Heraldnet.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 7:01 pm
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Herald Editorial Board

Bob Bolerjack,
Opinion Editor
bolerjack@heraldnet.com

Carol MacPherson,
Editorial Writer
cmacpherson@
heraldnet.com


Allen Funk,
Herald Publisher
funk@heraldnet.com

Kim Heltne,
Assistant to the Publisher
heltne@heraldnet.com

Send letters to the editor by e-mail to letters@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-339-3458 or mail to The Herald - Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.

 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday


81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme C...
Tuesday


Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
Monday


Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
Sunday


Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
Saturday


Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Editorials   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
HAVE YOUR SAY
Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor.
You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another.
Send it to:
E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com
Mail: Letters section
The Herald
P.O. Box 930
Everett, WA 98206
Fax: 425-339-3458
Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).
 
Published: Friday, December 14, 2007

Governor's decisiveness should save ferry run

Gov. Chris Gregoire's decisive action Thursday regarding the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry run was refreshing. We hope she, Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and legislative leaders will take similar steps to pin down how this preventable crisis unfolded, with the goal of reforming a ferry system that clearly needs it.

Gregoire and Hammond inherited a nightmare regarding the system's 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries, vessels that had been running under waivers from modern safety rules for years. Hammond made a gutsy and necessary call to pull the ferries from service late last month after close inspection showed they had deteriorated beyond any semblance of seaworthiness. Gregoire on Thursday addressed the massive inconvenience and economic harm that followed, announcing immediate and long-term plans to save the run between the Olympic Peninsula and Whidbey Island.

Gregoire said the state will lease a replacement ferry from Pierce County, resuming auto service to the route in January. She proposed moving $100 million from other ferry projects to build three new ferries to serve the run, vessels small and nimble enough to navigate Whidbey's shallow, narrow Keystone Harbor. Bids would be taken early next year.

And, in a welcome effort to salvage some of the Christmas shopping season for Port Townsend merchants, temporary passenger-only service from Seattle will start today.

The downside: Some $36 million of the cost for new ferries would come from money earmarked for a new Mukilteo terminal, a project that's already been delayed. But perhaps a silver lining could emerge there, too. Why not explore moving the ferry landing to Everett, opening potentially grand new development opportunities on Mukilteo's downtown waterfront and easing the town's daily traffic headaches? We don't know how logistically, politically or financially feasible such an idea is, but it seems worth discussing.

For now, we applaud the swiftness and soundness of the governor's initial actions. There's more to be done, though, to get to the bottom of why the safety of ferry passengers was allowed to be so compromised. Lessons clearly must be learned, and corrective action taken. Future governors should never be handed such a mess to clean up.

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson
2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court
3. Vatican ponders the souls in space
4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish
5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region
6. Student hit in crosswalk to return
7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork
8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide
9. Help for young moms may continue
10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Bazaar Fever
Hawks proud of historic season
Olson always put Edmonds first
Honoring student veterans
‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop
Mavs build early lead en route to easy win
Prep football games of the week (state playoffs)
Tears of laughter, tears of grief
Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

FREE Appetizer w/
purchase of 2 entrees

$1 off French Dip
$4.99 Burger Basket

$5 OFF
Lunch or Dinner

20% off Click Here*
Buy 1 Offer Click Here*

15% Off Your
First Time Purchase

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

Family Night Free Sundae
$9.99 Prime Rib

All you can Eat Buffets
Angel of the Winds

Free Dessert!
Click here!

Island Flavors with
Finest NW Ingredients

Great Food
24 Hours a Day

Come and Relax
Monthly Specials

FREE Appetizer with any
purchase daily 2-6pm

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

50% off 2nd Pizza
Special Click Here!

QuadraFire Save $250
Free Smart-Stat

Lube, Oil & Filter
Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE

Pacific Northwest
Fresh Cuisine

Free Garlic Bread/Free Soda
Click here for details!

Buffet Dining
Tulalip Resort

$2 OFF
at Box Office

$5 Off
Stylecut

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
30yd Carpet Purchase
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT