Letters to the Editor

Crime

Teens’ behavior will

get someone hurt

RE: Oct. 22 article: “Teen Withheld information in Lynnwood luring.”

This very same thing happened to me, only one and two blocks away from where the Oct. 22, incident happened. I live right by 192nd on 46th street. I was coming through the Fred Meyer parking lot, in the proper lane, heading in the proper direction, when two teen boys (one redhead, the other brunette) intentionally blocked my path. One of them had a bicycle. I waited a moment, they would not move, and I was forced to go around them. They proceeded onto 194th street, where they proceeded to block my path once more after I had pulled out into the street. They were not in the crosswalk provided, and intentionally moved very slowly almost at a complete stop, so I would have to stop, (in the middle of the street mind you), and then go around them. They were looking directly at me with this smirk on their faces. Two times within just a few minutes was a little unnerving to say the least. I threatened to call 911 when they came back with a very nasty answer, and hurried away when my fiancé who was behind me in his vehicle stopped his car. I’m a lady in my early 50s and did not appreciate their answer, of course.

My main reason for writing is to express my concern for the safety of these kids as well as what almost happened to the man in the Oct. 22 incident. That incident could have ruined this man’s life had criminal charges been pursued (I work for a criminal defense lawyer, I know) or had it gone any further, or had these kids lied anymore. Someone is going to get hurt if this isn’t stopped. Maybe we should all report it every time it happens. I wish I would have now that I see it has happened to someone else.

CECILE (CEC) THOMAS

Lynnwood

Roads

Dividers needed on Bothell, Ballinger ways

My husband is a retired Seattle Battalion Fire Chief and he likes the option that the middle lane gives and the median takes away. We did not like the way it was years ago when the median was there. Emergency vehicles had difficulty getting through when the road was clogged with traffic.

I have tried for years to get a Jersey barrier installed just north of Ballinger on Bothell Way along the curve. There is no middle lane here for turning and of course no reason to turn. The inside lane is dangerous going around the curve and more so on dark and rainy nights when people have a hard time seeing their lane. Several policemen have told me that they don’t like to drive the inside lane because of the accidents along there. I have seen many through the years.

Before Bothell Way was widened I had called DOT to see about putting a Jersey barrier in and I was told that there were not enough accidents there, so it was not warranted. It was hard to believe that an extra lane was put in for the buses and no barrier was put into place. Many times during the day and evening the buses do not even use the bus lane! It was two years ago after a head on accident in the curve, that I again called DOT for something to be put in and they refused. I also, brought up the curve just south of the Yakima Fruit Stand before going into the city of Bothell. They denied that there was a problem there. Having grown up in the 1950s and even at that time my mother did not allow me to drive that stretch, because of all the people that had been killed along the curve. Nothing has changed, but more and more people killed.

I believe this area needs to be addressed as I and many people do not feel comfortable driving around this curve and especially seeing the accidents on this stretch.

KAREN and JI#M McGOUGH

Lake City

Voting

No point in parsing religious partisanship

 

Re: Mr. Van Hollebeke’s Nov. 12 letter.

Since he categorizes himself as not being one of the “in” Christians (i.e., religious zealots who voted for President Bush) but instead considers himself some other type of Christian, he therefore has established yet another type of religious group to which he belongs. It turns out that Mr. Van Hollebeke is equally as guilty of partisanship as the zealots he condemns.

In his last paragraph, he also mentions letting God ”sort out” who is morally superior to whom. Again, this is more group partisanship (including equally awful Christian theology, I might add) as in His eyes we have all equally fallen short of His glory and are in need of His Grace. With Him there is no partisanship whatsoever. Thank you. 

MILDRED M. PALMER

Lynnwood

Taxes

Remember rate not only thing going up

After reading the article about the Nov. 9 Edmonds City Council meeting, at which members voted to increase the property tax levy, I thought I would provide some information balancing the usual blast of hot air from the Edmonds politicians.

Your property tax has two parts: the assessed value and the levy rate. If the assessed value goes from $200,000 to $210,000, you will pay 5 percent more in property taxes. If your levy rate goes from $3 per $1,000 assessed value to $3.15 and your assessed value does not increase, you will also pay 5 percent more in property taxes.

What Council President Plunkett described as a 1 percent increase (which he describes as “pennies” to Edmonds taxpayers) is an increase in the levy rate.

However, Council member Plunkett neglects to mention that if the Snohomish County Assessor decides your house is worth 6 percent more, Edmonds is therefore getting that 6 percent more taxes from the assessed base, in addition to the increased levy. This is significantly more than 1 percent and is certainly more than “pennies.” All of this goes toward the supposedly bare bones Edmonds city budget.

Don’t we read in the paper all the time that property values in Snohomish County have been increasing in the range of 7-10% per year? I can only assume that my assessed value (and therefore property taxes) will follow the same upward path. My own example above would certainly support that.

Now, I am not opposed to tax increases necessary to fund vital government services (assuming those services are actually vital). But I certainly object to elected officials giving the public the impression that their backs are to the wall when increases in assessed value are automatically providing them with additional revenues.

BRETT GASPERS

Edmonds