To the editor 鈥 On April 18, Walt Ranta wrote a letter headlined, 鈥淒windling tax base is making us a backwater.鈥 He argues that a dwindling tax base has reduced our services and attributes the problem to agriculture鈥檚 resistance to diversification, yet we had those services.
I contend the deeper issue lies in the recent disruptions that have weakened local revenues, including the recent pandemic and our current national political environment of tariffs, mass deportations and foreign wars. Municipalities are struggling under national and global forces beyond their control.
The solution is not to attack and blame our city officials for the lack of funds, but for residents to come together and work with city officials to find solutions. If the mayor and the City Council are following all the laws and regulations, including avoiding conflict of interest and are being open and transparent about the problems the city is facing, they should not be attacked but supported in their efforts to find solutions.
Mayor Elpidia Savvedra of Toppenish is doing just that. The residents need to support her in her efforts to seek funding because the funding sources look for a community that is united and has a community development plan.
HECTOR FRANCO
Yakima
