Sammamish Forum
October 28, 2008
By Administrator
Vote yes on parks
As a strong supporter of the park bond and levy on our ballots this year, I want to respond to some of the points made in earlier letters that discourage passage.
December 2006 surveys showed high scores for purchase of park land for open space, future development, trails, bikeways and paths. The same surveys rated a waterfront park, aquatic facility, a community center and Commons Park expansion as top projects to be tackled.
I disagree with John Galvin who, in his Oct. 8 letter, objected to $4 million for additional parkland. Citing access to surrounding areas, Galvin said we have 2,870 park acres available to us so we don’t need more but, rather, need a teen center right now.
Here are some facts from the city. We have about 456 acres of parkland: 203 acres of active parkland (includes undeveloped 30 acres in Soaring Eagle Park) containing 28 acres of athletic fields and 253 open space acres in three preserves.
Two of these preserves, Evans Creek and Sammamish Landing on Lake Sammamish, are not available for public use without development. None are suited for active playfields but will provide miles of beautiful trails, some swimming, picnic areas, etc.
Economic times are hard, but we can fill unmet recreational needs of our city. At issue is how we prioritize, not our ultimate goal. Most agree that land prices here will go higher. Mr. Galvin wants a teen center right now others want more play fields. We know the sooner we invest in land the more we save in the long run.
This parks bond was developed carefully over more than two years. The goals: serve all parts of the city; meet as many preferences as possible; move as quickly as financially feasible. We have come a long way in our first 10 years but much remains to be done. The park bond allows us to move forward responsibly in several areas. Please go to the city’s Web site and read all that it will allow us to do. And please vote yes for both Propositions 1 & 2!
Rena Brady
Sammamish
Bond is off target
Are you kidding me? We are being asked to vote yes on two proposals that will have us paying more than $100 per year (on a $600,000 home) for the next 20 years for parks?
Allow me to pose questions to the parents of toddlers and tweenies. Several years from now, will you still be wanting to pay over $100 a year* for the privilege of more parks and their upkeep, and still not have enough indoor recreational facilities to keep your children entertained?
That is the problem in Sammamish. The kids have nowhere to go together at night or in the rain. Supposing this bond is still not enough money for a recreational facility and the only place your children have to “hang out” at night is one of the parks? How will you feel when you find out your children with their new licenses drove to Seattle looking for something to do?
Take the time to inquire as to the projected plans for turning the old library into a recreational center. It will most likely not be enough to keep the children out of the parks and abandoned houses.
If we need more park space for athletic fields, we should grass over some parking spots at City Hall and add that to the already expansive open area. We already have a great skate park there — add some swings, slides etc. We could then gut the interior of City Hall and turn it into a pool, skating rink, racquetball court, ice rink, and teen club. After all, it is big enough.
Besides, since our tax dollars have been mismanaged, we will no doubt need to be annexed by Issaquah (if they will take us back) and we won’t need that building currently being used by city staff.
Lori Barnett
Sammamish
*This version corrects the payment terms.
Skeptical on Sound Transit
One of the ballot issues next week is for new taxes for Sound Transit 2, a scaled down version of the proposal voters rejected previously. The proposal will cost billions of dollars over 20 years.
The promises for the Eastside are for light rail from Seattle to Bellevue and Overlake near Microsoft. For the rest of us on the Eastside, there is a vague promise of 17 percent more bus service.
The operative word is “vague.” Sound Transit offers no details for what, if any bus service will be added to serve Sammamish. Sound Transit offers no details for what, if any, bus service will be added to the Issaquah Park & Ride and/or Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride, both used extensively by Sammamish residents in addition to those in Issaquah and elsewhere.
I wrote Sound Transit seeking information about what kind of service Sammamish and Issaquah might expect in Sound Transit 2. The agency did not reply. I wrote Issaquah City Councilman Fred Butler, a member of the Sound Transit Board, seeking the same information. Butler did not reply. It appears that Sound Transit isn’t concerned with its taxpaying constituents on the fringes of the district, disdaining to reply.
Sammamish City Councilman Don Gerend was able to get a reply from a Sound Transit staffer, who said there is no information and that it was still being formulated. That’s nice — but formulated for dissemination when? Before or after the election?
Be very skeptical of the Sound Transit 2 package when it comes time to vote. The agency wants billions of dollars in new taxes. We in Sammamish and Issaquah are — so far — being asked to buy a pig in a poke.
Scott L. Hamilton
Sammamish
Teen center unneeded
I am 14 years old and I do not want a $5 million recreation center with an annual $165,000 cost. The Sammamish City Council wants this expensive project in the location of our existing library. That’s too much taxpayer money for a bad idea.
