Editor,

Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve “spokeswoman” Ann Adams apparently thinks her whining, published Aug. 20, could throttle me back.

Nope.

My sortie was intended to lift Island Transit staff spirits.

I also felt instinctively that, if deciding on which bailout, our federal and state politicians should prioritize evacuating those who, according to the Island County planning director, in December, bought property based on a “Form 22W” lacking “both required disclosure statements, nor cite applicable county code.”

I salute Judy Gremmel’s efforts in this regard and ask fellow supporters of Outlying Field Coupeville to please share my gratitude.

But, I disapprove of Gremmel’s opposition to more EA-18Gs as a distraction from a noble cause to get folks supposedly “trapped” and “persecuted” “out from under the jets.”

That said, why evacuate “trapped” and “persecuted” folks instead of a new OLF?

As per May 2013 NAS Whidbey community leaders meeting minutes: “Admiral Rich … stated that it would be exceptionally challenging to acquire a new OLF both financially and environmentally additionally; it would take a very long time, likely over 10 years (mid 2020s).”

Other U.S. Navy sources I dialogue with confirm this reality.

Therefore, if alleging OLF Coupeville is harmful, why wait “likely over 10 years” for an “exceptionally challenging” OLF replacement instead of demanding compensation to evacuate an area with aviation easements surrounding an OLF Coupeville bouncing jets since 1967 that’s part of Whidbey’s soundscape?

I impugn political strategy, not audiology. Oh, and while impugning political strategy, I too share the public discomfort with the pusillanimous zilch public condemnation of the Town of Coupeville and Coupeville Chamber of Commerce leaders regarding COER’s malicious conduct in Coupeville’s name against the U.S. Navy and, now, Island Transit.

Joe Kunzler
Sedro-Woolley