Letters to the Editor

Library

Annexation the right thing to do

I am writing in support of the City of Mill Creek annexation to be part of the Sno-Isle Rural Intercounty Library District. This proposition represents an important turning point in our library system.

A dedicated library system to Mill Creek is a vital service needed to promote and enhance literacy in our city. Growing up as a youth in Louisiana, the library system provided me with a wealth of knowledge and broadened my horizons. I am concerned that without the passage of this proposition, our city’s youth and residents will be left without access to resources for education and research.

More and more, libraries are erasing away economic disparities by providing residents with key services to the information highway. The continuing evolution of libraries across the nation has provided the public with access to vast sources of information on the Internet and CD-ROM databases.

I feel strongly that Mill Creek must join the Sno-Isle Rural Intercounty Library District to preserve vital services and further enhance the capabilities of our library system.

Rep. JOHN LOVICK

D, 44th District

Annexation will keep library resource in city

We Mill Creek citizens need to come together and vote yes for our library on Sept. 14. If the library measure does not pass then all Mill Creek citizens, which includes our children, will probably not have access to any community library. If we lose our precious community library we will also lose all, and I mean all, access to any Sno-Isle, King County or any other libraries. With a yes vote, our community citizens will continue to be free to enter, and to check out library material. Without your yes vote then another public good, will be taken away from our lovely city.

I have never lived in a city that didn’t have a library. I have fond childhood memories of visiting my local library with my brothers and parents. I remember my mother pointing to all the books and noting that without libraries, our freedom is in jeopardy. Democracy depends on every citizen having access to information, and since we are the greatest free nation in the world we have the ability to go to our library and read what we want to read.

A community value I hold strongly is our freedom to have access to books. But I also think without libraries our community will lose its well deserved reputation of being one of the finest places to live. What family would want to move into a community that does not value freedom to read?

I submit to you that “a community without a library, is like a book without pages.” Please stand up on Sept. 14 vote yes and save our Mill Creek Library.

CHUCK WRIGHT

Mill Creek

Police

Officers, others doing their duties to protect

In reference to the letter by Dick Kerr in the Aug. 20 edition of the Enterprise, he like many, speak out on a topic obviously having little to no knowledge to base their comments.

Firstly, I will not comment on Mr. Kerr’s belief that police officer misconduct reports are on an increase since his statement clearly has nothing to support this. Additionally, Mr. Kerr’s belief that the Lynnwood Police Department traffic division use “misguided effort” is nothing further from reality.

As a police officer myself, I can speak with great knowledge on the operations of all divisions in this police organization. From the administration down to the volunteers each division or group has pre-determined goals to achieve in making Lynnwood a safer placed to live and visit.

From robbers to speeders, all of these law violations deteriorate the quality of life in our community. The traffic division’s goal is not to generate revenue through writing tickets. Their goals are to reduce traffic law violations that are the cause of most vehicular accidents. Certainly, from their enforcement efforts revenue will be generated which is needed to continue making our streets safe.

As for, “peeking over a shrub” or “hiding behind a 20 MPH sign” with binoculars I have two comments to make:

First, those who drive are determined by the state to be mature enough to understand the rules of the road. As a licensed driver it is solely the driver’s responsibility to obey laws. When a driver elects to risk this by exceeding the speed limit or not wearing a seatbelt is a totally the chance that driver takes. It is not the traffic division’s duty to sit out in the open and watchdog motorist to get them to comply with the laws. In areas where there is a high volume of traffic or accidents it is the duty of the police (sometimes more than one) to insure it is safe to travel on these streets of Lynnwood.

Secondly, Mr. Kerr’s statement of using binoculars to detect violators supports my claim of his lack of knowledge in this area. Lynnwood traffic officers are not using binoculars to located seatbelt violations. Officers do in fact look through a viewer on laser operated radar guns to accurately pinpoint speeders. Utilization of sophisticated equipment such as this quickly identifies the speeder even in heavy traffic.

Lastly, the use of Animal Control (and our Citizen Patrol volunteer group) for disabled parking violations, other code violations, or car lockouts is an exception use of the City of Lynnwood’s tax dollars. These collateral duties keep them busy, allowing our police officers to be available for that next emergency call. Or would you rather have them drive in circles doing nothing but looking for the next loose dog.

T.J. BROOKS

Edmonds