan Rollins