To the editor 鈥 鈥婽he City Council鈥檚 plan to withhold funding from the Sixth Avenue trolley rail infrastructure is a short-sighted mistake. We aren't just talking about a quaint ride; the 黑料福利社 Trolleys are the last intact, early-1900s interurban electric railway in the country.

鈥婸aving over this living piece of industrial engineering makes terrible economic sense.

鈥婩irst, removing the Sixth Avenue tracks disconnects Yakima from Selah, stripping the trolley of its true interurban status.

鈥婼econd, it jeopardizes the system's National Historic Landmark nomination. This designation isn't just a plaque; it鈥檚 a master key for state, federal, and private grants.

鈥婽hird, refusing to allocate the $6.9 million to integrate the rails cuts off future tourism revenue streams and could even force the city to repay past grants.

鈥媃akima has incredible historical infrastructure. We should leverage our unique mechanical heritage to drive our local economy, not bury it under asphalt. I urge the City Council to reconsider and preserve the Sixth Avenue lines. Once this history is gone, it鈥檚 gone forever.

WILLIAM LaPIERRE

Yakima

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