I'm writing to recommend Laura Ware for Olympia City Council because of her commitment to neighborhoods, city infrastructure, and regular folks. Laura understands our perspective as pedestrians and bicyclists because she frequently is one herself.

For example, she is an active participant in our annual Bicycle Commuter Contest. Laura has been an ardent supporter of updating the city sidewalk plan to help make Olympia more pedestrian friendly. My family loves to walk to and around downtown and the market on the weekends.

Also, Laura fought off a raid on street repair funds because she knows that maintaining our streets now means that the community won't have to pay more later.

Laura responded to citizens' requests to change city ordinances to allow residents to keep a few hens as pets in the city limits.

I don't have hens myself, but some of my friends enjoy fresh eggs from these feathery family pets.

Finally, I appreciate Laura's friendliness -- she is easy to approach and to talk to -- and yeah, she's a good listener, too.

Hugh O'Neill, Olympia

Public needs options for going to movies

I am supporting the plans for the prospect of a new movie theater on the west side of Olympia.

Lacey and Yelm are too far to drive. Lacey's cinema is crowded, and I have noticed that it is not clean. The mall theater here on the west side is currently in the same state as Lacey's. We need some competition in this area.

A cinema I visited last year in Wisconsin had a sit-down espresso cafe in the lobby as well as a variety of reasonably priced food courts.

Also, not everyone on the west side is wealthy, but since the housing market is drawing higher-income families and higher taxes, at least let us have some quality options for going to the movies.

Pamela K. Garland, Olympia

City Council should OK movie complex

I moved to Olympia 10 weeks ago. I love everything about it, but I was dismayed when I found that the state capital does not have a first-class movie theater complex.

Even in Hawaii we had multiple movie complexes. What a shame! Now I read your front-page article, and "it's up to the City Council." ... This should be a no-brainer. The proposed movie theater complex should be approved for the people's benefit Immediately. If not, whose pockets are getting lined?

Don Vaupel, Olympia