As a lifelong resident of Snohomish County and an involved supporter of economic development and living wage jobs for over 30 years, I am deeply concerned about our economic future.
You already know the Boeing story and the loss of jobs we will experience. If we can’t retain and grow companies we now have, how can we expect to have new companies move here?
Our county is being strangled by more and more taxes and regulations that are costly, time consuming, unreasonable and business unfriendly. As a result newly created building sites are off over 75 percent from last year with very little backup inventory. Since the construction and related industry account for about one-third of our economy you will see a significant economic slow down from the construction industry alone going into 2002 and beyond.
Because most growth comes from our own families, our children and grandchildren will have to go elsewhere for jobs. All businesses will feel the effect with a major impact on our job base. I sincerely believe we are rapidly approaching a deep recession, like what happened in Southern California in the early 1990s, if we don’t change direction now.
We need to elect candidates who will provide the leadership and energy to change direction. The incumbents had their chance and failed. Jeff Sax and John Koster are experienced businessmen who would provide balance on growth and environmental issues and make business and new jobs welcome again in Snohomish County.
Everett
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