We don’t have any decent alternatives

Referendum 51 is a user fee. Not everyone will have to pay it, only those who are driving on the roads. What more fair way is there? The new revenue generated by R-51 is not going into the general fund; it will be placed in a transportation account that is protected from alternative uses by the state Constitution. R-51 will not fix traffic problems in Western Washington, but you may rest assured that rejecting R-51 will make traffic a whole lot worse in the coming years.

Defeating R-51 in the polls will not make the department of transportation a leaner, meaner animal that will do more with less. WSDOT is run on seniority, and when the ax falls on them, the best and brightest new engineers who still believe that this problem can be fixed will be the ones who will lose their jobs. (The civil service reform act passed last year will change this, but not until 2005). The money generated by R-51 will not just disappear into a hole in the ground. It will pay the wages of several thousand new construction related jobs throughout Washington. These people in turn will spend money locally; buy houses, raise families, and re-invest in our economy.

If passed, the gas tax will rise 5 cents a gallon in 2003 then another 4 cents a gallon in 2004. Texaco, Shell and Exxon have raised gas prices nearly 50 cents a gallon in the last 4 years, people have continued buying it and we have been given nothing in return. I am not in favor of all of the projects the Legislature intends to fund with R-51 money, but throwing our collective hands in the air and turning our backs on the problems that face us is a sure bet for continuing the downward spiral of our economy. Western Washington has grown fat from a prosperous economy during the 1990s. Now it is time for us to re-invest in our infrastructure and make ourselves strong again. There really is no alternative.

Lynnwood

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Lake Stevens school bond funds needed safety work at all schools

A parent’s greatest fear is for something bad to happen to their… Continue reading

Arlington schools capital levy: Say yes to new Post Middle School

Schools are the backbone of the Arlington community. Families want to move… Continue reading

Long sentences not much of a deterrent but serve justice

A recent column by Todd Welch mentions a trope that ignores one… Continue reading

Comment: Trump’s stress-test of Constitution shows it’s up to job

Keep filing lawsuits and the courts will bat down his unconstitutional orders; as long as he follows the rulings.

Stephens: Trump endangers stability of Pax Americana

Discarding the values of a ‘Great Power’ for a ‘Big Power’ will cost the U.S. its standing in the world.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Students need limits on cellphones in school

School districts needn’t wait for legislation to start work on policies to limit phones in class.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 5

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Costco’s work to defend its DEI values isn’t over

Costco successfully argued its values to shareholders, but a bigger fight looms with ‘anti-woke’ forces.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.