Ghouls help feed those at shelters

Eastside Domestic Violence Program would like to thank the patrons of this year’s Halloween event Nightmare at Beaver Lake and the sponsor, the Rotary Club of Sammamish, for donating 33 bins of non-perishable food — a total of 2,475 pounds!

It is with great pleasure each year that Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) is the recipient of such a generous food donation. Not only did EDVP’s families have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal thanks to the Rotary Club of Sammamish, but it also means we are able to feed families through the New Year!

Eastside Domestic Violence Program’s mission continues to be to end domestic violence in the community through life-saving and life-changing programs and services. Since 1982, EDVP has provided safety, support and accessibility to more than 96,000 victims and their children.

Since its inception, EDVP has grown to become one of Washington’s largest domestic violence service providers with the 24-Hour Crisis Line, confidential emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, advocacy-based counseling, women’s and children’s support groups, rental assistance, legal advocacy and community education and training. EDVP remains the only domestic violence service provider in East and North King County.

With an estimated 90,750 domestic violence incidents in King County each year the need for our services continues to grow. In a challenging economic year, groups like Rotary Club of Sammamish are supporting charities in wonderful and creative ways. This food donation means the world to us and our families. The Rotary members took many wish tags from our giving tree this year as well. We are so thankful to have their continued support.

Last year, EDVP served 5,644 victims of abuse and answered 8,820 Crisis Line calls. An additional 28,320 individuals were educated and trained on domestic violence in our community.

Together we can make every home a safe home!

-Deanna Hobbs

EDVP Resource Development Assistant Director

Dollar signs don’t beat out ‘A’ grades

I read with interest Julie Kenworthy’s Nov. 21 Ivy League-directed guest editorial “Why do dollar signs beat out ‘A’ grades?” Her perspective is interesting, but I find myself disagreeing with her for three main reasons.

First, why is it not possible for an individual to reach one’s true academic potential in anything less than an Ivy-League school? Isn’t this premise in itself lacking validity? Is a graduate of the UW medical school automatically inferior in knowledge and skills to his or her counterpart who graduated from Harvard? Do state or other private schools suppress rather than encourage excellence in higher education?

Second, even if the premise itself is valid, is there credible research that would correlate Ivy-League graduation with financial or other outward measurements of success at a rate higher than similarly rated state or other private universities? Are Ivy Leaguers better prepared to succeed in business and in life? Mark H. McCormak effectively questioned these assumptions in his classic book: “What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street-Smart Executive.”

Third, even if one accepts the original premise that Ivy League attendance is an inherently superior path to educational fulfillment, Julie seems to miss the fact that these are private institutions. Other than operating within legal guidelines these schools are at liberty to give preference to anyone they decide to favor — legacies, minorities or any other group or individual that the admissions department or board of regents decides is worth special consideration.

Ivy League schools certainly offer the potential for an above-average education, but not necessarily uniquely so. Is unequal access to these schools fair? Perhaps not — but then, fairness is not a guaranteed part of the everyday life experience. To imply that the only way for every child to “embrace their full academic potential” is through egalitarian and not elitist treatment by Ivy League schools not only ignores one of life’s lessons; it ignores the fact that these institutions are free to choose what they charge and who they admit.

Studies do acknowledge that prep school attendance, money, and connections increase the odds of Ivy League admittance and I can’t dispute that the connections formed at Ivy League schools open doors to better jobs with higher salaries. However, money, status, and degrees don’t necessarily correlate to being better educated and living a fuller, more productive life. Perhaps the author should rethink her definition of elitist and re-examine her perspective that puts Ivy League schools on a pedestal while discounting hundreds of high-quality alternatives like the University of Washington.

-Gordon Lewandowski

Sammamish

Hold off on ELSP project

Each of you knows that I have been a frequent attendee at Sammamish City Council meetings. As I have a professional background in transportation issues I have taken a particular interest in the discussions on the proposed East Lake Sammamish Parkway (ELSP) project. As one who has spent a considerable portion of his career dealing with traffic systems (aviation) I do understand flow and congestion issues all too well.

