Citizens informed on library vote

I am sick and tired of the innuendos stated in a July 5 letter regarding the vote to annex the Lake Stevens library into the Sno-Isle system (“Minority decided vote on Sno-Isle”).

First of all, the letter writer questions who wrote the ballot title, implying that the city and Sno-Isle withheld information regarding the tax increase. State law (RCW 27.12.370) specifically specifies what can be included in the ballot title, and the city held two open houses for the specific purpose of informing the taxpayers that there would be an increase in taxes.

Secondly, the writer states that “well-organized special interests successfully use the well-oiled election system.” Give me a break! We are a group of community-minded citizens who know the importance of a vital library in our community. Through a lot of hard work, by attending service organization meetings, open houses held by the city, many planning meetings (who likes to attend meetings?) and phone calling, we were able to educate and inform the citizenry of our community.

As for the statement that we are supporting our “hobbies” — that’s a sad commentary on the letter writer’s knowledge of the importance and history of the library in a community. Not everyone has access to computers, nor has expendable cash to spend on books and other resources that the library offers. Thank you to the citizens of Lake Stevens who were farsighted enough to see that it is important to have a stable, long-term source of revenue to maintain the library’s operations.

Janet Lundquist