Your story on the city budget missed the $200 million elephant in the council chamber - the new jail plan. With shrinking revenues, budget cuts, and an economy that's being compared to 1929 it seems more than noteworthy that this new budget contains a $220 million construction and $19 million annual operating commitment. Evidence is slowly leaking out to the public that diversion programs, changes in bookings and sentencing, and human services can make a new jail entirely unnecessary.

Mike Smith

West Seattle