Letters to the Editor
Published 1:30 am Saturday, May 9, 2026
REPAIR
How to repair the damage Trump has done to the US?
First, a return of the Republican Party of Dole, Baker, Kassebaum, Dirksen, so the Democrats don’t form a circular firing squad.
Then create a priority list with cost. For example:
Climate, Encourage renewable energy: cost, minimal
Alliances, be trusted for about 20 years: cost, minimal
National debt, reduce military spending, raise taxes on wealthy: cost, painful
Justice, delete Dept of Petty Revenge: cost, minimal
Continuing with, say, Artificial Intelligence, inflation and more then publish the list and the cost.
It is imperative to display this list and cost to prevent drifting to the lowest of items, which take away time and debate and yield only posturing.
“For those who still believe in democracy and kindness, it’s hard to watch and harder to know what to do.”
— Sid Schwab
Troy Myers
Edmonds
BILLS
Everett’s water and sewage bills
My concern is not with any of our Utility services at all. Everyone that I’ve had contact with has been extremely helpful and the same with any technicians that have ever serviced me. I am a widowed senior and have been an Everett home owner since 1974. Currently in my second home since 2003. I fluctuate between 1 and 2 CCF’s of water monthly. During the summer months, I water my lawns, garden and my flowers and shrubs. I like having my yard be a compliment to my neighborhood.
Last summer, I had a new backyard lawn installed due to the north Everett long standing soil removal due to the old Asarco smelter. I used a huge amount of water after it was installed to maintain it. None of that water that was used for irrigation went into the sewer system, but I was charged over$625.00 plus, “twice” for two months just in the sewer charges alone. When I questioned the charges, I was told that its (the sewer charges) are based on the CCF’s of water used. That’s the way it’s always been and they couldn’t do anything about it. I said that it doesn’t seem fair and asked about installing a deduct meter during the summer months. I was told that they don’t allow deduct meters in Everett. I am a single person, not a family of 5 or 6, and I’m certainly willing to pay for my additional water usage but I shouldn’t, or anyone else, be penalized for watering their yards. Other municipalities have solved that by averaging the water used during the 9 to 10 months, normally, and not overcharging for the summer months when the water usage increases.
My only option now is to just let my lawns turn brown, let it go dormant and not have the pride in being an Everett homeowner.
Marc Owenby
Everett
DRUGS
Nehring proposal is a step in the right direction
The article in the Wednesday, May 6th Herald by Nate Nehring, “It’s time to change county policy to better service all,” can be a step in the right direction to address homeless housing and drug abuse issues that affect us now. It addresses accountability along with compassion for those in need.
We are still missing the problem by far, though. These issues need to be dealt with at the root cause and before they become the issues that they are now. The root cause has obviously not been addressed, or at best, was addressed poorly in the past.
We need more effective educational programs for youngsters and teenagers to help them through life and to lead productive lives. I am not advocating brainwashing them, I’m suggesting educating them to the dangers of drug abuse and the end result. Obviously, we have not been very effective at doing this or we wouldn’t be dealing with a problem we’re dealing with now.
Until we get on top of the drug problem, it’s never going to go away, it will just continue and probably grow. Let’s give our kids a fair shot. We need to spend more money on fixing the root cause of the problem instead of the end result of the problem.
The drug issues and the homeless housing issues are problems a long time in the making, and we have been part of the problem. If we start now, we can fix most of the homelessness and drug abuse problems in 15 to 20 years. Let us not continue to push these issues off on our children to resolve. Let’s get involved!
Mark Baker
Gold Bar
