Letters to the editor

Pedestrian safety

Please pay more attention, drivers

Open Letter to Shoreline Drivers:

I’m a pedestrian wearing a bright red jacket, it’s daylight, so how can you not notice me when you turn west at the traffic light at 200th and Meridian?

Are you really in such a hurry to get to Costco or Home Depot that you feel justified in swerving directly in front of me whiIe I cross legally with the “Walk” light? Why do you think I wave my arms at you when you do this? Believe me, I am not just being friendly.

The “free right turn” driver is also dangerous. Some of you look left, then make your free right turn without even looking to the right. I have just pushed the “Walk” button and am stepping into the crosswalk directly in front of you. I have to jump back.

Not one of you drivers who nearly ran me down has been a teenager, an SUV driver, or been on a cell phone. A taxi driver and a community transit bus have also tried to wipe me out.

Driving into a crosswalk while a pedestrian approaches is breaking the law, with a penalty attached. If you strike a pedestrian, your penalty will be much greater.

Do you think you could pay more attention before you make a turn? I’d really appreciate it, and live to walk again tomorrow.

JUNE FOSTER STINSON

Shoreline

LFP spill

Brightwater doesn’t protect environment

Pamela Brice, Enterprise editor, is to be commended for her comprehensive article on the Brightwater spill in Lake Forest Park, and Glenn Milner for his quick action and for knowing to call the Dept. of Ecology’s hotline to report the murky flow. Oil Spills, Olympia Headquarters: (800) 258-5990 or (800) 645-7911 Non-oil Spills, Northwest Office: (425) 649-7000.

The very troubling aspect of this event is the real possibility that it is a precursor (the tip of the iceberg) to what could be a series of insults to our streams and wetlands, and, indeed, to our City, caused by careless illegal omissions and lack of oversight, as this was.

The degree of disturbance required for the geotechnical testing of soils, which is underway, is insignificant compared to the massive scale of disruption which will follow, for the actual installation of the sewer conveyance system through our City, and the huge (two acre) stations along the way. (Which homes will be eliminated?) This does not bode well for Lake Forest Park, a City of people who take our environment seriously. We are working hard to improve conditions in our critical sensitive areas, to make our streams habitable for salmon and other aquatic life, to keep our surface and ground water clean and intact.

The concerns many of us expressed early in the Brightwater comment period had to do with environmental issues and with the disruption of our City. This recent event bears out the legitimacy of these early concerns.

The failure of Brightwater, and the firms they hired, to take requisite steps to guard against stream contamination in this relatively minor operation, tells the citizens of Lake Forest Park that Brightwater cares not for protection of the environment and not for the people who live here, but only for moving the project forward.

This installation does not need to go through the heart of our City, under its streams and wetlands and through its aquafer. It does not supply service to that area. Sorry, Bright- water, you’ve failed to win our trust!.

MAMIE BOLENDER

Lake Forest Park

Andrea Miller column

Smoking should be allowed in public

I disagree with Andrea Miller’s colunn, “Smoking ban foes a dying breed” (Just a Thought, The Enterprise, Feb. 21.) I don’t smoke, and I oppose a ban on public smoking.

It’s like this. People who smoke cigarettes, pipes, or cigars are not second rate citizens. Nor should they be marginalized because they smoke. They do not have a right to smoke in my or anybody else’s face, but I do think we Americans, who trace our heritage in freedom and self-determination, do owe it to all people to allow them to live as they choose so long as they harm no one else. In the case of adult smokers I would allow them to have public places where they might rendevous with other adult smokers, kick back, talk with each other, and, yes, smoke together.

Can we be large enough to allow them this small luxury in life? They already know they are going to die early compared to nonsmokers. If they die of smoking related illnesses it will be first-hand smoke that gets them. Non-smokers like me should allow them the room to be themselves instead of having to publicly comport with my desires for their health.

I accord the owners of restaurants, bars, casinos, and other public places the right to create smoking areas for smokers and non-smoking areas for non-smokers. I would even grant them the right to post signs in front of their businesses advertising they serve smokers. The numbers of those types of businesses would be few and should not bother anyone but people like Andrea who can’t stand others’ smoking practices.

Regardless, my body does not belong to Andrea Miller or Senator Rosemary McAuliffe. It does not belong to the government. It belongs to me. Your body belongs to you. Keep your smoke out of my face – even government regulatory smoke – and I’m happy.

CRAIG SPICER

Lynnwood