Roger Hancock’s letter (“A need for local control”, Auburn Reporter, Oct. 4) accurately describes ICLEI as an organization that subverts local control. Our Auburn City Council, with good leadership by John Partridge and Pete Lewis, made the right decision Sept. 30 to cancel their ICLEI membership.

ICLEI (once called International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives) has lost many members during the last two years, and its website, www.icleiusa.org, no longer lists member cities. The website now downplays as “conspiracy theory” its previously stated connection with the “U.N. Agenda 21.”

Fortunately, Washington state has strong public records request laws. A 2011 citizen request to Bellevue regarding ICLEI provided a humorous, if not concerning, result. The email chain included staff from ICLEI and several local cities. The subject was an effort to obtain “fiscal pledges” for a “Climate Collaboration” effort. A Bellevue staff member wrote: “Since we don’t have a strong mayor form of government, technically I have to take the question to Council and ask them to authorize our Mayor to sign. I will be checking with the City Manager to see if there is some less laborious way we can move forward, especially since our Council as a whole may well not agree to support this.”

“Less laborious way?” How about “more sneaky way?” Or maybe a “way to work behind the scenes to implement our hidden agenda?” It is no wonder Bellevue also decided to cancel its ICLEI membership.

– Ronald Page Lemmen