The people of Snohomish County need to wake up. I believe the outcome of the upcoming Snohomish county council races could determine the economic future of this county for at least two decades to come.
Voters are led to believe that many of these races are an environmental candidate versus a developer candidate. I challenge that notion.
I do not believe a new home creates growth. New jobs create growth. If you do not want growth, eliminate jobs. Most citizens understand the importance of jobs and the importance of job growth in order to maintain our quality of life and pay for those that government has to provide.
Because of an anti-growth, anti-job climate created by the current county council the number of new lot applications has decreased by 81 percent in two years. Yet while this decrease is taking place, the current county leaders maintain 237 positions in the county planning department. It certainly appears that current county policy, as approved by the county council, gives much more priority to planning for very little development, rather than providing for public safety by providing adequate personnel in the sheriff’s department.
I understand that the county has collected $32 million in traffic mitigation fees since 1994. Where has this money gone? It certainly hasn’t been spent to alleviate traffic congestion. Is the county holding these mitigation funds for purposes other than road and traffic solutions?
Isn’t it time for change? Time for a new set of elected officials that will bring a balanced approach to county government? The current council’s agenda has created a no growth marketplace. This means unemployment, bankruptcies and a much reduced tax base.
We need new leadership! Jeff Sax and John Koster have the skills and leadership ability to make Snohomish County a better place for all of us.
Snohomish
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