Umbrellas are different from guns
This article (In the Cross Hairs, 10-25) really made me question just what kind of education kids are getting that they can’t tell umbrellas from guns – but really who should have to. What is worse, is that kids don’t know the staff at the school they work with – shouldn’t they? I suppose the real cause is the overall climate of fear that we live in these days. This is a sad story that could have turned out tragically sad. Did the school learn anything from this?
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah
Where is the anti-annexation group?
Regarding Michael Foss’s letter last week: I’m not sure what impediment to a vote Mr. Foss is imagining – unless, of course Issaquah concedes that Sammamish is really a better fit for the Klahanie PAA, which I would support.
Apparently, there is an anti-annexation group out there. Who would that be? None of them testified at the Boundary Review Board or City Council Meetings in the last few months; and I don’t think I’ve seen any letters to the editor from someone wanting to stay with King County. Do those asking for an annexation choice between Issaquah and Sammamish confuse him? Sammamish measures up pretty nicely compared to Issaquah, and we should have a democratic choice between cities. Annexation is forever.
He said Sammamish did nothing to annex us for the last eight years. Neither did Issaquah. In fact, eight years ago when Klahanie voted 67 percent to be annexed by Issaquah, they rejected us, and then held us hostage by not releasing the PAA.
Issaquah is tens of millions of dollars in debt, and plans to continue increasing their debt. Sammamish has no debt at all, but a surplus instead. Out of those two options, who do you think “needs” us and our tax revenue most?
Both cities offer lower taxes overall. Mr. Foss asserts that Issaquah’s property taxes come with better services. With Issaquah, Klahanie would see continued inadequate police coverage; Issaquah-Fall City road would remain unimproved; and fire/medical response times may get longer. Sammamish is already here serving Klahanie. Their officers are often the first to arrive to calls. With Sammamish, service by fire station 83 is essentially guaranteed. Sammamish stands ready to improve Issaquah-Fall City Road.
The people should be allowed to make the decision on annexation with a vote. Let’s also give them the choice they deserve.
Mark Seely, Klahanie
What is Butler’s commitment to Klahanie?
On Oct. 18, a letter-writer endorsed Fred Butler for Issaquah mayor due to his support for parks and open space. I have to wonder what kind of park commitment Mr. Butler is willing to make to Klahanie. If Klahanie joins Issaquah, we’ll increase their population by over 30 percent, but park spending (according to Issaquah’s own study) will only increase by 3.3 percent What kind of deal is that? The Nesbitt study the city commissioned indicates the city
would like to do $381,000 in park improvements, but doesn’t identify a funding source other than even more city debt. Given that Providence Point residents were assured a traffic signal when they voted for annexation in ’02, and their signal is listed in the “Beyond 2019” section of the most recent Capital Facilities Plan, city assurances to Klahanie may not have a time frame attached.
It is no wonder that the first justification given for Issaquah’s annexation of Klahanie by Mr. Butler and his opponent for the mayor’s job, Joe Forkner, is to increase Issaquah’s tax base. We have to be concerned about where the increased tax revenue from Klahanie will be going. Yes, we might see a better return of our tax money than we are now getting from the county, but everything we hear from Sammamish appears even better, along with gaining one of the premier residential addresses in the whole country.
Kirsten O’Malley, Klahanie
Pro I-522 people care about their food
We’ve been bombarded with information about Initiative 522, whether or not to label genetically engineered foods. It’s confusing since so many of the “facts” that are claimed in the flyers, ads and editorials seem to be contradictory. It’s impossible to figure out who’s telling the truth.
However, there’s one fact which is indisputable – the “Yes” campaign is largely funded by individuals who care about their food, whereas the “No” campaign is largely funded by out-of-state businesses who have much to lose if labeling goes ahead; companies such as Monsanto (which just put another $500K into the campaign) and the Grocery Manufacturers of America (which was recently prosecuted for hiding the names of the many big food companies which contributed to this campaign). I ask you to consider which you trust more – many thousands of Washingtonians or out-of-state large corporations. Don’t worry about the so-called facts. Decide which group has your best interests at heart and vote accordingly!
Amanda Strombom, Issaquah
