The difficult decisions cannot be put off and the public is beyond soothing. Move on to the bad news, and make it good. The city of Wenatchee has seen petitions signed by more than 3,000 of its citizens and refused to touch them. More than 3,000 people, either concerned about casino gambling or concerned about their voice in crucial issues, and the city tells them to go away. Take it to court.
City officials say they are just using procedures the law allows.
They law, they believe, does not recognize the legal worth of petitions from Wenatchee citizens. This is what was said as organizers attempted to deliver so many signatures asking for a referendum on the City Council's decision to legalize casinos. These are not questions that should be left solely to a judge. The City Council should honor those signatures and call an advisory vote on casino gambling. It should take the first step to restore the power of initiative and referendum to the citizens of the city.