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Sammamish Days where in the world ?
Kudos to Dawn Sanders and many others who made Sammamish Days a resounding success. It was great to see so many people come out to represent their own cultures and learn about new cultures – and the weather could not have been better.
Read moreMore bike plan opposition
I would like to invite city employees to be the first to help slow down traffic with their bikes.
I cannot believe that the city intends to use cyclists as a means to control automobile traffic. Bicyclists are not tools in a planning department. In my opinion, motor vehicles and bicycles do not mix. Intentionally mixing them to “help slow down traffic speeds and conform better with the city’s vision of a dense, pedestrian friendly Town Center” is a joke.
That kind of thinking is putting the health and safety of Sammamish citizens at risk.
City staff members’ other reason, regarding the Town Center vision, is also absurd. I would like to know whose vision has become Sammamish’s vision.
Since when did bicycling become something that is not worth accommodating? It’s healthy, it creates very little exhaust (I confess, it does create some for some people like me), it is on the upswing, and with encouragement it will continue to grow. Apparently, not here in Sammamish though, where our planners know better. Force them in with traffic because we want only foot traffic.
Mike Rees
Sammamish
LEO thanks Rotary
The Life Enrichment Options organization would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to both the Issaquah and Sammamish Rotary clubs for their superb efforts in partnering with us to provide two highly successful gravity car races this past month.
We received a number of e-mails from parents whose child either overcame a fear to get in a car, or were bubbling over with excitement in racing down a hill to the finish line. Every rider with special needs was a winner, getting his or her trophy and certificate with a picture in a car.
None of this could happen without the wonderful volunteers of the Rotary clubs, Athletes for Kids, Issaquah High School wrestlers, Skyline High School cheerleaders, and football and basketball athletes.
Leo Finnegan and LEO board of directors
Love and hate is not so simple
I, too, would like to see the type of society that Mr. Michael J. O’Connell dreams of, in his reference to John Lennon’s song, where there is peace on earth. However, “Imagine” hypothesizes the idea of no heaven or hell. Without a hell there would be no temptation for man to wage war or to persecute others, and without heaven we would not exist as there would be no God to have created us. Therefore, in practical terms, we should be spending our time trying to make the world, as it exists, a better place for all.
I further agree with O’Connell that Sammamish is an enjoyable place to live — we do have a diverse culture and people are friendly and respectful of each other on the whole. This respect, I have noticed, extends to the diversity of faiths on the plateau. I am a Christian and have friends who are Christian, Muslim, Hindu and non-believers. I have worked and socialized with people who are gay and there has always been a mutual respect among us. That said, I do believe that if God does not accept homosexuality then I must follow his law. The youth at their Sunday school lesson were right to say to “love the sinner,” to be kind and respectful to them, though. Who are we to judge? We are all sinners. Jesus socialized with sinners. Was he not showing us the way?
The debate about this is a difficult one as people have different beliefs. It is unfortunate, though, that a group of teenage Christians cannot meet to discuss how best to behave in our society in their own church without being berated for it. Fifty years ago prayer was banned from all public schools. Church is the only place left to us. People throughout the U.S. (not to mention throughout the rest of the world) are being persecuted for their religious beliefs. I don’t think John Lennon had this in mind either when he was writing his famous song.
Lorna Richardson
Sammamish
Civil rights and religion
Jim Wilke’s response to my letter entitled ‘Love and Hate in Sammamish’ missed the mark — this is about human rights, not about me. To be clear, I am advocating a society in which LGBT persons are viewed simply as people without religious filters. In that society the question of how to treat gays never arises. In that society civil rights are based upon the rule of law and religion is a path to greater spirituality rather than a theocratic weapon to suppress human beings.
I strongly opposed the recent Sunday school lesson because by putting gays into a bucket called ‘sinners’ it instilled values that undermine basic human rights and trivializes the real discrimination faced by gay couples and their children. Jim, your opinion that a gay person is living a ‘sinful lifestyle’ is completely irrelevant to the civil rights question and detrimental to secular society. You make my point in spades.
I understand that religion affects civil view. The Bible was used to both justify and condemn slavery and women’s rights. Some believe Jesus’ message of love includes gay equality. Some believe that gays are ‘sinning’ and use religion as a weapon against them. But thankfully, growing numbers of people and lawmakers are coming to understand that religious interpretation should not trump human rights. As our society progresses, this notion of basic fairness becomes increasingly important.
