City officials need to keep their promises

As a resident of Monroe and an active member of the Monroe YMCA, I am extremely disappointed in the mayor’s recommendation to cut funding to the YMCA in order to balance the city’s diminishing budget. (Editor’s note: The City Council voted Tuesday to continue supporting the YMCA through 2009.)

When my wife and I were looking to purchase our first home nearly four years ago, there were several communities that had our interest. We kept coming back to Monroe for one reason, though: the YMCA that was soon to be coming. Having the YMCA, along with a variety of outdoor activities, made Monroe an ideal place to raise an active and healthy family. Now it seems that our mayor and other city officials no longer support this great organization.

How many community organizations out there are as dedicated to the people of their community as the YMCA? The YMCA makes the community such a focus; it’s in its mission statement: “Building Strong Kids, Strong Families and Strong Communities.” The YMCA is not just a place to go for a swim, or a place to go get some exercise, it’s a place where an individual or a family can come and learn a variety of things, many of which turn into life lessons.

Jeff Rassmussen

Monroe