I was reading the June 9 issue of the Kirkland Reporter and a comment from the front page story struck me. The story was “My Home Wholesale could be site of new public safety building.” The quote: “We are working with a little sense of urgency because we are hiring all of these people and we need a place to put them,” said Interim City Manager Marilynne Beard.

Then, I turn to page 8, and the Opinion headline is “Help save Kirkland’s Fourth of July event.” They need $60,000 for the event. The opinion article said, “For 10 years, the City of Kirkland has provided financial support for what has become the largest community event in Kirkland. This year, due to budget cuts, the city is unable to provide a penny.

“The Celebrate Kirkland Group needs to find the full $60,000 necessary to produce the spectacular fireworks finale from our Marina Park waterfront.”

Marilynne Beard said, “We are hiring all of these people and we need a place to put them.”

My comment is … what? Why is the City of Kirkland hiring all of these people? Aren’t we in a recession? Why are they hiring anyone?

So, let me get this straight. Kirkland is going to buy a new city building for $48 Million dollars that will house a bunch of new public union bureaucrats. That will just suck taxpayers dry forever with their big public union salaries, and pensions, and gold-plated health care benefits. Yet, they can’t afford $60,000 for an event enjoyed by the entire city.

I throw up, my hands. I can’t believe that I’m living here. And I was born, here. This is just ludicrous! When will we just say no! Enough. No more. Our government is out of control. This has to stop.

Mary D. Brown, Kirkland