Sammamish Forum April 4
April 4, 2012
Water rate increases are too much to handle
In the Review’s article “Water Bills Going Up” (March 28, 2012), about the rate increases from the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, I was shocked to read that “the district has increased water rates by between 7 and 12 percent every year since 2007.” After a lengthy discussion with a member of the water district staff and reviewing the information that was used in the March 19 meeting, which is posted on the District’s website, I am still shocked. I do not understand how the district can justify consistently high rate increases for the past five years. These increases are significantly higher than inflation as measured in the Federal government’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). In fact, in 2009 the CPI was negative, but water rates went up 7 percent! Read more
SAMMI winners make us all proud
March 21, 2012
Each year, Sammamish manages to find another crop of citizens doing extraordinary things to help the community. The SAMMI awards, which started after 9/11 when community members wanted to do something positive, recognize a handful of these people.
This year’s winners, like those in past years, stand out for their hard work and dedication to community. Read more
Sammamish Forum March 21
March 21, 2012
Whose happiness
To writer Larry Davison who asked “whose happiness will be denied” in the debate of same sex marriage, the answer is quite simple. Those attempting to suppress others their equal rights will be the ones that must yield.?? Read more
Liquor service hours could get flexible
March 14, 2012
There’s a little city 20 miles west of here that wants to change state law — a change that would affect businesses in Sammamish.
Seattle wants the Washington State Liquor Control Board to approve a resolution to allow for extended liquor hours. If approved, our own plateau would be able to dictate opening and closing hours for the service of alcohol at bars, restaurants and clubs or entertainment venues. Read more
Sammamish Forum March 14
March 14, 2012
The signs were an experiment
I am responding to the letter about off-leash dogs at Southeast Eighth Street Park. First, only one of the 10 off-leash signs were about off-leash dogs running along the fence line that was by my home which is 10 feet from the park trail.
The other nine signs were a temporary field study to see if educating people about protecting this pristine park would prompt them to leash their dogs. Read more
Heritage designation fits for greenway
March 6, 2012
It seems silly that different public land-use agencies cannot work together, but the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is trying to help resolve that problem.
Today, there are six major agencies that manage public lands in the 1.5 million acres known as the greenway.
These include the U.S. Forest Service, city of Seattle Watershed, state Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County.
The agencies should be able to intermingle land management.
The benefit focuses on enforcement and environmental decisions.
For example, one agency employee may not have the authority to stop hunters or timber cutting on public land. It also opens the doors to pilot projects that might be used elsewhere in the country.
The greenway trust is taking the suggestion of the U.S. Forest Service seriously and has begun the move of lands in the greenway to have a National Heritage Area designation.
This would allow the jurisdictional management of 900,000 acres of public lands and 100,000 acres of privately conserved lands. The other half-million acres are already in use — your home and workplace — and would not be affected.
The national heritage designation has no federal price tag — it only opens a window of opportunity. And the designation does not intrude on property rights, not adding new regulatory authority or other management restrictions over private lands.
It does not require any property owner to provide public access to their land and it does not affect water rights or fishing and hunting regulations.
The greenway trust has reached out to U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert for help in getting the designation. It couldn’t be better timing.
Reichert is also making a push to get legislation passed in support of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.
While the Alpine Lakes are not within the greenway boundaries, Reichert’s passion for protected public lands should extend to both.
Sammamish Forum March 7
March 6, 2012
Chapin deserves it
To the author of “Another Deserving Name,” regarding the naming of 233rd Avenue after Officer Stan Chapin, please understand that I fully respect your opinion and your right to say what is on your mind.
As an Eastlake student, I strongly feel the word choice used in the letter (“Why does a person have to die to be recognized”) should have been chosen more carefully. These past few weeks have been incredibly sensitive and emotional for Sammamish regarding the loss of three significant members of our tightly-knit community.
Before I discuss how Officer Chapin was not only a huge positive influence in the entire community’s lives, I would like to comment on how close our school has become to support each other since his unfortunate passing. The very least Sammamish can do to honor this great man is name a street after him.
