Letter: City manager’s comment show democracy not working in Richland
On Oct. 12, the Herald published an article titled, “Richland budget plans to prepare for Duportail bridge.”
Of many budget items outlined by Cindy Reents, Richland’s city manager, I was shocked by a quote she made after stating the city will buy a new application for processing public records requests — “It’s a necessary evil that we have to go through, so we might as well track them and do our due diligence.”
This is an appalling statement made by a public servant and city manager. Her words should be a red flag to this readership and this newspaper. The public’s right to request and obtain public records is a Washington state law.
The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.030) states, “The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.”
Ms. Reents’ words indicate that democracy is not working in Richland. When a person this high in government views serving the public, and upholding the law, as a necessary evil.
Laurie Ness
Richland
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Letter: City manager’s comment show democracy not working in Richland."