Five states and the District of Columbia have granted marriage rights to gays. Washington state is among those with civil unions. The sky hasn’t fallen and traditional marriage hasn’t disintegrated. Instead, our society has gained valuable and positive lessons — that civil rights should never be trumped by religious or ‘conservative’ opinion and that thankfully we live under the rule of civil and not religious law.
Gays are simply people born with same gender attraction. It is inevitable that we will justifiably grant them marriage equality so they too may enjoy the full measure of their lives. I simply invite those who oppose this to come to terms with the measurable harm these families face and join our march toward equality.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
Cyclists are not traffic calming devices
I too was horrified to read that city staff told the City Council that intermixing bikes with traffic would help slow down traffic speeds and conform better with the city’s vision of a dense, pedestrian friendly Town Center.
As Christopher Schindler pointed out in the Aug. 4 Forum, cyclists should not be used as ‘speed bumps.’
I have lived in Sammamish for 17 years, and cycle 200 miles or more a week.
Read moreThe city blew it
For one week, Sammamish had the privilege of hosting the prestigious U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club. What a great week it was for our community to have this opportunity. As a resident and golf fan, I made sure to take full advantage.
Read morePlease, leave the animals be
I am sick and tired of hearing all the complaining regarding the wildlife in Sammamish.
When I moved here 10 years ago, I did it with the full understanding that this was not the city, I was surrounded by woods and that would mean wildlife.
They belong here, way more than we do. They were here first. Those that have built houses near the Highlands and back by the golf course, don’t complain. You took their home. Those on the north side, you live where there are animals, deal with it.
The deer eat my roses, the bobcat thinks he owns the place, I find scat in my backyard, and I have an entire raccoon family living in a tree next to my fence. Such is life.
Be smart, stop putting out feeders, close your garbage cans, don’t put cats outside without being prepared they might not come back, and by all means, don’t go outside to take animals’ pictures.
Leave them alone. Don’t tell the news, and for sure, don’t tell Fish and Wildlife because they have already said they will kill nuisance animals and they have.
I am not a PETA person or Mother Earth, I just want the animals left alone.
They aren’t doing anything but trying to survive.
Judi McLaughlin
Sammamish
Connectivity issue is complex
A recent opinion letter to the editor concerning the importance of connectivity merits further observations given its spin and much misinformation.
While the author of that letter has a right to his opinion, he does not have the right to make misrepresentations or misstatements concerning this very important matter.
Connectivity is not the wholesale opening of all roads, as such a policy can be very foolish and reckless, creating great expense for the city’s taxpayers.
The connectivity workshops in October were very clear – safety and residential quality of the neighborhoods were the most important issues by far.
As chairman of the Citizens for Sammamish connectivity subcommittee, I and others have recently spent many hours auditing and taking pictures of every barricade and “stub” connection shown on the city’s connectivity map.
This information has been compiled in a database that has been handed over to the city to permit more factual and informed discussions and decisions concerning connectivity. The pictures clearly speak for themselves.
For the record, there are fewer than 10 actual barricades within Sammamish (several are very high profile given their possible taxpayer expense to mitigate, if mitigation is even possible).
A closer review of the approximately 43 indicated remaining sites will indicate they are actually “stubs,” a much different problem than barricades.
The pictures will also reveal that at least 12 of these stubs will never be connected unless someone wants to spend millions of dollars.
The city needs to ensure that the connectivity process is truly open and transparent. Permitting residents timely review of all information and allowing rebuttal dialogue to assure such information is truthful, sound, and more imperative, accurate, is especially important.
Also, to meet the goals of transparency and truthfulness, neighborhood connectivity meetings must be video recorded for all to see and review.
Richard B. Kuprewicz
Sammamish
Bikes aren’t speed bumps
I was appalled to read in the July 21 issue that (Jeff) Brauns “told the council that intermixing bikes with traffic would help slow down traffic speeds and conform better with the city’s vision of a dense, pedestrian-friendly Town Center.”
I’m a seasoned cyclist who cycles up to a couple hundred miles per week.
Every ride there are five segments of drivers: those who give space to a cyclist, those who don’t give space driving “their” lane leaving around two feet of space, those who drive the fog line leaving around six inches to a foot, malicious drivers who don’t like cyclists and demonstrate it, and those that believe that they can beat the bike and execute maneuvers like race and cut off.
