City's actions over center are appalling

After reading the articles about the happenings at the Bonner Business Center (BBC), I am completely appalled that some entity would have the nerve to call itself an "economic development" corporation when it is threatening to put 15 businesses out of business and force up to 40 people into the unemployment line. What is the mission statement of this corporation? "Economic development until we don't feel like it anymore?"

Clearly, the city of Sandpoint should not be tied into the Economic Development Corporation of Sandpoint, the "municipal corporation" or entity or whatever it is that is in charge of the BBC. It's obvious that political wrangling has gotten in the way of the mission of the EDCS when it is breaking promises and commitments it made to tenants years ago.

The BBC has been a vital part of this community and incubated many successful businesses for the last 12 years, including mine. I can't believe we're in danger of losing a major element of this valuable community asset because the ECDS can't work with the tenants to find a solution.

No one has ever suggested that the taxpayers should foot the bill for the BBC, except the mayor. You don't get into a financial hole like that "all of a sudden." A couple years ago, the BBC had a surplus. Where did that money go? Apparently the city council members on the ECDS board weren't paying attention. Now, they are blaming the tenants and forcing staff to take other jobs because of their fiscal mismanagement. It's unfair and unethical.

Many successful business incubators move away from their involvement with a municipal entity because of situations like this. Instead, the incubators are run by a non-profit corporation and a board of directors that actually have some interest in economic development. You don't want the folks holding the purse strings to have a conflict of interest. In this case, it appears the City of Sandpoint does.

Perhaps a new non-profit needs to be formed, or the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation could step in and help. They are independent, unrelated to the municipal "Economic Development Corporation of Sandpoint," and have an impressive list of accomplishments. If the BBC were run by a board that knew what it was doing and that was actually committed to economic development, the BBC could help even more businesses in this community than it already has.

SUSAN DAFFRONSandpoint

Byway alternative would end problems

How would you like a truck bypass that addresses all the problems that the Sand Creek fiasco fails to accomplish? This option will do the following; improve east-west traffic, move the trucks off First Avenue, draw new south shore customers to Sandpoint, improve county road traffic flow, facilitate bypass users reasonable access to downtown businesses, expedite traffic to Schweitzer, avoid the Sagle-Algoma danger zones, leave options open for further alternative westside and south shore routes, will not destroy Sand Creek, can be built quicker and with less money and less ecological destruction.

Highway 95 northbound truck traffic will turn west on Dufort Road, turn right at the Cocolalla bridge and parallel the railroad and cross the river at the Dover railroad bridge. Build two lanes on either side of the bridge or four lanes over the top of the bridge, reducing right-of-way and ecological footprint. Dramatically shorter and less expensive bridge. Connects to Highway 2, which fits with ITD plan to four lane Highway 2 Dover-Sandpoint. Feeds into Fifth Avenue, which is four lane. Dufort to the bridge road can be improved by the time the bridge is built. This route aligns nicely with the proposed future Rathdrum-Hoodoo Valley direct Spokane-Sandpoint Highway. The best part is no more whining about a viable alternative.

DALE ROBERTSON

Laclede

Photos were victory for formula companies

I noticed your recent photos (Sept. 29 and Oct. 20) showing hospital employees displaying the new "birthday gifts" containing infant formula products that are to be given to each new baby and mother. Both pictures were mistakenly placed in the "health" section of the paper.

Infant formula is contradictory to every national and international health resource.

Studies comparing formula and breastfeeding show that breast-fed infants and their mothers are healthier.

Babies who breastfeed for the first six months of life have higher IQs, increased immunity to ear, lung and intestinal infections and decreased chances for obesity. Mothers who breastfeed are at a lower risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and osteoporosis.

These photos should have been placed in the business section of the paper and labeled: "Marketing victory for formula corporations — hospital sells out on mothers and babies health in return for cheap diaper bags and promotional formula."

KAREN DIGNAN

Sandpoint