What does the impending Metropolitan Park District vote and the temperament of a new-car buyer have in common? Actually, a lot. Car buyer temperaments range widely from impulsive to thoughtful. How are these temperaments related to the MPD vote?

Impulsive buyers often have “buyer’s remorse” a few months after their purchase. In contrast, thoughtful purchasers are assured of their decision because they have conducted research. I want Bonney Lake citizens to feel assured of their decision on April 23^rd. I don’t want citizens to have “buyer’s remorse” when they realize the MPD will not live-up to hyped expectations.

The construction portion of the MPD will lose its luster first. Instead of keeping that new car smell, it will stink of waste. MPD proponents say that, if approved, the MPD will have dedicated park funding to build a sports complex, an amphitheater, a BMX facility, some picnic shelters, etc. However, even with the dedicated stream of your money, MPD supporters state, in the Park Summit IIdocument, “After MPD is established, a park bond can be voted on for specific high cost items.”  This is admission, by MPD supporters, that the “dedicated funding” will not construct the projects they are promoting. The “dedicated funding” claim is a red herring. In the end, the MPD will ask you for more money, over and above the MPD forever-tax, to develop the construction projects they list on their website.

In order to embolden thoughtfulness, Families for a Responsible Bonney Lake encourages Bonney Lake citizens to converse about the MPD. We believe that thoughtful conversation and debate will improve our community. So, you are invited to join the conversation on our Facebook page—whether you are for or against the MPD. Our policy contrasts with the policy of the pro-MPD page that has banned civil debate. The pro-MPD administrators posted on 4 March: “This page is NOT intended to be an open forum but rather an information location concerning the MPD and other related topics. It is intended to restrict the commendeering of the page with rhetoric, misleading information and opposing views.” If MPD supporters don’t want debate now, do you think they will listen to your input when they spend your money on million dollar park projects?

Do a little research, read NoNewParkTax.com and YesMPD.com. Then, join the conversation on Facebook…well, you can join our conversation at FamiliesForAResponsibleBonneyLake. I can’t promise you won’t get banned from posting on the pro-MPD Facebook page since it’s, “not intended to be an open forum.”

Don’t “buy” the MPD because it looks pretty and offers “sweet” features. You will quickly discover that claims of the MPD will leave Bonney Lake parks unfulfilled and your pockets empty. Instead of building parks, monies will be used for more government administration. Like an impulsive car purchase, you will curse the payments only a few months after you “drive” the MPD off the lot. Unlike a car purchase, however, there is no getting rid of the MPD payment; you will pay for the MPD-lemon forever. Vote “No” April 23.