FORUM: Remember lessons of the past when making major decisions
Published 1:30 am Saturday, February 21, 2026
By Jonathan Peebles/ Herald Forum
As someone who has lived in Everett for more than twenty years, I’m feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. Our city is once again facing major decisions about trains, stadiums, and transit issues we’ve lived through before. These choices matter deeply to working families, seniors, job seekers, and the many residents who rely on public transportation every day. That’s why we need to slow down, learn from our past, and remember a principle many of us were raised on: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
On light rail, Everett has waited long enough. Many of us remember the Sounder era and the promises that came with it. Now, with shifting timelines and moving goalposts, we’re seeing the same pattern repeat. Our mayor said it plainly: “Finish the spine.” Everett voters approved this system, and we’ve paid into it for years. Residents deserve a return on that investment not another decade of delays. Reliable transportation isn’t just a convenience; for job seekers, it can be the difference between being able to apply for a job or not. Light rail would open doors to interviews, training, and early‑morning shifts that are currently out of reach for many.
We’re seeing similar concerns with the proposed AquaSox stadium. When the Angel of the Winds Arena was built, it brought excitement but also uncertainty. Today, residents want clear commitments that a new stadium will strengthen our local economy, support small businesses, and provide year‑round community benefit not just hopeful projections or promises that may take years to materialize. If Everett is going to invest in something this significant, the planning must be thorough, transparent, and grounded in realistic expectations.
Transit is another area where Everett’s history matters. We have our own city transit system because Everett made a deliberate choice to keep as many neighborhoods accessible as possible. For many residents, including job seekers, Everett Transit is the difference between reaching work, medical care, or essential services. As merger discussions with Community Transit continue, the people who rely on the system every day must be at the center of the conversation.
Everett has been here before. Let’s make sure this time, we take the lessons with us and insist on the proper prior planning our community deserves.
Jonathan Peebles is a longtime resident of Everett Resident.
