Do they know our economy is sliding?

In response to Pete Dykstra, (Letters, Sept. 29 “Tim Eyman: He’s not the ‘man of the people’ any more”): How dare he accuse Tim Eyman of ripping off the taxpayers? We have already paid enough money in taxes to pave all of Snohomish County yet we have no road improvements. That’s because the governor and Department of Transportation are trying to force us into Metro buses or – you can see it coming – light-rail trains.

In May, the county council selected Mike Ashley to replace Rick Larsen because he had knowledge of upland water drainage. Since then they have managed to spend $15 million dollars to study upland water drainage. Do you think they have figured out yet that gravity causes it to run down hill? If you want it to go up hill, you must use a pump. This sounds like taxpayer pocket drainage to me.

The Washington state Department of Transportation has used Snohomish County tax money for everything but getting our traffic flowing. They have built many beautiful six-lane highways with sidewalks on both sides, underpasses and overpasses in Clark County.

Eastern Washington has beautiful highways. They buy and give away Metro vans and then replace them. An increase of two riders is an 80 percent increase to brag about. They make a wonderful environment for the homeless to spend their day having a scenic ride.

Why don’t we call or write Olympia and ask them to pass the bill introduced by state Rep. Kirk Pearson to keep 90 percent of transportation money collected in each county within that county?

Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel wants us to raise taxes on our homes to run a jail that has not yet been built. He has spent millions of our tax dollars on architects and planners for things not approved by voters. Is Republican Gary Nelson the only council member to see the handwriting on the wall? He at least suggested they might be over optimistic in their tax projections.

Are increases in the cost of health care due to including the unwed partners of government workers on their health insurance? The economy is in trouble; layoffs are coming.

Everett

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