Citizens and elected officials are losing local control in some American cities. Why? One organization encouraging this is “ICLEI” (once called International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives). The overall, yet stealth, ICLEI agenda is to shift transportation, land use and other decisions to unelected staff, and to county or higher level bureaucrats.

Public opposition has been voiced to Auburn’s liaison with ICLEI. As a result, Mayor Pete Lewis and Councilman John Partridge asked for a review by all council members. Mayor Lewis said ICLEI software was first used for a specific purpose but that was fulfilled a long time ago, and he wonders why we are still members ($1,200 for annual dues alone). The Auburn City Council discussed the ICLEI membership at a meeting Sept. 30, that can be viewed on Auburn’s Cable Channel 21.

It is all too easy to simply renew actions without scrutiny. As its agenda becomes known, ICLEI has lost about 20 percent of its member cities (including Bellevue) over the last two years. Auburn has many critical financial needs, and is healthier with locally made decisions. Voice your support for local control.

– Roger W. Hancock