John Mauro and the Council, current and recent past, have changed Port Townsend beyond recognition. The epic clear-cut subdivisions were never consistent with the Comprehensive plan yet a former mayor patronizingly consoled us that the “trees must go for progress.” I know who profited from that. And this is just one example of the corrupting of PT.

I spoke out against the deceptive plan to destroy the iconic tree-lined entrance into town by cutting the poplars down. The City, Port and PUD said it was because they were dangerous; but we discovered that the Port and PUD had agreed to remove them so the port could expand, claiming they were too close to the power lines.

We now know, with the trimming, that this was the only legitimate issue with the poplars whose upper branches were touching high power lines. Mauro led the “public involvement“ aka “manufactured consent.” He shut those out who opposed the idea. If we didn’t speak with the right “tone” we were told we were dishonest and were threatened with exile.

I wrote an email to council with my concerns about Mauro’s behavior and qualifications. Faber called me to defend Mauro; how impressed he was during the selection process because Mauro was friendly and would chat up residents; complete strangers. After this “talking to,” I realized being chatty is what got him the job.

It appears Mauro lied on his resume and former and current council members say there were no candidates with city management experience…oh wait, in fact, there were. In my view that makes them liars too; evidently a match made in Heaven.

This council and Mauro don’t appear qualified to lead this once lovely town anywhere but into the ground.

Andrea Hegland

Port Townsend