In every ride, I encounter each one of those situations. It still unnerves me to have a dump truck twelve inches away from my handlebars.
When there is a conflict between 165 pounds of cyclist and 4200 pounds of SUV, the vehicle will win every single time.
I’m shocked and angry beyond words that the city willfully engineers a solution that places bikes in direct conflict with vehicles as a traffic speed solution.
City staff presumes that drivers will always give space and respect. They are right, in my experience, 80 percent of the time.
It’s the 20 percent of time where a cyclist is put into direct danger. The reality of cycling is that every car and truck on the road will kill; unfortunately some do.
I accept the risk when I ride. I ride defensively and follow traffic laws.
I’ve learned to recognize some drivers who would hurt me, I’ve learned to duck when things are thrown at me and I’ve crashed avoiding collisions with cars.
If city staff and the council wish, I’d be happy to post graphic pictures of what happens when a cyclist collides with a vehicle or is forced off the road.
It’s disturbing and awful that city planners would use our friends, children, parents, and grandparents as speed bumps.
Christopher Schindler
Sammamish
Don’t forget David Spring
We read with interest your recommendation that Glenn Anderson and Dean Willard advance to the general election on the assertion that David Spring is a “single-issue candidate.”
Perhaps your observation is true, if one considers only his concerns about funding public education. However, certain details were omitted, which we think your readers would like to know.
David Spring is — and was in 2008 — a strong advocate for a fair tax structure. He helped to draft Initiative 1098 and worked tirelessly to advance it to the fall ballot.
Should I-1098 pass, it will not only improve funding for the public schools, it will provide at least 100,000 new jobs by putting money into the economy. This is a tangible measure that goes a long way in helping working families.
He has, however, run afoul of the powers that be in the Democratic party.
The sad truth is that money has become the elixir that entices the leaders of both parties and many running for office. Candidates must either be rich or be willing to sell their souls to interests who have money. This corrosive influence has caused a struggle within the Democratic party.
De-regulation and privatization are no longer only Republican orthodoxies, and notions about the common good are thought by some to be merely quaint. It should be no surprise that detractors of I-1098 come from both political parties.
In fact, neither Glenn Anderson nor Dean Willard support I-1098.
As a Republican, Anderson makes no pretense about favoring big business and the wealthy. In this regard, Willard hardly represents a “fresh perspective” as a Democratic party insider with long-standing corporate connections. Although he is skilled at popular talking points, voters should research his background and major contributors to understand where his loyalties reside.
David Spring may be a “single-issue candidate,” but he is also a hard-working, intelligent and courageous individual who still believes in the public trust.
If elected, he would represent the interests of everyone in the 5th District, not just the politically-connected and wealthy few.
Dave Sell and Pam Austin
Sammamish
Democrats are wrong
I would like to respond to Michael T. Barr. His statement about his thoughts and opinions and feedback from my own personal perspective and in my own words.
Then he goes about saying other people’s words are propaganda and distortions.
That’s what I love about the left. They know all, and nobody else does. Then he proceeds to say the typical style of double-speak and misguided belief to blame President Obama for the BP oil spill. I’m not blaming him for the oil spill but the time he took to react.
But maybe the writer forgot about Katrina, when the left was all over President Bush for failing to react but the left keeps forgetting that. I love the double standard, when the Republicans are in office let’s blame the federal government.
But when the Dems are in charge it’s never the federal government’s fault.
Without those big corporations, unemployment would be even higher then the 9.5 percent it is now. Whether you know it or not, we all have our own opinions, and yours isn’t the only one, despite what you from the left think.
One last thing, did the writer forget the bailouts of banks and General Motors, but I guess that’s OK to step in and clean up those big corporation messes. So I ask, who is the hypocrite now?
Fred Caponigro
Sammamish
Leave the barricades
Greg Reynolds (Sammamish Forum July 7) was correct in saying that the city of Sammamish was formed so that it could create the roadway infrastructure that was not created by King County. However, he was not correct to assume (1) that the job has been done or (2) that the need for open road connections supersedes the need for safe communities.
Read moreBP is to blame
I choose to honor and appreciate the Letters to the Editor section of our local papers by expressing my original thoughts, opinions and feedback from my own personal perspective and in my own words.