If taxpayers want to sacrifice for recreation programs, why not support the schools with that money? Our schools have sports including soccer, tennis, dance, swimming, wrestling, basketball, cheerleading, track, volleyball, football, gymnastics, baseball, and lacrosse. Our schools have activities involving art, chess, music, math, chemistry, physics, DECA, speech & debate, astronomy, student government, yearbook, chorus, journalism, diversity, key club, and National Honor Society. Many of these need financial support. Let them compete for this $5 million instead of putting this money into a building serving fewer people.
Why not give the $5 million to the YMCA instead? They already have land and are trying to raise money to build an aquatic center, sports field, and a gym. Use existing volunteer programs to help youth develop themselves.
Or, why not let the bored youth focus on working? I work — I mow lawns and whatever else I can do. I am busy with church, school, scouts, sports, and work. I have no time to use a $5 million recreational building. The Sammamish City Council has wasted money when they could already have built ball fields. Ebright Park is an example of foolish waste. How many ball fields could have fit on that land if it was engineered effectively? I think five, at least, with enough room for the playground and tennis court. Don’t trust the city with your money.
In conclusion, the Sammamish City Council has ruined the Park Bonds Proposition. This is an enormous amount of money towards a redundant project. Please, vote “No” on the Park Bond and Levy.
Christian Caldwell
Pacific Cascade student
Stop stealing signs
Nowadays, you see a lot of signs supporting Democrats 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 for Republicans 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 U.S. Rep Dave Reichert’s (R) 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, you are my neighbors, people from my community who smile to me on the street and pretend to be my friend.
Marianna Nielsen
Sammamish
Vote no on I-1000
I am an attorney. I write regarding the assisted suicide measure, I-1000. I disagree with proponents that it will allow voters “to choose how their lives will end.” The way I-1000 is written, the promised choice belongs to other people. This is especially true for seniors with money.
Per I-1000, someone with a financial interest in your estate can help you apply for the lethal dose. That person is even allowed to witness the request form and talk for you. (I-1000, Sections 3, 22 & 1(3)). This person could be your adult child or a new “best friend.” Would it really be “your choice” with him standing there, incidentally securing his own inheritance?
The bigger problem is there is no witness required at the death. This creates the opportunity for an adult child or a new “best friend” to then administer the dose without your consent. Without a disinterested witness, who would know? I-1000 gives the perfect alibi.
Read I-1000 for yourself: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i1000.pdf
Prevent elder abuse. Vote “no” on I-1000.
Margaret Dore
Seattle
In reply to John Burg’s letter on Obama’s economics, (Sept. 17, Obama’s economics don’t work) I’d like to voice my opinion.
I’m not a financial expert (and I don’t know if Burg is or not), but what I do know is that the mess this country is in financially, on many fronts, can be laid largely at the feet of the Bush administration. The terribly expensive Iraq war, the deregulation of the banking system, which allowed the current mortgage mess, tax breaks for the wealthy — these and many more of Bush’s policies — which McCain largely supports — are among the reasons were in the mess we have today.
Obama’s plan is a viable alternative—this country cannot keep increasing it’s debt. Every financial advisor would tell a struggling family to get their debt under control, but our country’s debt is staggering — and getting worse. So, if the current Republican economic policy got us into this mess, let’s see if the Democrats, under Obama’s leadership, can start to get us out.
Burg sites the old problems of the 1970’s and 1980’s, which I remember, but I also remember Clinton’s increased taxes and the fear it struck in the hearts of Republicans — but which resulted not in disaster, as many claimed it would, but in increased prosperity across the nation.
The economic problems we face today are hard to understand, even for the “experts,” let alone most of us living in Sammamish. I, for one, trust Obama’s ideas for our economy, as well as his overall plan for our country. I encourage all you Democrats, Republicans and swing voters to look at these issues deeply and see what both sides offer for solutions. Then get to the polls on election day.
Jim Wolfe
Sammamish
Comments
One Response to “Sammamish Forum”
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Rene Brady leaves out two major parks that serve our community: Sammamish State Park and Marymoor Park. Our city council has made it a priority to keep Sammamish a bedroom community requiring citizens to seek services in Redmond and Issaquah. We should therefore include these parks. Driving to Issaquah or Redmond for services is normal for Sammamish citizens. Does it make sense to take a hike in Sammamish Sunday morning then drive to Redmond for a Sunday breakfast with the family. I might as well just go to Redmond for all my activities.
Rene, who at city hall gave you the numbers? I calculated the amount of park land using the city’s website. Check the city’s 2006 park’s plan and other summary reports. And, thanks Rene for highlighting one of my points. The city has a lot of undeveloped park land and we don’t have the money to develop what we have so why do we need more land.
Lastly, Rene fails to address the issues of a lake side park that gives us so little for so much, and how about the timeline for starting and completing these projects. There is not a project our city has completed on time. If there is a 2011 start date, you need to be realistic and expect a start date two to three years later.
Come back next year with a more focused bond package. I will support it then.
John Galvin