The Bellevue Reporter’s characterization of the $10-million downtown Bellevue bus service as “free” is, if not amusing, erroneous. But it does carry on the tradition of misleading the taxpayers about how their valuable taxes are being wasted.

The Reporter, the entrenched Eastside power brokers, and the Bellevue City Council would like us to believe that a $10 million transit scheme can be provided “free.” The problem is that a service that will only benefit downtown Bellevue residents, employees and employers has to be paid for by someone, since the city and Metro Transit refuse to collect fares from riders who will benefit from the service. It is

also amazing that taxpayers who live beyond Bellevue city limits will be contributing to the scheme. Even more amazing is the fact that, unlike the non-cost-effective Sound Transit light rail expansion, the taxpayers didn’t even get to vote on the downtown Bellevue transit freebee.

David F. Plummer

Bellevue