Letters to the Editor
Published 1:30 am Saturday, July 11, 2026
POLITICAL PARTIES
Two sides of the same grimy coin
The GOP has lost its mind and soul. The silence to the destruction and corruption is complicit. The progressive party is no better. Dragging common sense issues into the gutter by manipulating the moral compass to fit their agendas. One party starts wars as a distraction, or in this case, a grift. The other taxes the middle class into poverty to pay for programs we can all live without. No doubt they will find a way to tax the air we breathe. Clear Air tax? The political parties have too much control in our choices. Two sides of the same grimy coin.
Todd Fredrickson
Monroe
EVERETT TRANSIT
Forced consolidation is about sales tax money
I don’t know if Everett Transit can survive. That said, Mayor Franklin is disingenuous at best when she is quoted as saying, “If we just said everything that we do has to go to a vote of the people, regardless of the new tools the State has given us, we’re not doing our job.”
This new tool has been crafted by the Legislature to specifically allow the dismantling of Everett Transit without voter input. Citizens of Everett voted to establish the transit benefit district and to remain separate from the Community Transit benefit district when it was established. If the mayor is correct, nothing should be done prior to the next city council and mayoral races. This change of law may change the makeup of the city’s representatives.
Why are the citizens of Everett being shut out of the process especially given the option they could vote Everett Transit out of existence? They could continue at are current level of service or vote to raise the the sales tax to boost service while still paying less than being absorbed by Community transit.
Money is the root of this action that has pushed out of the voters hands into those of the legislature. Everett is the 7th largest city in Washington and the 284th in the United States. Many U.S. cities, smaller than Everett, have transit agencies within county authorities. This forced consolidation is all about the sales tax money.
Don Shagam
Everett Transit, Retired
Lake Stevens
LIBRARY LEVY
Vote for your Sno-Isle Library Levy August 4
August 4 you will need to “Vote Yes” for your library. There has been no increase in eight years! The levy provides 91% of the budget. Costs are rising and more people are using the 24 libraries in Snohomish and Island County.
Books! Technology! Ebooks! Audio Books! DVD’s! Streaming! Programs! Bookmobile! Free copies! Early learning! Technology Updates! Magazines and Newspapers! A safe, friendly, beautiful place to visit!
Being Old (86), I continue to utilize my Arlington Library in many ways! On the Libby app I listen to audio books daily . Currently listening to the memoirs of Lamar Alexander( Education of a Senator,) Jamie Ford ‘s Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Seattle Panama Hotel) and Janet Evanovich’s latest mystery.
On the same App I read the latest magazine articles from Newsweek , Rolling Stones, Motorcycle and Camper Van. I’ve searched Ancestry.com and other data bases. One’s never to old to learn. I also love their new book sections for fiction and non-fiction and their “recommendations”.
Some afternoons I sit in their special corner and read the Wall Street Journal and NY Times. I’ve also taken my 3-year-old great grandchild to the children’s program for stories and activities. What Fun! I’ve made numerous free copies which I can do from home. Several years ago the Bookmobile made a special stop at the Oso Fire Station for a special event.
Our libraries are a wealth of information for everyone! PLEASE VOTE yes to keep them open and current!
Peggy James
Oso/Arlington
DEMOCRACY
Self-government for a majority is not enough
I am 64 years old. If we go back in history four of my lifetimes, we arrive at the year 1770. Yes, only four of my lifetimes takes us back to before the birth of our nation. Wow! We really and truly are youngsters in this world. So, now that we are growing up, what are some things we’ve learned that will help us get through our next 250 years? Here are a couple of thoughts…
Self-government is not enough if it doesn’t apply to everyone.
Democracy is not about majority-rule decision making. It is about every person having a voice in the decisions that affect them.
Democracy can become tyranny if it does not include the protection of basic human rights and dignity, regardless of majority opinion.
America is multicultural by definition. This is our strength and our identity, united under the umbrella of mutual respect.
This multicultural solidarity extends to the entire planet. We are absolutely all in this together.
No one said this was going to be easy. Communicate, collaborate, and co-create ad infinitum!
Jim Strickland
Marysville
SOCIAL SECURITY
Let’s have accountability for poor performance
Your article on fixing Social Security is yet another alarm sounding off on the dire state of our retirement program.
As the (many) years since the initial warnings of the then-approaching, now-impending, problem have passed, those “responsible” for it’s solvency and it’s continued function have kicked the fiscal/political can down the road, while continuing to spend like amnesia victims and thinking tomorrow would never come.
As your article makes clear, tomorrow is here.
I am not a political or economic authority, but I know one course of action all working citizens should strongly consider:
Vote AGAINST EVERY INCUMBENT, Senator and Congressman/woman, as well as the President, at the next opportunity.
Accountability for poor performance is seldom inflicted on our politicians.
Cavalier indifference at this critical juncture deserves loss of their jobs, at the very least.
Jonathan Wright
Stanwood
