To the Mayor of Vancouver, and all the elected Vancouver City Council:

We the People of Clark County, in the State of Washington, want to votefor a third time nowon the proposed changes to the I-5 bridge. We dont believe there is real majority support from the public for a 12-lane bridge with light-rail amenities added at this time.

We realize that something must be done to make congestion better in the near future. However, our voices are not being heard. We have voted down light-rail more than once, and yet we are being told we must install it.

Perhaps in a different future the People may all want it. However, considering that the economy is horrid at the moment, and many citizens have and are about to lose their only sources of income, it is appalling that our elected officials spend more.

Everyone must cut back their spending: businesses are cutting hours, people are eating at home. We the People insist that our remnant funds, and taxes, be used to save vital pre-existing social-programs and/or maintain the current (C-Tran/C-van) bus and bridge for a few more years. New plans for huge non-emergency changes, like the largest one ever in our regions history, should be put on holdas We the People put our own vacation plans on hold. Any additional federal stimulus monies received would also be better off to go to lower the cost of C-Van rides, to protect our elderly, disabled, and currently- impoverished brothers and sisters, rather than create a pretty walking bridge, a park, and remake an already existing I-5 bridge.

There was, and is still, another plan. A second bridge to span the Columbia River located outside of Downtown Vancouver should be put back into consideration. However, in the light of current global and regional economic crisis, even that proposal should be left on hold.

Also, as We the People are not receiving wage increases or Christmas bonuses this year. Therefore, we also request that you refrain from helping yourself to our pocket changeto give yourselves increases in salaries. We would respect you much more if you publicly state your intentions to refuse recent salary boosts, and may even consider that in the next election cycle.

The Undersigned Residents, Citizens, and Voters of Clark County want you to take our situation seriously immediately.

Or, if you do not want to follow the will of the People, step down from office.
Thank you.