In reading the Jan. 12 guest editorial “Drewel’s vetoes draw proper line on sprawl,” one finds Kristin Kelly and Marc Mechling touting urban sprawl as the “most important threat to our quality of life.” I wonder what quality of life they are referring to.
Sky-high housing prices along with sky-high property taxes are the direct result of the restrictions put on the supply of affordable housing by the overzealous use of the Growth Management Act. Has our traffic congestion improved since the GMA was enacted? I thought we all were supposed to benefit from a more efficient use of infrastructure. Now we have rush hour on weekends just going to the grocery store. Finally, it would be nice if a family that could actually afford today’s outrageous housing prices and property taxes would get a backyard big enough to put their kids’ swing set in. Some “quality of life!”
Check out the Snohomish County Web site. You’ll find that our population has dramatically increased well beyond what was predicted. Where are your kids and grandkids going to live – in high-rise condos?
What is needed is a common sense balance of reasonable management of natural resources and space for people to live. Three members of the council – John Koster, Gary Nelson and Jeff Sax – possess this common sense. I encourage you to give them your support.
Also, remember Bob Drewel, Kirk Sievers, Dave Gossett and Marc Mechling when you open up your property tax bill and at the ballot box.
Lake Stevens
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