Editor,

I begin by stating this patriotic missive is solely in the concern of public safety — with great reluctance and reflection with a sense of responsibility to those local voices working to coexist with Outlying Field Coupeville.

That said, I disagree with Maryon Attwood’s fumigation about an “adverse impact” from the OLF Coupeville concrete blocks.

To me, the genuine adverse impacts would be a military family bereaved because an EA-18G crashed or a violent incident at a public meeting; therefore, the safety blocks should stay without a public meeting.

Those OLF safety blocks exist to keep automobiles off of OLF and, in the event of unforeseen tragedy, a skidding EA-18G from crashing into vehicles and tourists. Furthermore a former Town of Coupeville mayor requested, in writing, for such safety blocks.

For Maryon Attwood to demand a public meeting on this after claiming OLF is unsafe is an abuse of public process.

Why abuse? Quoting Kendall Campbell’s public record to the state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation Director Dr. Allyson Brooks, “For your awareness, there is a heightened sensitivity to how the Navy engages in public meetings right now, particularly when topics relate to the OLF.

“Over the past year we have lost out on the opportunity to engage the public in conversation on a wide range of topics because of unproductive and sometimes abusive behavior by some in the community.”

I am not the most credible at pointing out specific “abusive behavior.” However, the security issue remains, and I genuinely worry for my Whidbey Island Naval Air Station friends and law enforcement who would staff such a community confrontation.  I, therefore, inquire why should American taxpayers have to pay for professional security to discuss necessary safety blocks to ignobly appease the unappeasable?

Finally, if the concern is genuinely for tourist economics, perhaps it’s time to market OLF Coupeville as an aviation tourist destination? After all, I believe the NAS Whidbey personnel that OLF supporters strive to honor would appreciate a helping hand extended by OLF Coupeville supporters to Central Whidbey’s tourist economy.

Joe Kunzler

Sedro Woolley