Track is a poor use of our tax dollars

Here we are in 2004, struggling daily on 1960s roadways. Washington still ranks the 45th worst out of 50 states in unemployment. The idea of going $200 million into debt for maybe 100 jobs, only 35 percent of which would be full-time, is stupid. I have nothing against racing, but not here.

I can see the desperation of our elected officials to maintain a lifestyle that depended on the lost Boeing millions. We have seen all kinds of white elephant scams, but trying to fill this void on one of the worst highway systems in the nation is ridiculous.

Under the proposal to build a NASCAR track in Snohomish County, taxpayers would lay out $200 million for the privilege of handing International Speedway Corp. – which would lay out only $50 million – the keys to our futures. Why would anyone want to pay 4-to-1, in the hopes of getting jobs and roads, if they race, or if we get a Nextel race, but most importantly if they can race at all due to the weather?

We cannot correct our voting mistakes, but we can surely stop the theft of $200 million, which is a very conservative figure that should be used for our roads. We vote these civil servants into office to look out for our well being, not to enrich one or two local developers.

Planning in this county hasn’t proceeded beyond the personal-gain stage of our elected officials from both parties, and the same tired and usual names in Snohomish County’s own millionaire developers.

Allen Merritt Sr.

Marysville