Editor:

It is difficult as a resident, senior citizen and local taxpayer to understand why the City Council is even remotely thinking of raising my taxes when it doesn’t have to happen. Why in the world would the members waste even a penny but instead allot $20,000 to study the merits of using union-only workers for the construction of the Brentwood Civic Center?

The main responsibility of council members is to provide the best government at the least cost to residents. It is not to play politics with the funds to which they are entrusted. They should allow the free market to determine the costs associated with the building of this center through competitive bidding. They should not risk the appearance of corruption by forcing contractors into signing project labor agreements with unions. To discerning eyes, this would in effect appear to be the acceptance of a political bribe by those councilmen endorsing it.

Residents wishing to express their concern can do so at the upcoming council meeting relating to this subject, scheduled for May 12.

Ben Cerruti, Brentwood