Military vehicle contract unwise proposal

Port of Olympia is considering a contract with the U.S. Military on transport of war vehicles. Last time this was done there was major citizen concern and protest. There was significant cost to Olympia for security and police. There are many concerns that would again be raised in the shipment of these war vehicles on where they will come from and where they are going and what will be done with them. In the past, vehicles have been made available to local police and sheriff offices leading to a militarization of police forces from the recent situation in Ferguson, Missouri to WTO police actions in Seattle. This has demonstrated the problems. It flies in the face of community policing and separates the police as an occupying force. There will be voiced concerns about war zone vehicles contaminated with depleted uranium. There will be ethical concerns over this action seen as tying Olympia into an unethical war.

Why could the Port not look for positive ways to make money: work with cities on development of renewable energy industry and export of their products as well as local organic agriculture. Hopefully the Port can move away from commodities with hidden costs to health and welfare.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 7:24 AM with the headline "Military vehicle contract unwise proposal."