Lila Smith
Standards are what’s at stake with garage
After living 22 years in Shoreline, I find the developing local government has reached new lows. Allowing laws to be broken and forcing Shoreline citizens to spend days, weeks, months then years, to just have the law be enforced is so totally ridiculous.
Lila Smith has been breaking the law by renting her architecturally challenged garage for quite awhile now. The pink two-story single garage was built under codes stating it is not to be used as an overnight dwelling of any kind. Her last rental advertisement suggested the apartment to be” good for band practice.”
In The Enterprise article of Sept. 15, Lila responds that her neighbors’ attempts to have the laws enforced are “politically motivated.”
The only one politically motivated is Lila Smith, as evidenced by a short web search about the woman. The neighbors are just trying to maintain the standards of Shoreline, the very thing why most of us moved here.
She also says the neighbors’ “political motivation … is a pattern.” The only pattern is the one set by Ms. Smith of disregarding the law. When residents of Shoreline have to fight so long and hard just to have the codes enforced, and when Shoreline political figures such as Lila Smith are allowed for years to feel they are above the law, what does that say about the direction Shoreline government is heading?
At a crossroads, Shoreline can now choose to continue this small town corruption, and in doing so, the higher moral ground we want for all our neighborhoods, activities and schools will be lost forever.
MARIA PATRIZZI
Stanwood
Influence leads to cut off public comment
At the Shoreline Council meeting held on Sept. 11, a resident presented information about zoning violations at a property owned by Lila Smith, Chairperson of the 32nd District Democrats. When the speaker’s talk time ran out, Council Member Rich Gustafson asked that the Council permit another speaker to finish up the report on behalf of the residents that it represented. Only Council Members Cindy Ryu and Janet Way voted against allowing someone to continue speaking.
In light of a recent council meeting that took place before the Sept. 11 meeting, it is shocking that Janet Way would oppose a citizen’s request to speak. In the earlier meeting, she encouraged residents to participate in grass roots movements and to speak at council meetings. Likewise, in a letter posted on her Web site (www.cindyryu.com), Ryu thanks those who helped her attain her Council position. She states her duties of office: “listening to the people … and representing the people.” She also writes about “responding to Community input” stating: “I prefer to give more information than withhold information … I appreciate it when others do the same … even if it may be bad news.”
So why then would these Council members contradict their own stated beliefs? It is rumored that Ryu’s and Way’s endorsements from Lila Smith and the 32nd District Democrats dictate their actions. While it is recognized that public figures attain their positions through the support of others, it is hoped that once elected they will honor their oath of office and represent all constituents, rather than paying allegiance to those who put them there. It is time for Ryu and Way to step up to the plate and honor their commitment to the residents of Shoreline.
DOUG O’NEILL
Shoreline
Community
Ice cream social was success, received help
The eighth annual ice cream social hosted by the Ridgecrest and North City neighborhood associations was an astounding success. A crowd of nearly 900 neighbors attended, up from the 600 that attended the previous year, with many staying until dusk.
The generosity and support of local area businesses made the event possible. In addition the Around The Sound Band, made up of local volunteers, provided music. The Shoreline Parks Department provided an inflatable slide which, judging by the long line of youngsters waiting to get on, was a big hit.
A special thanks goes to Shoreline City Councilman Ron Hanson, who for the second year pitched in and helped serve as well as entertained us all with humor.
If you missed the event this year, put it on your reminder list for next year – the Thursday before the Celebrate Shoreline Parade. If you did attend, see you next year.
FRANK MOLL
Shoreline
Schools
Laptops should not be a mandatory item
My family has completely opted out of the laptop program, yet our son remains a Shorecrest student. He can still read, write and do math extremely well and appears otherwise to be viably educatable even without a Shoreline laptop.
I believe one day an honest assessment will ask how we put up with the laptops while cutting vital teaching positions. But what is right for even a majority of families in the district should not be extrapolated into an absolute, required necessity for every family in this free society and district.
RAY KOELLING
Lake Forest Park
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