Thanks to County Councilman John Koster for upholding the trust of the citizens of Snohomish County. (Sunday guest commentary, “Paine Field: Let’s take a breath.”)

Snohomish County is much larger and more diverse with its issues than that small portion, both geographically and in population, in the southwest corner. Our County Council is responsible for the management of the entire county, not just a small portion of it. If citizens want to be angry, be angry at the politicians who placated you years ago with a document that they knew at the time was worthless. Be angry at politicians making promises they knew they could not follow through on. Be angry at the politics as usual.

Koster is only speaking the truth. We cannot stop the commercial passenger use of Paine Field. To “Just say NO!” only serves to take us out of the conversation and decision-making process.

I fully understand that passenger service at Paine Field is bad for the citizens who have bought homes near the airfield. Just like it was bad for everyone else across the country who bought property near airfields, highways, rivers, lakes and a lengthy list of other locations where the situation changed over time.

Commercial air service at Paine Field is good for the citizens of Snohomish County as a whole. Thank you, Mr. Koster, for speaking for the rest of us.

Steve Haley

Everett