Sammamish Forum
August 6, 2008
By Administrator
Why not pave it themselves?
I am writing in response to the articles on 248th Avenue, the part between 14th Street and 17th Street, which is a private road at present. It was stated that Camwest gave $10,000 to the Association for the road.
Assuming the association had a couple of thousand dollars already for the road maintainence, added together wouldn’t that be enough to build a paved road 100-150 yards in length?
I have no knowledge of construction costs, so I Googled to find a few USDA and WSDOT articles. Looks like it should have been possible. Just curious why the association chose to keep putting Calcium chloride for repair as opposed to making it a tar road by addining some money to the $10,000 grant from Camwest?
Nisha Singh
Sammamish
Assisted suicide initiative is flawed
I suspect your readers are too savvy to be taken in by your editorial (Death with Dignity initiative promotes humane choice, July 30, Page 4). Let me point out some facts:
Under existing law, every patient has the right to refuse or discontinue treatment. Suicide is not illegal, just unwise.
We have the best pain control in history, and studies have found that pain is not the main reason patients seek assisted suicide.
Health expenditures are greatest during the last part of life, legalizing assisted suicide creates financial pressure to limit resources for end-of-life care. As recently reported nationally, the Oregon Health Department has denied cancer treatments to at least two patients, but offered to pay for assisted suicide instead.
Physician assisted suicide gives physicians the right to harm patients, prohibits outside review, actually requires falsifying death certificates and destroys the trust between doctors and patients.
No mental health exams are required. Clinically depressed patients can be given lethal medication, and no family members need be notified.
Physicians are made judge, jury and assistant executioner even though most doctors admit they cannot reliably predict six months to live.
The Netherlands began allowing assisted suicide only for terminally ill patients, but now virtually anyone can be a target. Fearful elderly people now carry cards stating “Please do not euthanize me.”
Why do you think the Washington State Medical Association and other medical organizations are opposed?
As evidenced by events in Oregon, greedy family members, state health plans and insurance companies can all push elderly patients to “do the right thing.”
Your readers know that the facade of deadly compassion simply hides financial incentives that prey on the vulnerable and destroy physician patient trust.
Dan Kennedy,
CEO Human Life of Washington
Why no dogs?
As a resident of Sammamish, I’m saddened and confused at the news that the Farmers Market is now a “no dogs allowed” market.
When the market first started, it was a wonderful reason for me to take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood and be able to purchase local produce along the way.
However, the last time I stopped by, I noticed the new policy and immediately left. It’s unfortunate that dogs aren’t welcome with their owners. Aren’t dogs part of a farm along with the fruits and vegetables?
Now that Sammamish has joined the club with Issaquah, I no longer attend either market because of the policy. My gut says that I’m not the only one. Thankfully, Redmond welcomes dogs to their farmers market.
In fact, when I last attended, the market was packed with people. I saw numerous owners with their dogs in tow and I was thrilled to know that everyone was welcome.
I talked to many people who asked about my dog and clearly broke many stereotypes as a result. In fact, several young children asked to pet my dog and were excited when I said ‘yes.’ In addition, the dogs clearly enjoyed seeing/smelling each other and the various things associated with the market.
I’m sad that none of this can happen at the Sammamish Farmers Market. According to the market website, it’s unfortunate that allergies can be a reason for the new “no dogs allowed” policy. If I’m allergic to strawberries, does that mean that they shouldn’t be sold at the market? Clearly not.
It just means that I’ll adjust and life will go on. Owners are responsible for their dogs and, therefore, need to take full responsibility for their dogs.
If you don’t like dogs, then stay away from them, but that’s very different from not allowing them at all.
Perhaps allowing the dogs at the market can change some of these stereotypes and bring the community together, rather than break it apart.
Ruth Edwards
Samamish
Susan Amini for judge
The primary election is coming up quickly, and it is always difficult to know the best choices for Superior Court Judge. Let me make one of your decisions easy by recommending Susan Amini for position 1.
As an Eastside attorney for 17 years, Susan Amini has earned a reputation as someone who goes the extra mile for all of her clients, including those with limited resources. She represents individuals like you and me, who have difficult problems that need equitable solutions. Susan is experienced, compassionate and fair and will bring these qualities to the bench.
Susan’s tenacity on behalf of her clients is similar to her tireless advocacy when her son, Cyrus, became blind at age 8. Susan poured her efforts in to making surely he and others with serious challenges be given the same opportunities as their peers at school.
When school officials said it was too dangerous for her son to play on the playground equipment, she showed him how to do it and insisted that he be allowed to do so, saying, “You can fix a broken leg, but not a broken spirit.” Susan will bring this same commitment and energy to King County Superior Court; and that is one of the many reasons why so many judges, elected officials and community leaders are supporting her. I hope you will too.
Nancy Myhre
301390 SE Issaquah- Fall City Rd
Fall City WA 98024
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It would cost considerably more than $10,000 to properly pave the road. It has to be designed and graded correctly or water won’t drain properly and potholes will form in the asphalt. I also doubt the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accurate info on paving roads. If it could be done that cheaply, Camwest would have paved it. Just expect the road to be gated soon. The city of Sammamish completely dropped the ball on this.