I’ve learned two things from my experiences interacting with the city of Astoria and the Astoria City Council: The first is that city staff is professional and reasonable when serving the public. The second is that every vote on the City Council matters. When I had business before the council, even though Councilor Tom Hilton and I disagreed, I appreciated his request for civility in public discourse.

The social media posts by one of the candidates running to replace Hilton in Ward 4 have been particularly concerning. Mimi Rose has attacked those who disagree with her views on affordable housing as being “mentally challenged.” She has suggested forming “a picket line” in front of LiFEBoat Services and dehumanizes LiFEBoat’s clients by calling it a “feeding station.” She says the unhoused deserve a “one way bus ticket to where they came from” even though many seeking services are from here. Rose demeans others while calling herself “one of the few & brave who own a building Downtown to keep it running for unappreciative citizens like you.”

Through these tactless comments, Rose has demonstrated her inability to engage in meaningful, respectful dialogue about the important issues facing our city. Rather than heeding Hilton’s call for kindness in public discourse, Rose has disqualified herself as being someone who should replace him.

This letter isn’t intended to endorse any particular candidate, but rather to ask voters to embrace kindness in our public sphere and to demand it of anyone seeking to represent us.

JOHN WINDUS

Astoria