Sammamish Forum – Letters to editor
November 11, 2008
By Contributed
Parkway does too little
After attending an informational meeting about the East Lake Sammamish Parkway Nov. 5, 2008 to view the design and learn about the concept itself, I found myself admiring a total shipwreck of idea and design. It is a wonderful project for the city of Sammamish to waste our tax dollars without any regard. The City Council must think they have an ATM machine with endless withdrawal features. Phase I will start in 2009 with all the new improvements.
The main feature of interest is the median function — a wonderful piece of art to do the following:
Improve the traffic flow at a slower speed — so we can enjoy the landscaping.
Reduce accidents — do not admire the landscape watch the road.
When a large truck or any other vehicle has a problem in a median section, the traffic will come to a halt.
What happens when an emergency vehicle needs to move quickly down the road? No such thing. Find a bypass or different road.
I was told the green strip improves water quality flowing into the lake — must be a new technology my German engineering background does not understand. It was funny. You never stop learning.
Well, taxpaying residents of Sammamish, this is, again, a project that offers no improvement of any kind. It is a total joke at best. The economy is in deep trouble, people lose their jobs and the city is raising taxes for every project they promote.
How much will it take to drive people out of their homes with the never ending tax program?
Heinz W. Maine
Sammamish
The opposition party
Hopefully, someday, we won’t have to read any more stories like the one in the Sammamish Review dated Oct. 29 about 248th Avenue.
“City Manager Ben Yazici apologized for any miscommunication that might have occurred” referring to comments by Mr. McGraw and Mr. Miller who were caught unaware by the city’s proposal to take over the private road. They only learned about the plan when they received letters from the city to turn over their deeds to the easement.
That is the second story in the Sammamish Review about the city staff apologizing for not communicating properly with the people who would be affected by their decisions. The first story was in regard to the roundabout on 244th Avenue.
We are a group of Sammamish neighbors that meet on a regular basis. We come from different neighborhoods, all of which have been affected in some way by a decision that the city has made. To find out more, or join us for our next meeting, please contact us at barricade4safety@gmail.com
Lori Barnett
Sammamish
Slow down
School is back in session — 20 mph is the speed limit in a school zone!
Now that we have been back in school for two months, we would hope that people would remember the speed limit is 20 mph while driving through active school zones. In some school zones, 20 mph is the speed limit “when children are present.” In other school zones, 20 mph is the speed limit when the yellow lights are flashing.
We are astonished, not only at the people who speed past us while we try to get school children across safely, but at the nasty words, hand gestures and dirty looks that we receive daily.
Meanwhile, many drivers are speeding up the street to get where they need to go, at the risk of injuring a child who may dart out into the road, especially around the elementary schools!
This is a reminder — please, please, please remember that the speed limit in a school zone is 20 mph.
If you forget, there are red flags, flashing yellow lights and at one school, crossing guards hold up a “20” as a reminder.
Please help us to keep our children safe by slowing down. It only takes a minute or two out of your whole day to slow down!
If you cared enough to read this, please care enough to remind your teenage children, your neighbors, friends or even your parents about the speed limit.
And remember that we crossing guards, who are putting our lives at risk while trying to safely get school children across, are just trying to make it safer for the children.
Sadly, when a child gets hit, then people slow down. Our goal is to prevent that tragedy from happening in the first place!
Thank you!
Molly McDonell and Martha Ross, on behalf of Issaquah School District crossing guards in Issaquah and Sammamish
Where’s the tape?
Why did the city fail to record and broadcast on Channel 21 the emergency, city budget study session held in conjunction with the Nov. 4 City Council meeting? In the past, important study sessions have been recorded. Does the City Council have something to hide?
Citizens have the right to know about the financial status of the city.
This budget discussion raised important issues that have concerned citizens for years: the ability to finance 244th Avenue, East Lake Sammamish Parkway, Southeast 20th Street sidewalks, and Town Center infrastructure projects among them.
Citizens have pointed out to the City Council that Sammamish has the ability to finance one major transportation project, no more.
One major project depletes the capital fund budget to the point that it will be a decade before sufficient funds can be accumulated to undertake another major project.
Small sidewalk and intersection projects will use up REET and impact fee revenues that fuel our capital project fund.
The City Council continues to depend on citizens who wish to develop their land to upgrade local roads with sidewalks and gutters. But major transportation projects that benefit the entire city will go unfunded.
Postponing the East Lake Sammamish Parkway means the city simply does not have the funds to start and finish this $40 plus million dollar project.
Such a decision also tells us that the city lacks the ability to fund other major infrastructure projects.
“We don’t want to overwork staff” is an excuse. Staff numbers are low because we can’t afford to hire sufficient staff.
Actually, this year the city is cutting staff when more staff are needed. Cut, delay, give excuses, but do not implement transportation projects.
It’s the city economy. Sammamish is the only large city without an economic development plan.
Recently, a city finance expert told the council the city’s economy needs urgent attention to avoid big trouble.
Maybe it is time for a change of administration at the local level as well. At least, we need more accountability and fewer excuses.
John Galvin
Sammamish
Letters
Sammamish Review welcomes letters to the editor on any subject, although priority will be given to letters that address local issues. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or inappropriate content.
Letters should be typed and no more than 350 words. Include your phone number (for verification purposes only).
Deadline for letters is noon Friday prior to the next issue. Address letters to:
Sammamish Review Letters
Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027
fax: 391-1541
e-mail: samrev@isspress.com
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