Yet, sadly, others chose to use this precious area to regurgitate propaganda, distortions and Republican National Committee talking points, bringing no value to the issues raised.
Read moreTown Center problems
Mr. Hamilton’s “Town Center is coming” letter is pure disinformation.
The real estate agent claims to have assembled 37 acres of land. Not true. He claims a developer wants to invest, not true. Hamilton and this fellow are allies because the real estate agent creates the fantasy that the “Town Center is coming.”
The core Town Center area west of 228th has no infrastructure.
The city must invest tens of millions before development is possible. The city has no money.
The developer who wishes to build a sports center is completely frustrated with the Town Center plan.
Mr. Hamilton knows the developer is petitioning for major revisions to the Town Center plan. Without these revisions, his project is impossible.
Favoritism is shown to the O’Brien and Liu properties. The O’Brien property went from being outside the Town Center to being in the Town Center with the highest per acre density in the town center without any public discussion.
Hamilton proposed 100,000 square feet of commercial space for the Liu property of 4.5 acres, one quarter to a half of this land is steep slopes.
Since this commercial allocation is disproportionately high in comparison to other mixed-use zones, Hamilton arranged for 4 acres of unbuildable land that belonged to a neighbor to be re-zoned and added to Liu’s A-4 zone.
This was done by Planning Commission caveat with no public discussion.
The Planning Commission also proposed that the O’Brien and Liu properties be exempt from the city’s costly, uncertain preliminary planning process. I spotted this change and am challenging it as gross favoritism.
Together the O’Brien and Liu properties adjacent to City Hall represent 114,000 square feet of commercial development and up to 360 residential units.
Imagine what the City Hall and library complex will be like when developed to this level of density.
Everything Hamilton says about our proposed project is untrue.
Visit www.sammamishtowncenter.com for detailed information about the plan.
It advocates offering a developer a range between 100,000 to 300,000 for both retail and office, applies the city’s development standards and is environmentally responsible.
John Galvin
The writer is a property owner in Town Center area in the area referenced in the website.
Mark Isaacs gives simplistic answers
Mark Isaacs is obviously a skilled politician.
He states that he was not privy to all the details that legislators were, but that he was sure he could have cut something instead of raising taxes.
He uses a simpleton analogy of a child wanting to buy baseball cards to compare to the services that our state provides.
Our roads, police, parks, schools, hospitals, libraries, safety nets and social services are not just some “nice extras” a child might want.
Real people get hurt by the kind of cuts Mr. Isaacs supports. Instead he supports giving tax cuts to greed based people who make their income off the infrastructure we all pay for (privatize the profits, socialize the costs).
They should pay for what they use just like any other cost of doing business. 1.8 percent is nothing when compared to utility costs.
We are not a socialist country, or even headed to socialism, that is just an RNC fear-based scare tactic for those who do not understand the terms.
Obama is the ultimate corporatist since he gave our assets to the corporations in the form of the Wall Street bailouts.
Michael T. Barr
Sammamish
Love and hate in Sammamish
During a recent Sunday school lesson in a Sammamish church, the teacher asked his teenage students how they would treat a gay person if they met one.
Their considered answer, which the teacher sanctioned… ‘love the sinner and hate the sin’.
Perhaps this love-hate philosophy works within the cloister, but it trivializes the question of how we should react to, and treat people within society.
It also advances an institutionalized and detrimental social bias into the next generation.
Aside from perhaps the ultra right-wing and paranoid, would a religious adherent actually attempt to form a social relationship with another person on the basis of their ‘sins’ rather than more acceptable norms?
Of course not, otherwise they would never interact with another human being!
Then why do otherwise reasonable people revert to such a shallow characterization? I can envision no generally acceptable societal rationale for creating such arbitrary divisions.
I enjoy living in Sammamish. The diversity of our culture speaks volumes about our inclusive nature.
Bias against any person, whether based upon gender, gender preference, skin color, religion, national origin or any other human trait simply has no place here.
Until we consider gays, and for that matter, other disfavored individuals simply as people, we will never advance the dialog past a very superficial level, and more importantly, end discrimination and legalized bias.
Let me suggest that we in Sammamish abandon language and concepts that divide us.
We should demonstrate simple, unconditional acceptance. Not love or hate, just a respect for the humanity and rights of all people.
Then we should work to ensure that Sammamish is indeed inclusive by actively lobbying for gay equality in our state and national legislatures and by voting for equality measures.
