Editor,

According to the Saturday, September 24 South Whidbey Record, because South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District Commissioner Matt Simms has never, apparently, stepped in, had his dogs eat/roll in, or noticed clouds of flies around horse poop, he says that he feels the complaints over horse poop are about a “nonissue.”

Although I believe that all animal owners should clean up after domestic pets (including cats and horses as well as dogs) in public places, my issue, or perhaps nonissue to Simms, is calling other people’s complaints, comments and opinions a “nonissue.” That sort of political arrogance is why people become frustrated and angry over political stonewalling.

I’ve resisted writing about the fact that I think requiring young people to clean up after their animals is part of learning responsibility (one reason to have an animal is to learn what responsibility means). I’ve resisted writing that “public trails” means that every individual is responsible for anything left behind after using the trail. I’ve resisted writing that much has been written on the Internet about this “nonissue” (does quantity prove it’s an issue?), including an excellent list of rules for horse riders on EcoEquine at https://ecoequine.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/share-the-trail-trail-tips-that-are-considerate-to-others-and-the-earth/.

But I can’t resist writing to protest against another politician referring to his constituents’ concerns as nonissues. To misquote Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail,” Why do you say something is a “nonissue”? That just means it’s a nonissue to you. It’s an issue to me.

Nonissue might be an excellent word to expunge from your vocabulary (like removing poop from trails), Mr. Simms.

MARIAN BLUE

Clinton