First, thanks to Councilman Bob Gray for voting against removing Scott Walker from the Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board. Gray’s characterization of the accusations by the city manager and some members of the City Council against Walker as “character assassination” is accurate.

I have known Scott for more than 40 years, and I know him better than David Timmons or anyone on the council. Walker has always been direct and strident in his communications – not an unknown quality in Port Townsend – and it takes a bit of patience and understanding to get used to his style.

As for being “abusive,” Scott is not.

Frustrated is more likely what led to his so-called “outburst,” which I and others can certainly understand regarding the city. But, given the amount of time and energy Scott has donated to the city over many years, it seems foolish at best to so unceremoniously remove him from this volunteer commitment to getting us out of our cars and onto our feet and bicycles.

We face an uncertain future regarding climate change, and with the lack of government commitment to the issue, it falls to us as individuals – like Scott Walker – to change our habits. The city should help, rather than hinder, those individual efforts.

I watch the “beautification” project unfold downtown, and the removal of those beautiful mature street trees that Scott and I and many others saw planted by volunteers as saplings long ago, only to be replaced by expensive new trees – but no bike lanes or electric-vehicle charging stations. That alone could be a significant aspect of Scott’s frustration with Timmons and the city. It certainly is a frustration of mine. Unfortunately, we lost a great volunteer asset to our community when Scott was forced to leave the NMTVA Board.