Lease terms for Housing Hope project should have been noted

I am writing in regard to the recent article published in The Herald detailing the proposed housing development on Norton Playfield (“With neighbor input Housing Hope rethinks playfield plan,” The Herald, July 25). In the article, it is stated that the field is being leased to Housing Hope, but it does not mention the details of the lease. This is a 3-acre property that the Everett School District is leasing for $1 per year for 75 years. In other words, they are giving it away.

However, in almost the same breath, they are asking Everett taxpayers to approve a $317 million bond. How is this possible? How can the ESD disrespect taxpayers hard-earned money like this? This field could be sold for an extremely large sum or used in some other way that could garner income for the school district and alleviate some of the burden on taxpayers.

It is journalistically unprofessional to leave out such significant information that directly impacts the public.

Bliss Bartanen

Everett