Sammamish Forum
October 15, 2008
By Administrator
No on park bond
Now that the Sammamish City Council has given approval to spend $42 million on an East Lake Sammamish Parkway beautification project, plus another $10,000 per year for dental and vision insurance benefits for Council members, the City Council is asking residents for another $19 million for new parks and recreation facilities and $310,000 annually for parks operations.
While I believe that parks and recreation are a critical part of any city, more than enough funds would be available for these improvements if the parkway project were canceled. I would urge a no vote on propositions 1 and 2.
It seems to me that the value of the improvements to the parkway is very minimal. Indeed, no one I have spoken to, including bicyclists, believes the improvements are necessary. And, why would taxpayers want to pay for dental and vision insurance for part-time council members, when many of us are struggling to pay our own insurance bills?
I raised this question to Finance Director Lyman Howard on Sept. 15. To date, a response has not been received. In an effort to properly manage our city’s financial resources in these difficult economic times, I believe it is time to put the brakes on unnecessary projects and spend the money where the most people will benefit.
Jeff Matson
Sammamish
Springer’s priorities are wrong
Rep. Larry Springer and his friends in the state legislature have been horrific stewards of our tax money, and one of his ideas to cut state spending is to “look at sentencing guidelines for the Department of Corrections” because he thinks some folks are serving inappropriately long sentences.
I, for one, am going to sleep a lot better at night because of that idea! Springer and his ilk should read Washington Policy Center’s publication aptly titled “The Washington State Piglet Book” for some reasonable ideas on real ways to positively impact our state budget deficit.
Milly Kay Baldwin
Sammamish
Toby Nixon for representative
I was a Democrat, now thanks to our new voting laws I am independent again. I do not care if there is a (D) or (R) or (GOP) next to the man or woman who is running to represent the people in our government.
What I do care about is the fact that they will represent us; represent us as individuals, as business owners and people. Toby Nixon has shown time and time again that it is the people that are on the top of his agenda. He believes in our state’s constitution when it says:
“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”
This is the first of many declarations of rights in our state’s constitution. It is first, but always forgotten. By electing Toby Nixon the people of the 45th District will have a true representative working for them, a man that will put the power of the people back into our government.
John Dick
Carnation
No post office, yet
When considering how effective U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has been for the people of his district, we have to note that the city of Sammamish (some 40,000 people) still has no post office. A U.S. Postal Service full service post office for a city the size of Sammamish is not an unnecessary “earmark” but rather a basic public service, which, incidentally, pays for itself.
Reichert has been asked to help several times with a Postmaster General of his own party. He’s also been asked just to publicize this need to get some action. The total lack of results is a real measure of his effectiveness, or lack thereof.
Carl Schwartz
Sammamish
Glenn Anderson works hard
Too often, the dedicated service of our public officials goes unnoticed. As the new school year begins, I would like to thank Rep. Glenn Anderson for his tireless service to ensure Washington children receive a world-class education.
Anderson is a well respected education leader in the legislature and after working with him to improve math, I know why. Two years ago, when parents became alarmed about the ineffective math programs in our schools, Anderson listened. In fact, not only did he listen, but also he was the first legislator to take action. He wrote an initiative that led to a statewide, bi-partisan coalition, resulting in a comprehensive rewrite of Washington math and science standards to bring them up to world-class standards. And, he’s still working diligently to make sure that effort bears fruit in the classroom.
Anderson’s expertise in education issues provides critical guidance to other policy makers in Olympia as they develop solutions. We in the 5th District are fortunate to have such a committed advocate for our children in the State Legislature.
Bob Brandt
Sammamish
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2 Responses to “Sammamish Forum”
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Congratulations to Jeff Matson for speaking up about the Park Bond or MORE importantly on the ludicrous $42mm on the “beautification” proposal of East Lake Sammamish Parkway that does virtually NOTHING to improve the traffic to and from the Plateau. What it does do is boost the housing values of those very few homes directly on East Lake Sammamish Parkway. Take that money ($42mm) and invest it in the Sammamish Parks and Rec and build a Community Center and swimming Pool so Sammamish residents aren’t giving their money to Issaquah, Bellevue or Redmond for use of their community pools. Allow our children to live and play, and learn to swim in our own community. A well built Community Center (full size gym and Olympic size pool) adds more to benefit the WHOLE community then a “beautification” of East Lake Sammamish Parkway.
I won’t even go into the idea of taxpayers paying for the dental and vision plans of the City Council.
I chose to live in Sammamish for several reasons and I am appalled that the Council members are looking at serving those vocal ($) few who push for such wasteful projects. Sammamish is a community full of young families that would benefit much more from a Community Center (gym and pool) than a “beautified” Parkway.
I won’t be voting to give them any more of my tax dollars until they put the priorities of the whole community first.
To fellows democrats.
Nowadays you see a lot of democrat supporting signs on the streets and in people’s yards. I thought that Democrats must be more popular and have more support. But it turns out that republican sign are just getting stolen. I put two supporting signs on my property on Saturday and they were gone on Monday night. Does it get lower than that? Who are you to steal from my property and to tell me who to vote for? I was in situation when I needed help and Dave Reichert’s office stepped in and helped. For that I have great respect for this person, who doesn’t just pass bills but is there for people. I respect other people’s choice and I want people to respect mine. I don’t go pulling out signs for Darcy Burner that appeared across the street around the same period mine disappeared. And the sad thing is, that you are my neighbors, people from my community who smile to me at the streets and pretend to be my friends.