Letters

Homelessness

Beggars are making a pretty good living

You’ve all seen these people, standing on street corners, begging for food and money. Then you ask yourself: “Should I give him/her the money, or not?” Your final choice, not to give the homeless money.

By not giving the homeless beggars any money, you’ve made the right decision. Why? About one out of every 16 homeless persons chooses to be homeless. They relish an easy lifestyle, with no bills to pay and no job to maintain.

A majority of the homeless use their money on drugs and alcohol. When you give money to a homeless person, you’re thinking that you are giving your money away for a good cause. Maybe it’s to help the homeless person financially, or just to help them survive a hunger. So by giving them money, you’re allowing them to take advantage of your money and use it on beer and harmful substances, not food or to help them earn money to buy a cheap house.

When you think about it, a homeless person may stand out on the streets, begging for money, for about 12 hours a day. About every hour, a homeless person will probably receive about $25, if five people each give them $5. In a day’s worth of begging, they’ll probably have earned somewhere around $300. In a week, they may have received up to $20,000. According to my past research on homelessness, I read that a homeless beggar can make anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000 a year.

So next time you’re driving down the street and spot a homeless beggar, don’t even think about giving them money. Instead, why not donate your money to somewhere where you know your money is going to good use, like a shelter or food bank.

THERESA NGUYEN

Bothell

Shoreline

Cleanups should be encouraged by city

It is so ironic to receive ETC Institute’s survey with its very controlled responses when the Shoreline City Council is trying its best to limit or eliminate community input during their council meetings.

Since incorporating the city has been so hungry for a tax base, it has made some very unwise decisions, i.e. 30-foot wide building lots and then there is the Aurora Corridor debacle.

It would be so refreshing to see the city take a leadership role by encouraging citizens to clean up their property – old cars, boats, caterpillar control, maintaining lawns and especially parking strips and most of all picking up their mess – especially when using our parks.

A community pride campaign could be encouraged through ads in the Enterprise, Times, P.I. or Shoreline’s current newsletter.

The skateboard park at 10th and 155th is being used greatly. My concern are all the kids that skateboard down 155th on the street as well as the sidewalk. They broke the new drinking fountain by using it as a jumping toy before the park opened. The parking next to the park is dangerous, with people and kids darting out from both sides of 155th. Some signage might help, if enforced.

AUDREY WADDELL

Shoreline

Thank you

Maplewood Church article was nice

It was refreshing receiving the past issue of The Enterprise dated Friday, June 6. I am referring to the issue that has an article about Maplewood Presbyterian Church on the front page (and on many subsequent pages). In these days of political correctness, it is rare to see churches and the positive role they play in the community displayed so prominently in a newspaper. It was just so nice to see them get this recognition.

I would also like to give a word of praise to our wonderful mayor who proclaimed June 7 “Maplewood Presbyterian Church Day.” By recognizing this church for their good works in our community, which elsewhere might go unsung, the paper and mayor of this city have reaffirmed my faith and pride in our town.

ERIKA NOVSTRUP

Edmonds

Port of Edmonds

South end of port is getting too crowded

I keep reading of the port’s determination to expand the stack storage at the south end of the port. I keep hoping that someone will go down there on a fair weather weekend and notice that the facility is already over capacity. Cars keep driving into this dead end situation, with no place to park and no place to go. The street is gridlock and the south parking lot is chaos, as people drive around and around, hoping to find a parking spot.

The port plods ahead with their plan to reduce parking at the south end of the marina, so they can make room for more boats, whose owners will need more parking. A parking garage at the north end of the marina, will not solve the gridlock at the south end. When will the port stop trying to cram more and more into a finite space and consider the quality of the facility, for a change?

CLIFF RUTHRAUFF

Picnic Point