I dream John Lennon’s dream. As unattainable as his vision in “Imagine” is, it points toward a future where every person experiences the respect and equality that each member of humanity deserves.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
Connectivity is important
The city is at an important decision point regarding use of public streets.
The newly elected City Council must decide between the policies of connectivity or exclusivity. The current population of Sammamish is about 40,550.
The city of Sammamish was incorporated in 1999 on a wave of revolt at the policies of King County allowing growth to precede the construction of roads and supporting infrastructure.
Read moreHelmets needed at skate park
Today, the city of Sammamish had its annual teen skate competition and dance. Bravo! I applaud the city’s effort to provide fun and safe events for our youth.
Wait, is doing aerials on bikes and skates without helmets safe? That is something we did 30 years ago when no one knew better – when mom didn’t buckle up the kids up and dad smoked in the car.
While we go too far, in some areas, trying to protect people from themselves, it bothers me that my tax dollars went to digging a hole, filling it with concrete, and encouraging our kids to do stupid tricks … without helmets. Is it just me, or does that seem a little crazy?
Forget about our liability and the litigation – how are we going to feel about our community when one of our kids gets killed at the skate park from a head injury? I, for one, am going to be really bummed out!
Tim Schmidt
Sammamish
Get the recreation center started
We need a Sammamish Recreation Center — yet it appears that every month I see some variation on theme that detracts from this singular focus. First, it’s moving the YMCA, followed by converting the library into youth/senior center. Now, it’s collaborating with Redmond on a swimming pool. I don’t understand the vacillation.
Does anyone believe that we do not need a multi-use recreation center in a central location to benefit all of our residents? Why do we need to spend another $14,000 on a survey?
While I wholeheartedly disagreed with Councilman Mark Cross over the East Lake Sammamish Parkway project, I appreciated his tenacity and drive in moving it forward.
Why can’t the Council adopt the same initiative with the recreation center? I understand that the city will need to be creative about capital and operational funding, and there will be other hurdles. But I implore you to simply make the decision and move forward with it.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
Town Center problems
A news article entitled “Hail to whistleblowers” reports:
In his book, “Secrets,” (Daniel) Ellsberg describes how once, traveling back from Vietnam, defense secretary Robert McNamara assessed his visit by saying that “things aren’t any better at all. That means the underlying situation is really worse”. However, 10 minutes later in front of a press conference, he announced: “I’m glad to be able to tell you that we’re showing great progress in every dimension of our effort.”
Ellesberg, the article goes on to say, asked himself how could government officials justify what they were doing?
Sammamish is not Vietnam and our City Council is not continuing a war that cost the lives of 50,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese. Nevertheless, there is a parallel between what Vietnam-era government officials did and what our City Council is doing. McNamara and his military commanders justified a failing war, our City Council justifies a failing Town Center plan.
Mayor Don Gerend admits the plan won’t work. Councilwoman Nancy Whitten wants to move forward and start implementing the town center plan. Simultaneously, she admits it won’t work and she wants to protect landowners from the higher property taxes, the plan’s one certain outcome. Frequently, it is hard to comprehend Whitten’s contradicting position.
Other City Council members have acknowledged the Town Center plan is seriously flawed, John Curley and John James for example. Mark Cross, in his public statements, is as perplexing as Nancy Whitten. He supports a Town Center, but works hard to push through a plan that can’t work. As a professional planner, he can’t plead ignorance. He knows the plan is a developer’s nightmare and a terrible injustice to property owners.
During the current public hearing for Town Center regulations, public comment points out undeniable facts that demonstrate this plan is a disaster. Whitten and Cross say it is too late to do anything. Reality denying opinions justify a do nothing plan. Obviously, like Daniel Ellsberg, citizens like myself ask, “How can government officials justify what they are doing?”
We are waiting for a response.
John Galvin
Sammamish
Who was the slacker
Thank you, Sammamish Review, for hosting the Sammamish Forum opinion page. It’s fun to read the letters, and I especially look forward to the lively and interesting political commentary. Although personally I rely on Michael O’Connell and Frank Blau to express my views more eloquently than I can, I do enjoy reading all of the viewpoints.
I was puzzled, however, by the letter that characterized President Obama as some kind of slacker who takes too much time off work. Wasn’t that the previous president?
Monica Kilwine
Sammamish
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