Only two adults not part of a rally attended a recent meeting about the Marysville School District’s levy. The speakers, which included the superintendent of Marysville Schools, gamely delivered their pitch for the levy.
The one adult attendee with children in the district was not moved. Her children are enrolled in a private school; she didn’t support taxes for public institutions. They had become substandard, in her opinion. She favored charter schools with public vouchers. Her grandchildren’s educational experience in public schools would be less than hers, she said, and I believe this to be true. Is this a sign of our tattering democracy or a cause? The other adult attendee not part of the rally, the one who came for the free food (me), found the arguments for the levy cogent, but I am not a Marysville voter.
There was a time when The Herald would be reaching most of Snohomish County residents, giving a daily account of both sides of the issue. We are less of a community without the common narrative the Herald can provide. Local journalism for a functioning democracy is a must; the poorly attended rally last night is proof. I hope the revenue and distribution issues that have kneecapped newspapers in the internet age will be resolved.
Keith Ellis
Everett
Editor’s note: Herald coverage of the levy has included a Jan. 13 news story, a Jan. 31 editorial and numerous commentaries and letters to the editor on the issue.
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