The City of Pasco spent $1.2 million of your tax dollars to buy the Thunderbird Motel downtown and has torn it down to build a parking lot. While no one disputes the severe problems with the Thunderbird for the last 40 years at least, spending $1.2 million of the taxpayers money to buy property is blatantly unconstitutional. Where in the state or federal Constitutions does it say that a municipality can buy property, especially over-valued property. It doesn’t. The entire “downtown revitalization” is a huge boondoggle, and this is just one piece of evidence. The City might argue that it is protecting the rights of the citizens by ending this den of sin, but does anyone think all the crap going on at the Thunderbird will disappear now? Foolish to think that could be true. Had they considered prosecuting the crime going on there? Had they considered prosecuting the owners for facilitating a crack house? They harass people for code violations all the time. No code violations at the Thunderbird? Why such a high price? One may wonder, how the Thunderbird Motel, an over 50 year old hotel that has no record of upgrades between 1965 and 2013, notorious for crime since the 70s, sold in 2007 for $530k somehow doubled in value in 15 years? One may also wonder why we need an almost million dollar budgeted “downtown revitalization” committee if the property values downtown can double in the most crime ridden hotel in the Tri-Cities with no upgrades?

Enjoy the $1.2 million dollar parking lot which is certain to be paved nicer that most streets in Pasco.

https://keprtv.com/news/local/thunderbird-motel-demolition-underway