Comments lacked foundation, facts

The nasty letter to the editor by Don Swanstrom regarding Bruce Pedersen reveals more about the character of Swanstrom than Pedersen.

I have followed Mr. Pedersen’s efforts and would like to respond by saying, yes, he is the person who offered to donate acreage for a community ice rink in Kootenai, and yes, he is the man trying to consolidate land downtown to increase density, housing diversity, and affordability. This site would also be home to the community ice rink and be a boon to all businesses and residents downtown (by the way it received 100 percent endorsement by Greater Sandpoint Chamber members).

I applaud such efforts for our community, our youth, and for our town’s future.

Regarding the thrift store, anyone who understands the simple truth of real estate knows that the thrift store was doomed by the previous owner of the building who sold to Pedersen at a huge gain.

The Pedersens never evicted the thrift store (media drama) but did require an increase in rent to cover the new building’s increased mortgage. Is that actually difficult to understand — and who is at fault?.

Mr. Pedersen has lived here for more than 10 years and I am thrilled that extra voting rights are not given based upon how long ago your family moved here, as you imply. Otherwise, this whole town might be a giant  thrift store filled with cranky narrow-minded codgers. Let’s keep our town moving forward and quit acting like mean-spirited middle-schoolers slamming anyone with intelligence and vision.

RALPH JOHNSON

Sagle