Letters

Tent City

Sims is pushing his agenda onto others

I just wanted to voice my outrage on the blatant disregard for due process in regards to the Tent City issue. I live in Snohomish County, and even though Tent City isn’t in my backyard, the bigger issue for me is the process in which Ron Sims, a public servant, has bulldozed his agenda onto the people of Bothell/Kirkland.

He has ignored the due process of selecting, informing the public, and going through the necessary steps that any other company or entity would be subject to, in order to go ahead with such a project. The argument that this situation was an emergency is not valid due to the offers of two churches that came forward to offer their facilities to the 100 homeless people.

Sims is grandstanding to get public approval from these groups and in the process he is ignoring the guidelines put in place by our government, of which he is a part. It’s the “process of this decision” of which I have huge issue with, not the people of Tent City.

As long as government officials ignore the permit approval guidelines put in place, we need to then ask ourselves to whom do these guidelines apply to? Certainly not to our government officials. What hypocrisy! We all need to be held accountable for actions, which affect those around us and an even higher level of accountability is expected from our public servants.

Where is Sims’ accountability? I see none. Please use your voice as a public servant to communicate these concerns to our county. Once the precedent is set, this can happen again, and next time, it may be here in Snohomish County.

JULIE STATES

Mill Creek

Mountlake Terrace

There’s nothing wrong with church’s work

I sat baffled at the May 17 City Council meeting as two citizens were chastising officials for allowing the church to be involved in the community.

Am I missing something? Mountlake Terrace is not a rich city. It depends on volunteers to help with different events.

I was on the City Council here during the Initiative 695 era. There were several events and programs that were on the chopping block. The annual Easter Egg Hunt was one of them. New Beginnings church stepped up and offered to run the Easter egg hunt along with the Fire Department.

Did New Beginnings Pastor John Small stand on the steps at the egg hunt and preach? No. Did the church take an offering? No. If you weren’t a member of New Beginnings Church helping out that day you probably wouldn’t even know they were running it. Then what was the church doing there—they were laughing, passing out candy and toys, and enjoying watching the kids, just like everyone else.

I can’t even begin to comprehend what is so threatening. Yes they are very involved in the community. Pastor Small is the Chaplain for the Police and Fire departments. Has been a member of, and now chairs, the Police Advisory Board. There are several citizens that are members of New Beginnings church, who volunteer their time on different city boards and events. I’m curious what those two citizens have done for the city. New Beginnings has done a lot.

I think it’s very sad that people will make the effort to speak at a council meeting about how one organization is mentioned too many times in the meeting minutes, yet don’t see the real problem, of why there aren’t more organizations mentioned about helping the city.

JULIE LOCKLEER

Former Mountlake Terrace City Council Member

Mill Creek library levy

Levy will make library funding more fair

The Sept. 14 ballot measure for annexing the Mill Creek Library to the Sno-Isle Regional Library System calls for equitable taxation. The 2003 expenditures for the library by the city of Mill Creek was $488,811. The total branch expenditures came to $1,377,456.

The property owners of Sno-Isle are supporting the Mill Creek Library by 72 percent. A vote of yes on Sept. 14, will result in a fair property tax levy.

YOSHI SHELTON

Mill Creek

Legislature

Mark Ericks is best one to replace Edwards

I’ve had the honor to represent the citizens of this community at the state capitol in Olympia for six wonderful years. I’ve decided to forgo running for a fourth term and take a more relaxed approach to my retirement years!

It’s time to allow someone else to enjoy what to me was an extremely rewarding experience. That’s why I am both pleased and excited to let you know that former Bothell Police Chief Mark Ericks has agreed to step forward and run. Mark will be an outstanding addition to our First District team and I’ll do whatever I can to assist in his effort this fall.

I’ve known and worked with Mark for 20 years and know him to be a person of high ideals and integrity. Mark’s career in law enforcement began in Bellevue then moved to Bothell where he spent 11 years building the force into the respected and professional organization that it is today.

Since his “retirement” in 2002 Mark has been working as the assistant to the Bothell city manager, maintaining a close connection to the community.

Mark’s experience, combined with his strong sense of community, makes him the obvious choice this fall. I’ve worked closely with Mark on scores of community projects over the years. Whether it was his work to help us develop Cascadia Community College/University of Washington – Bothell or his many years of volunteer service, Mark has always been honest, hard working – and a true leader in this community.

In addition to his work here at home, his efforts as an advocate for the Bothell Police Department in Olympia clearly indicate that he has what it takes to be an effective voice for all of us.

Mark Ericks will be a leader we can count on.

JEANNE EDWARDS

State Representative

1st Legislative District