I would like to raise the following issues in opposition to the ELSP project as it is currently planned:

• The primary problem we face in commuting to and from the Plateau is NOT going to be addressed by the project as currently proposed, especially in the longer run should the city’s population growth projections prove accurate.

• ELSP, not 228th Avenue, while it carries a large local traffic component, is and will remain the main arterial between Issaquah and Redmond. 228th — and 244th avenues — will be the main access routes to the north.

• ELSP today is heavily used by numerous trucks going between our two neighboring cities as well as a number of local service vehicles such as delivery and garbage. This will not change. It is also a school bus route and conceivably – at some future date – could be a new route for Metro bus service.

• The city’s own traffic projections indicate that by 2030 the currently favored three-lane roadway will be at capacity even assuming the 27% flow improvement that is supposed to occur as a result of the redesign with a center turn lane in numerous locations is correct. This flow improvement is a calculated result of the formulas that have been used by the consultants. I have serious reservations as to whether this projected increase in ELSP flow will be completely achievable given the currently proposed design:

– There is no pullover capability for metro busses, delivery (UPA/Fedex) vehicles, or garbage trucks. As a result traffic will be backed up as these vehicles stop.

– Emergency vehicles will likely also block the travel lane given the relatively narrow width of the combined vehicle and bike lanes.

– The addition of curbing will further inhibit vehicle maneuvering – and may in fact be a safety issue.

– The landscaping – unless well maintained – will inhibit forward vision in a number of places and consequently is likely to actually degrade safety. Also, the current natural look of the roadway is already very attractive.

– The safety problem posed by the intersection of ELSP and Inglewood Hill Road can likely be addressed by a major rework of that intersection. This could be accomplished in far less time than required for the current Phase 1 project.

– The dangerous situation at the intersection immediately to the north of the ELSP/Inglewood Hill intersection can be resolved with a traffic light.

o Most if not all current off-road parking areas for residents and guests will be eliminated. For many residents there will be no good alternative.

Construction under the current approach will be stretched out over a 15 year period and not finished until 2025. In the meantime, during the construction the road’s vehicular throughput will be severely curtailed with a resultant diversion of much of the traffic that currently uses ELSP to 228th. This will seriously overload the only other currently available north-south Sammamish arterial – a route that already struggles at certain times of the day. Neighborhoods that currently have significant difficulty with left-hand turns will demand additional signalization of 228th for their own safety. This will do nothing to speed traffic flow and will result in a net loss of effective capacity on that arterial. Given the latest inclination on the part of some of the Council and City planning staff to proceed with the ELSP project in advance of the completion of the 244th extension commuting to the north from Sammamish promises to become very difficult during the construction of Phase 1. Kathy Huckabay was all too correct in her comments at a recent Council meeting when she expressed serious concerns about a single major traffic accident on 228th completely shutting off access to the north for an extended time period. At the very least the citizens of this community need a second fully capable northern access route before we start anything on ELSP!

If the projected 27% improvement in throughput is not realized then ELSP will reach capacity well before 2030. Once we finish rebuilding it we will likely have to once again begin the process of rebuilding ELSP into a four or five lane roadway, negating a $40 plus million dollar investment. All this after having put the residents through an extended period of commuting hell (remember the 228th project?). Why not really plan for the future if we have to undergo an extended period of disruption in our daily lives??!!

Another thought – this on the effect of this project on the city budget. Given the fact that the budget will come increasingly under pressure perhaps this is a project that could well be deferred until we can figure out how to do it correctly – hopefully after the completion of 244th. City building permit applications have plummeted 90 percent from 500 last year to 50 this year as the economy has entered the recession. City revenues are falling off as a result – and likely also the projected rate of population increase that is driving this need.

Rather than be driven by a need to spend impact fees simply because we can I vote for holding the line on taxes and then building the right roadways for Sammamish when the time comes.

-Tom Odell

Sammamish