Let us have our bypass before it's too late

Bypass opponents are narcissistic and greedy elitists. Your concerns are not for our community.

You oppose it because existing traffic flow draws people by your business and hopefully in to spend money. Well, good luck, I do all my shopping online; I won’t fight that traffic.

You oppose it for the aesthetics and what it will do the mud bog of Sand Creek. What about all the building going on here? Where were you when they built the bank that shades the rest of town? Where are you while they rip rap the entire Pend Oreille River shoreline?

The area between Laclede and Seneacquoteen was a historical part of our community. It was a Native American river crossing encampment and you used to be able to walk the shoreline and find arrowheads. There used to be a school on the Dufort and Vay Road corner where the “Crossing” development is, and Seneacquoteen used to be the county seat before Coeur d’Alene. There was a trading post there. Now, there are at least five deserted developments within three miles. What happened to the one dwelling per five acres?! You are very selective in your opposition.

You oppose it because of the cost. An impact tax could probably generate enough for a north/south, east/west bypass. Fifty new $400,000 homes times 5 percent tax — do the math. They should pay for the impact all their gated communities are having on our infrastructure. What about the water? You complain about the dangers of milfoil eradication, but you allow the destruction of the wildlife habitat on land. There is an issue right now at the Morton Slough, a wildlife refuge they want to build on because it is “waterfront property.” Where were you when the local golf course was integrated into a gated community?

You oppose it because it’s not perfect, so you are willing to sit on your thumb and continue to congest the downtown Sandpoint area. I believe we are paralyzed by perfection here. You can’t please everyone, fact of life. You don’t care about your community when your opposition is creating an unsafe environment. Did you drive through town when there was construction on the corner in front of Ivano’s; traffic was backed up both lanes all the way to Gas ‘n’ Go and everyone trying to merge.

I don’t know if it is true, but rumor has it they won’t put in any more stoplights until the bypass has been determined. That’s why there are so many accidents in front of the mall and the intersection at Fifth and Church! What other reason could there be to ignore such dangerous intersections? Someone is going to get injured, and I hope there is someone to accept the responsibility.

During the flooding in the Midwest this year, there was a town that was saved by a wall that was built against opposition to protect them from high water. Thank God they didn’t let the opposition stop them from thinking of the community as a whole. That’s my opinion.

CRYSTAL UTECHT

Priest River