Thank you to The Herald Editorial Board for its thoughtful and in-depth editorial recommending a no vote on Initiative 2117 (“I-2117 no bargain for climate, transportation; vote no,” The Herald, Sept. 21).

This year, while considering how I’ll be voting, I’m also watching the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in our Southeast states; precious lives and communities gone in an instant. While the climate crisis may look different everywhere, we cannot escape the effects here in our beautiful Pacific Northwest. Forest fires are increasingly seen on the west side of the Cascades. Sea level rise has already caused increased flooding and saltwater contamination of farmland and groundwater. Our glaciers are shrinking, leading to reduced hydropower. I could go on.

What do we want for our children and grandchildren; and ourselves? What we need are fewer greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate warming, less fossil fuel pollution, habitat restoration for our salmon and orcas, electric school buses, safer schools, safer bike and pedestrian travel options, improved transit, more regenerative agriculture, help for home electrification, hybrid ferries; and lots more.

And guess what? The Climate Commitment Act is already working well to make those improvements a reality. See what’s happening in Snohomish County here.

Please vote NO in NOvember on 2117!

Nancy Johnson

Edmonds