Yes, Don Gerend has truly put effort into making Sammamish a better place and is widely appreciated, yet Officer Chapin will be remembered for his tremendous efforts and positive impact on everyone as well. Yes, Don Gerend may have “had more to do with the traffic circle,” but the issue is not political, it is emotional and sentimental, which is why the letter gives off a cynical impression. Let us continue in our amazing and widespread efforts to honor Officer Chapin!
Yasmin Luqman
Sammamish
More off-leash parks needed
While walking my dog (on leash) through Southeast Eighth Street Park today, I noticed some signs someone had put up throughout the park. These signs pointed out why people should not let their dogs off leash in the park. The majority of the signs were about off-leash dogs running the fence lines and bothering neighbors. Ironically a dog in one of the yards bordering the park was the one running the fence line.
This brought something to my attention though. We live in an area that is suppose to be more liberal and cares about the environment. Yet we do not care enough to make sure our dogs have a good park to go to, run, and be off leash. Sammamish has one off-leash dog park that pales in comparison to all the other dog parks in surrounding cities. Just take a look at some of the surrounding dog parks. Marymoor attracts residents from far and wide, because Redmond chose to invest in its citizens. Yet, we choose to have our citizens drive further than necessary to exercise their dogs.
Even if you are not an “animal person,” can you deny that dogs are a part of our families? We need another dog park in Sammamish more along the lines of Marymoor in Redmond. A park like Southeast Eighth Street would be ideal in some ways (it is quite similar to Marymoor on a smaller scale), however I realize there are some restrictions to “developing” this park. So we need to start looking for a location that allows something to be done about this.
Sammamish has some of the best schools, the best neighborhoods, great parks for families, and is a great city to live in. Let’s make it an even better city.
Michele Pryor
Sammamish
Rights versus desires
As I read the author(s) opine, this week, regarding their desire for same sex marriage, I note differing interpretations in citing the founding documents to support a right to same sex marriage.
Mr. O’Connell referenced “Pursuit of Happiness“ arguing that the “Founding Documents” support same sex marriage.
The Declaration did say “Pursuit of Happiness“ but the meaning of “Happiness,” was also defined as property, at the time, so there is debate as to the meaning of Happiness.
There is no, defined, historical president in the Declaration that protects same sex marriage any more than there is for polygamy. If one’s pursuit of happiness is to deny same sex marriage and the other’s is to allow same sex marriage whose “Happiness” will be denied under the founding documents. Or where will one’s “Happiness” start and end.
The point is that all desires are not protected under the founding documents or there would be no limit to that slippery slope. How about the pursuit of happiness of those that demand polygamy or other desires born of love, why would they not be covered under the arguments tendered by the “church of the same sex faithful.“
My pursuit of happiness is denied by the limit of 350 words by this fair publication so I will limit my response to only one more of the distortions of the same sex prophets.
Patricia Martin, in defending the religious bigotry displayed in O’Connell’s attack on the Mormon Church for its stance on same sex marriage, cites “Separation of church and state,” to defend the same sex agenda.
I presume the intent was to reference the “Establishment Clause“ meaning the government may not “establish” a religion on the people, but the people are free to establish, and voice, a religion.
That freedom includes a right to dissent when it comes to same sex marriage just as it grants a right to support same sex marriage.
Larry Davison
Sammamish
Caucus meetings are worth the time
February 29, 2012
Republican caucuses will be held this Saturday across the state, including here in this area. It does matter.
There will be no presidential primary in Washington this year. Legislators decided to save the $10 million expense. Now it’s up to you to take action, but it will take more than an armchair vote and a stamp. Democrats will caucus April 15. Read more
Sammamish Forum Feb. 29
February 29, 2012
Another deserving name
Last week the local press reported a proposal to name a stretch of 233rd Avenue after Officer Stan Chapin, deceased, but there is an even more deserving person after whom this long-awaited traffic circle ought to be named.
