Another effort to erode a way of life

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, February 6, 2003

The Jan. 27 article about Snohomish City Councilman Kurt Meacham’s off-leash dog area typifies the win/lose mentality of many people in power positions. The article ended with a flippant “I’m sure some will view this as encroachment.”

Follow this scenario, councilman: A person builds a house (off-leash dog area) next to an airport (duck hunting area) then complains about the noise (hunters hunting) and wants the airport (hunting area) to go away. A hunting area that has been there for more than a 100 years without incident. Tell me that they didn’t know that was a hunting area before the dog area was built.

The buffer is already there but the mayor admits in the article he doesn’t know where it is. Rather than just complain, I would offer a simple solution: Clearly post where the boundary currently is and enforce it. Shotgun shots sound much closer than they actually are, especially in the fog, Mr. Meacham. For the record, I have not and will not be hunting this area. But this does appear to be another attempt to further erode the life that used to be the reason we live in Snohomish (as opposed to King) County.

With almost 60 years in this county I’ve watched the California, Woodinville, Redmond mentality move here, become the majority, and influence or dictate how we live here.

I’m sure come fall there will be reports of suspected near misses and the duck hunters will be kicked out of yet another area and Kurt Meacham and the council can rejoice. Coincidence? No! This was probably part of the original plan, although not as highly publicized.

P.S. I believe all fishing should stop in that area too because who knows when a back cast might hook an unsuspecting dog?

Snohomish