12/24/2025
City council member,
"Yakima's trolleys are kept in the stone and brick trolley barn which is over 100 years old. The barn and the entire railroad are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the last of their kind." - J. Craig Thorpe
This letter is in regards to the sudden and rather unfortunate decision to attempt to dismantle the Yakima Trolley and all of the incredible history that goes with it according to your own arguments stated publicly, and written in the local newspaper arguing for dismantling the trolley. I use the term 'argue' because any decision to end the trolley is clearly based on opposing the valid opinions and beliefs of the people who elected you and instead attempting to dictate the budget based on weak opinions rather than solid fact.
To argue that the Yakima Trolley is not bringing in the same profit as the new Ymca and the local pools is an obviously invalid argument for two reasons;
1. The new Ymca, city pools and similar locations used as comparison are visited by mostly (and usually only) locals, and have no part in bringing in tourism from new visitors and non locals alike, whereas the yakima trolley actually has a great opportunity for out of town tourism for families, historians and visitors of Yakima, of all ages.
2. The profit comparison is not only incorrect in establishing tourism opportunity, but it also excludes the fact that this past year is not an accurate depiction of the actual profitability for the yakima trolley because of the obvious fact that planned city maintenence has completely halted the trolley and its ability to complete its full trip to Selah and back to its station.
The argument that the miniscule $10,000 yearly budget will help a 9 million dollar deficit due to government overspending is also mute, because the city will be paying the exact same $10,000 in annual cost to maintain the same road and buildings whether the trolley stays or ceases to exist either way. Have you considered the possibility that the trolley may open to full capacity after the city maintenence that has been going on for a year is finished, and the trolley must actually be able to run as planned and work to full potential to see factual profitibility rates? Have you considered the possibilities of hosting events such as birthday parties and weddings? Have you considered raising ticket prices by %50?
The weak and easily rebuttled arguments given to the people, obviously improper yearly profit margins, and lack of exploring other options, for the argument of dismantling the historical yakima trolley leaves one to wonder about the true intentions of this decision as no proper facts have even been presented to make such a crass and obtuse decision. We the people have signed the petitions to save the Yakima Trolleys and we hope that you would use the common sense to agree with the constituents that elected you and allowed you to hold your positions. We the people would hope that in the event of erasing and removing the positions of hard working wonderful people that you would please consider your own position and staff so easily dismissable and removable, equally.
On January 20th you will be able to decide whether you would like to have your own legacy in your city council position be one of erasing history, legacy, and taking part in dismantling the historical Yakima Trolley.
Sources:
J. Craig Thorpe, 2011, [infocard]
Olivia Palmer. "Yakima City Council postpones trolley contract decision again," Yakima Herald-Republic, December 12, 2025, https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/government/yakima-city-council-postpones-trolley-contract-decision-again/article_281b449e-7389-4b06-ab0e-8dd9ed33c6be.html
