Commentary By Samuel Strait On Tuesday, July 25th at 5:00 pm a meeting was held by our local government representatives to consider what the community felt about the resurrection of the long dormant Tri Agency. For a typical government meeting it was rather well attended as less than a half dozen citizens bother to attend most County meetings. In any event, thirty to thirty five constituents of the three Tri Agency partners were on hand at the Veteran's Hall for over three hours to determine the public's mind on whether or not the Tri Agency should or should not be revived. Not to hold anyone in suspense, a vote was taken and the results were 3-0-2 in the affirmative for the Harbor Board, 3-1-1 in the affirmative for the City Council, and 3-2 in the affirmative for the Board of Supervisors. Had a vote been taken for the people who chose to attend, it was almost unanimous that the Tri Agency would no longer exist. Such is the way of the modern representative republic. Make no mistake, this has become common at all levels of the government in the United States of America where the government has turned its back on a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people". There should be no surprise here as we, the people, have consistently forsaken our solemn duty to elect representatives who are asked not to "do some good" but follow the express wishes of their constituents and vote to secure those wishes. That, for most representatives DID NOT HAPPEN ON TUESDAY EVENING! Local government should not be in the business of economic development. It should be in the business of less regulation, lower taxation, and less government over reach. Economic development is not constructing government edifices that in short order become dysfunctional, mismanaged, and a future burden on the community when those edifices can no longer support themselves. The operation of the previous version of the Tri Agency was a case in point where start up loans defaulted, public works are now in disarray requiring millions of dollars to subsidize their continued operation in ever growing amounts. Those that have survived now face millions in deferred maintenance, operations at reduced levels, or fund balances in the red. We are now expected to shoulder the burden of another pointless government Joint Powers Authority which in all likelihood will become yet another drain on resources available to benefit the local population. Going forward the Tri Agency already is in debt for $290,000 in loan forgiveness and another $110,000 in funding to hire another layer of government bureaucracy to engage a task they are not meant to become involved, economic development. No one can be sure about those that voted not to revive the Tri Agency, three altogether, for local government has long since burned the bridge to being trustworthy and they no longer hold to their sacred trust of being representative. Another element as to why the Tri Agency is not favored by the public was a presentation on off shore wind power, of which the Tri Agency intends to be a part of, as part of their redevelopment strategy. If this is but one of the directions that this new agency intends to pursue, the public present was not in favor, nor were any other options revealed that offered some optimism to those in attendance. Tourism, a five or six month, revenue generator was the only economic revenue source offered over the course of the evening. Bottom line is the evening concluded with our "representatives" requesting public input, were given said input, ignored said input, and voted to increase government, hire more employees, and remain a increasing burden on the local population. That's representation Del Norte County style. Small wonder few vote and our elected very seldom receive over 30% of the registered vote.