Clean up along rivers to honor Bob Heirman

An open letter to Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers:

You were recently invited to speak at the funeral of Bob Heirman, a man you called “friend.”

I’m sure that during the eulogy you made mention of Bob’s love of nature, clear waters and teeming fish. Yes, Bob was not a biologist but, he was a naturalist. He was also gifted with the ability to put what he had seen into words for his many writings. Because of those talents we are all better off.

I’m also sure that you are now thinking of ways to memorialize Bob’s contributions to our world. Many of these ideas are certainly worthy, but I think that there is something more immediate, concrete and beneficial to all that the county could do to honor Bob.

Stop our rivers from becoming sewer systems and trash dumps caused by squatters. Enforce the vagrancy, littering and public nuisance laws that are on the books. These are steps that could be immediately taken. All it requires is a little backbone. Do this in the name of Bob Heirman.

Bob Kelly

Snohomish