The results of a survey are only as good as the questions that are asked. I applaud the group in favor of a racetrack in Snohomish County for trying to gauge public opinion. However, if they really want to know the true opinions, they need to ask all of the relevant questions.
A survey that makes no mention of the associated costs of a racetrack, which would be subsidized by taxpayers, does not address the most critical issue. The Herald article on Thursday regarding the survey stated that most people opposed to the track don’t want it because of traffic issues (“60% in poll support racetrack”). Those who live within five miles of the proposed track site are the ones most likely to be concerned about noise and traffic, but they also care about jobs (the track would only provide around 70) and how it would affect their taxes. The people outside of this five-mile radius are most likely to be concerned about costs to them. But there were no questions in the survey about who is going to pay for the track and infrastructure. Without these relevant questions of importance to all county residents, there is no relevancy to the survey.
Linda Staswick
Arlington
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