Re:”Proctor’s bike-rack bureaucracy tests patience of local Boy Scout” (Larry LaRue column, 5-22).

The Pacific Northwest Shop’s request to have a bicycle rack designed and created by a person from the Northwest seems more than reasonable. The Proctor District Association’s (PDA) denial of the permit seems less so.

Bicycle racks have many uses and purposes: They make shopping convenient for riders, encourage others to ride, make sidewalks safer for pedestrians, demonstrate a commitment to exercise and are an affirmative way to reduce our collective carbon footprint. In this case, the racks were an expression of Zach Quellette’s artistic talent …

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I am a daily runner and find myself on the waterfront 4-5 days a week, and have for many years. I have always loved the natural beauty and view along the esplanade that runs the four miles along Ruston Way. It is a unique slice of the area we inhabit, and is beautiful year round.

During the spring and summer it comes alive with hanging baskets of beautiful annuals, and in some areas, gardens of shade annuals, begonias and impatiens. Well, that was until 2013.

I noticed on my run this morning that no baskets are up yet, so I …

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The biking trail in Swan Creek Park (TNT, 5-3) is off to a great start, but future trails and other improvements to the park hang in the balance of budget negotiations in the state Legislature.

Metro Parks Tacoma has applied for a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant that would increase park access, expand existing trail networks, provide amenities that would attract new visitors and expand the community garden program. We thank Gov. Jay Inslee for recommending $75 million for the WWRP grant program, funding Swan Creek Park. Unfortunately, the House and Senate budgets fall short of this level. …

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Re: “Council to vote on $4.9 million in pay hikes” (TNT, 5-7).

Tacoma is in no position to be handing out raises. I don’t care what the “going rate” is. If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it.

Most people are excited when they get $1 an hour raise. I can’t believe anyone brings up raising wages when we have other issues to deal with. It is mind-boggling to me and most others.

I seriously doubt anyone will give up their already high-paying job with the benefits they recieve if they don’t get a raise. Just say no!

Re: “Council to vote on $4.9 million in pay hikes” (TNT, 5-7).

As a retired Tacoma schoolteacher living on a very small fixed income, I was appalled to read the proposed rate hikes for 400 Tacoma Public Utilities employees. They call it “market-driven rate adjustments.” I call it ridiculous.

Utilities director Bill Gaines’ salary will go from $310,000 to $366,000 – an 18 percent hike! Gaines is making almost as much as President Obama. No wonder our rates continue to increase while our services decrease.

I will be disgusted if this proposal is passed by our City Council. I …

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There is a groundswell of sustainable action that is taking place in the state of Washington, and it is time for Tacoma to take a big step forward.

Seven cities in Washington have already instituted a ban prohibiting retail stores from using single-use, plastic shopping bags, and I believe Tacoma should as well. Plastic bags impact marine life, are not reusable and are an outdated method of packaging.

A plastic bag ban would also raise consciousness about the implications of plastic debris and help promote Tacoma as a healthy, smart and thriving city.

Re: “Man overboard! State makes language sexless, senseless” (The Nose, 5-3).

In his article about political correctness creeping into our official state lexicon, The Nose rejoices that “if The Nose has anything to say about it, you can count on this: A resident of Tacoma will always be known as a Tacoman.”

To which I say: No! No! No! Political correctness demands it: “Tacoperson” it is.

Re: “Don’t forget about widening SR 162″ (letter, 4-28).

A couple of weeks back I attended a town hall meeting at the Puyallup library, called by state Reps. Hans Zeiger and Dawn Morrell and state Sen. Bruce Dammeier. I mentioned to them that we in Tacoma and Pierce County could not afford to be taxed for highway extensions. We had school levies that had been voted down, and our least able neighbors have had their bus service cut back.

The roads in Tacoma are dangerous to drive on. There is no money in Tacoma to fix the roads. When …

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