I have the distinct impression that Snohomish County’s government, on both sides of the partisan aisle, is mostly dominated by the developers. Both the mayor of Everett and the county executive are convinced that more development means more jobs, and that more jobs are good for the county.

I disagree.

I am convinced that every new home built in this county, and every new family moving in, diminshes the quality of life for everyone now living here. Traffic increases and consequently slows; trees are cut, both for lumber for those new homes and for space to build them. Every one of them makes this a less desirable place to live. More jobs encourage more people to move in and more people moving in encourage more development. It doubtless makes profits for the developers; it doesn’t benefit the ordinary residents.

Soon, the Pacific Northwest will be another megalopolis like New York and New England. Is that what the people of this county really want? I don’t. And I bet I’m not alone.

Norman K. Marsh

Everett