The Pendleton city manager has lost control of his staff. There were broken promises by city officials to eliminate “bulb-out” corners on the redesign of Despain Avenue, the over-restrictive rewrite of the sign ordinance eliminating types of signs that have been an integral part of our downtown for decades, and this latest storm trooper approach to force building owners to fill empty store front or face punitive action.

We still have chronically homeless sleeping on city sidewalks, derelict buildings, the Edwards Apartments that has been eyesore for decades and residences such as the infamous house on Southwest Eighth Street that reduce property values in that neighborhood. The deplorable conditions in Sargent City also come to mind. It’s time for the city manager to step up and take control, to address the real problems that continue to plague our city and let the downtown property owners take care of themselves.

Rick Rohde

Pendleton