Politics & Government

Letter to the Editor: Does Mayor Douglas Richardson Support the Camp Murray Gate Relocation?

The Tillicum neighborhood could become a major thoroughfare if the City Council allows Camp Murray to relocate its gate, placing more traffic on the area's residential streets.

Dear Mayor Douglas Richardson, I read your recent announcement about moving from mayor of the City of Lakewood and . If I had not been participating in trying to prevent the Lakewood City Manager from forcing the Tillicum community to accept the National Guard's interest in building a new Camp Murray Gate and roundabout at Portland Avenue/Boundary Street, your published announcement would have impressed me.

In your brief announcement you stressed that "it would be a privilege to represent the citizens of the 6th district tackling issues important to the them." Mr. Mayor, that is an impressive statement as the people's representative! I wonder what happened to that concept as the residents of Tillicum vigorously objected with ample and well researched facts to deny construction of a new National Guard Gate at Portland Avenue/Boundary Street?

How did you apply that concept in assisting Tillicum residents with the Camp Murray controversy?

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To use your political announcement — it would be a privilege to represent citizens of the 6th district tackling issues important to them. The Tillicum community leaders are struggling with all available resources to intelligently and with well researched facts that the National Guard's new entrance gate will be a determent to Tillicum.

In my opinion, The Lakewood City Council has been silent for over a year about the gate. You are the council's leader as well as representing the residents of Tillicum and Lakewood.

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The Tillicum residents asserted their objections to the gate at two council meetings with ample and well-researched facts.  You, as the Mayor, thanked us for being a nice orderly group of adults. There were no comments by other council members, no questions. The City Manager, Mr. Andrew Neidtz, was silent.

Moreover, as time moved on, community leaders presented other factual objections to the gate, only a few city leaders, briefly, responded to the residents serious inquiries. I do not think the Mayor stated his view, openly, to the Tillicum community. Do you, as an elected body of representatives, support the residents or are you supporting the City Manager and the National Guard in the controversial and

Also, in your campaign announcement, you point out how the city of Lakewood was successful in operating within the budget and improved city services and reigned in spending during your tenure. That is an impressive accomplishment too.

On the other hand, for example, Portland Avenue was rebuilt with sewer lines and new water pipes at significant cost. But, the sewer system is not functioning and now the city intends to rebuild Portland Avenue again to benefit and satisfy the National Guard.

Rebuilding Portland Avenue again after two years may not be the best way to spend funds as most agencies are finding ways to reduce costs. And, it is not clear to me how allowing the National Guard's commuter traffic to intrude into a low-income area will improve living, safety and security of its residents.

Here is an old military concept that you are very familiar with: Take care of your troops and they will take care of you. At this late time and date, I again plead for your personal help, as Lakewood's Mayor, to deny the National Guard's permit to build a new main entrance gate to Camp Murray.

Editor's Note: This article was written by Tillicum resident Tony Turkovich.


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