Editor,

I find it interesting that the Bundy Clan and the dispute over Wonn road and public beach access are so similar. Cliven Bundy still has not paid grazing fees.

Ammon Bundy and his followers are being prosecuted to some point. It is still to be determined just how far prosecutors will go. Certainly if Cliven Bundy had not got away with his theft in Nevada his son Ammon wouldn’t have felt so confident in his actions in Oregon.

Here on Whidbey we have a similar problem. Unlike the Feds, we have not yet let the wall stand. It is still in litigation. Though I understand Jill Johnson’s reasons for wanting to accept a deal, I think she is wrong. Even though there is a risk of the public losing access to the beach in court. The law says the public has access and the wall is illegal. Island County needs to fight this to the end and not accept a deal. Especially the deal offered. If Island County doesn’t fight this, it will just lead to more private citizens who have the resources taking public lands.

Not only does Island County (which is really all of us who live or own land or pay taxes here) need to fight this, but if we win in court the county needs to sue to recover the funds spent fighting for Wonn road access but also the costs of removing the wall. Just as the Federal Government, Oregon and Nevada should sue Cliven and Ammon Bundy, along with everyone else involved with the theft of these public lands, to recover the money lost and the costs incurred by dealing with the illegal actions of the Bundys and their co-conspirators.

Sincerely,

ERIC SNOW

Clinton

Editor’s note: The Island County commissioners have rejected the settlement offer for Wonn Road.