For those of you who visit Seattle overnight, how do you like paying $30 on a $165 room to subsidize Paul Allen’s new dome? If so, you can be certain that Seattle hotels are supporting the suburban competition where no lodging tax exists. Should a visiting family pay $8 on an $80 room to fatten the chamber’s budget?

As collectors of thousands of visitor dollars, we know that people are repulsed by a community that taxes their guests only to spend dollars to promote more guests. If a guest is taxed they ought to get something public for it; such as public restrooms at the chamber office.

Joel Douglas

Oak Harbor