Letters

Islam

Jewish Federation attack condemned

The Muslim community of Umar Al-Farooq Mosque in Mountlake Terrace would like to convey our deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the shooting at the Jewish Federation building in Seattle.

We want the Jewish Federation and the families involved to know that we share their grief and express our anger at this disgusting, appalling, inhuman and cruel crime. There is absolutely no justification to carry out this heinous act of murder and injury.

We, the Muslim community wish to state in unequivocal terms that those who commit such inhuman acts of murder and cruelty are not only killing or injuring innocent people, but are also tarnishing and betraying the teaching and values of the faith they mistakenly claim to represent. We as American Muslims stand united to condemn, repudiate and disassociate ourselves from any individual or group who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts, as these contradict the teaching of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

MASJID UMAR AL-FAROOQ

Mountlake Terrace

Mill Creek

Local bus service is already outstanding

I disagree with Connie Hudgins’ criticism of Mill Creek bus service and her opinion that service could be improved by making it less efficient (The Enterprise, Aug. 4).

I speak from years of experience riding the bus from Village Green Drive in Mill Creek to Edmonds Community College, where I take classes at the Creative Retirement Institute.

First, some of the facts stated in her letter are inaccurate. Although about 60 buses travel through Mill Creek on weekdays, the weekend schedule is less frequent and buses do not run all night. Mill Creek would not be substantially quieter without these buses, since many commercial vehicles, such as trucks used by delivery services, landscapers, remodelers, painters, roofers, moving vans, golf course maintenance workers, etc. pass through the city each day.

Second, the key to efficient bus service is minimizing the number of times riders have to transfer. Every time a passenger has to get off one vehicle and wait for another to arrive involves lost time. If Community Transit operated vans in the city, with a connection to other routes on the highway or in Town Center, riders like me, traveling beyond Mill Creek, would be inconvenienced because our travel time would increase.

I think Community Transit provides excellent bus service to and from Mill Creek and I encourage others to use it.

JUDY KESSINGER

Mill Creek

Edmonds

City Councilman’s efforts appreciated

On behalf of ourselves, our Shell Park II neighbors, and our Edmonds postal carriers, we would like to thank Councilman Michael Plunkett for his unstinting efforts to finally accomplish the task of getting the mailboxes moved from a treacherous double blind curve on Pioneer Way, to a safer location on Shell Place.

Our neighbors and we have been trying since 1980 to make this happen, only to get discouraged by the continual roadblocks thrown up by the post office. Councilman Plunkett encountered those same obstacles, plus several more, yet persisted for more than 16 months in his efforts on our behalf. We are all very grateful. Thank you so much Michael Plunkett.

DICK and MARY DENT

Edmonds

Mountlake Terrace

National Night Out was a great event

I want to applaud the powers-that-be for the National Night Out in front of the Mountlake Terrace Library that just took place.

There were many public servants and officials there expending effort and energy to pull that off, and there were a number of visible fruits to their efforts.

I enjoyed eating a free hot dog as all those policeman stood up there presiding over the distributing of the food. It was neat watching those musical drummers in purple and black doing their festive dances, and seeing hundreds of people laughing, talking, and interacting is a simple joy in life that’s sometimes under-estimated.

With the recent shootings at the Jewish Federation in Seattle, along with the murders of Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden in the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, I felt that much more compelled to write and to express my appreciation and thankfulness for times when a city comes together and expends effort in ways that sometimes gets taken for granted.

At the recent Tour de Terrace, I heard someone bickering about local politics in the city, and sometimes such rants are vented out of a genuine concern for what’s going on.

However, I’m also reminded of a one-frame cartoon I once saw where there’s a huge line in front of the “Complaints” window, and no one in front of the “Gratitude” window. Thus, in lieu of that, I give thanks to the civic leaders of Mountlake Terrace for that unified, entertaining night.

STEVE GOODMAN

Mountlake Terrace

Election

Voters should opt for the open candidate

In November voters will have a choice to make as to who they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate. I think the choice is clear just looking at the campaign. Mike McGavick is touring the state on his “Open Mike” campaign. He is listening to Democrats, Republicans, and independents all over the state.

Senator Maria Cantwell, on the other hand, has not been open by any stretch of the imagination. When she wants to get a point across, she holds a press conference. She doesn’t go to Ritzville and Prosser and Colville listening to the needs over ordinary people. Senator Cantwell has also rejected McGavick’s request for debates, how’s that for open? Who will voters choose, Open Mike or Closed Cantwell? I think the choice is obvious.

STOHN NISHINO

Edmonds