Our former mayor and active Councilman Don Gerend, who was instrumental in bringing this access to Eastlake about. I have worked with him for many, many years on this issue, and while I know we all mourn the passing of Chapin, Gerend had more to do with this traffic circle than any other person in public service. Read more
Sammamish Forum Feb. 22
February 21, 2012
Stan Chapin deserves a statue
It is without question that Officer Stan Chapin is an irreplaceable individual who touched our children’s hearts while protecting them. The naming of part of 233rd Avenue in his honor is logical and right.
And yet, since Chapin was known for his unique sense of humor, I propose a statue or monument of some sort that involves the same artistic creativity he showed us every day. Perhaps those students interested in a project of this variety could provide a committee with some sketches of say, Chapin in his “raptor” mode?
Our region is known for it’s artistic edginess and Chapin has, sadly, provided us with the opportunity to bring out our best in his honor. One key benefit of a monument would be its ability to provoke conversations. Fifteen years from now our children will have the pleasure of explaining to those who sadly won’t be able to meet him the meaning of the statue. His legacy can be remembered through the retelling of his personality through viewing of a piece of art as unique as he.
Sara Philbin
Sammamish
Supporting marriage equality
The Declaration of Independence, the document which laid out the principles upon which America was founded begins, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
This founding principle has been tested throughout our history and each time we have become more inclusive as a society. Blacks were freed, voting rights were granted to women and we legalized mixed racial marriages. These actions demonstrate that we can overcome challenges to our founding principles and we will eventually do so with marriage equality. That is what we do in America because it is right and just. We are talking about our neighbors, family, coworkers and friends who are treated as second class citizens.
As Melanie Kennedy said, only 3.8 percent of the U.S. population is gay, lesbian or transgender. Yet we have very powerful religious organizations working to deny them their civil rights. That is morally unacceptable and contrary to America’s founding values. Free speech must not be used as a shield to spread misinformation and promote religious bigotry as the National Organization for Marriage is renowned for.
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, president of the Washington State Senate, said “For me, this is not a religious question,” said Owen, a Democrat. “It’s a legal question.” I urge you to read Judge Walker’s Prop 8 decision. In rendering it he made it very clear that in our secular society, religious bias and personal opinion must not overrule constitutional rights. It is time to ensure that no person in our state is treated as a second class citizen and time that we act to ensure that each one of us enjoys the same protections that America was founded to provide.
Courageously, the Legislature passed a gay marriage bill and the governor signed it into law. Let’s now unite to support our fellow citizens and ensure that no force may deny them their newfound equality.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
It doesn’t matter if there’s a minority
This argument that the tyrannical majority of 200 years which has suppressed homosexuals with denial of equal rights, criminalization of homosexuality, institutionalization of homosexuals and even the murder of homosexuals is now claiming their right to free speech is being impinged upon is downright lunacy!?
What does it matter if it is one or 1 million, or 1 percent or 20 percent of the population that is a minority? Either you believe our rights are inalienable or that they are not. And if our rights truly come from a creator and not the government then you must not deny even 1 person or 3 percent of the population their rights in the name of the supposed suppression of yours.
The only thing being changed with gay marriage is the fact that you can no longer deny equal rights to homosexuals. They will be equal under the law and that scares those who fear and hate homosexuals. They will lose control.
And to be clear, unlike others using cookie cutter templates and suggested talking points from NOM (National Organization for Marriage), I actually articulate my own understanding and beliefs in the editorial pages.
Michael T. Barr
Sammamish
Response to Melanie Kennedy
Our country does have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. We also have separation of church and state, at least we are supposed to have this freedom. When a church supports or pushes the passage of a bill or law according to religious belief, it is no longer separation of church and state. A line has been crossed.
I believe Michael O’Connell was speaking to this “line”. I believe he was speaking as an individual citizen from his own value system. I think Kennedy is confused about separation of church and state and the freedoms of speech and religion. I think this is a very big problem in our current society in moving American forward for all.
Patricia Martin
Issaquah
