Letters to the Editor

Wrist slap

Terrace Councilwoman deserved reprimand

It is about time that Councilwoman Amundson has been reprimanded for her behavior on the council.

In the past, the council had to take action as the Enterprise reported on January 31, 2003, “Bad Meeting Conduct has Mountlake Terrace Taking Action.”

Why did the council take this action one may ask? As reported by the Enterprise, “the council voted 4-2 to add language to its code of conduct to cover not only how to deal with unruly citizens, but how to remove disruptive, inappropriate council members as well.”

Who was responsible for this action? “Council members said the action was based on conduct by council member Angela Amundson at meetings throughout 2002 … I was glad to be able to disrupt the meeting…. in my opinion.” Is there a pattern here?

Amundson seems to find joy in disrupting the council meetings and wasting the council’s time. At a recent council meeting, Councilwoman Amundson stated that she will be held exempt from any sanctions as long as certain council members remain on the dais.

Since Amundson started her disruptive behavior back in 2002, we have to have police presence at all of our council meetings. As quoted in an article in the Enterprise (2002), “There has been so much commotion in the past few months that manager Connie Fessler has made it mandatory to have a police presence at every city council meeting.”

Amundson claims, “This is a random act of vengeance to teach me a lesson.”

I feel this is begging the above behavior. I found these facts and quotes to be very interesting for someone who claims that she works well with others. The council is right in slapping her wrist if only this action will correct her behavior.

David C. Mercer

Mountlake Terrace

Local politics

Find ways to work together, not against

Being a mother taught me a lot about life. We are all human and will make mistakes. We have more in common than we have differences. We see qualities in others which we have difficulty seeing in ourselves.

When we judge each other harshly, we create me against you, good and bad which draws a circle and divides families and communities.

Seeing commonalities moves us to curiosity, compassion and a circle that includes.

Another thing I learned is that creating something new requires us to go back to basic principles and skills before adding new ones.

Robert Fulghum sums up the basics in his book, “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.”

He writes, “Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile.

“Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. …learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.

“Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder.”

During our fall elections, we will have the opportunity to identify leaders in Mountlake Terrace who value and encourage people. True grassroots inclusion is an indication of curiosity, compassion and the ability to create a win-win community.

Watch for the wonder and possibility of new.

Sharon Maynard

Mountlake Terrace

Lynnwood City Center

Rethink impacts on city’s housing

The Lynnwood City Council needs to think twice or three times about the course it is setting for the building of its City Center.

Many residents of Lynnwood have voted in the past for political candidates who are inclined to protect our community and the quality of our way of life. They are not enamored by the building of up to 39 story buildings in the downtown area, or City Center, of Lynnwood. They voted for those who would try to keep a real balance between single-family and multi-family housing in Lynnwood. A 60 percent single-family to 40 percent multi-family (apartments and condominium) housing ratio has been particularly popular with many voters.

The way the council has proceeded over the last few years has been to treat the downtown area of Lynnwood as a distinct part of Lynnwood. Some argue that the City Center should not be considered part of the housing count in order to maintain some semblance of 60-40. We are currently operating around 55-45 percent single-family to multi-family at best.

The council now pushes for turning some of the commercial property in downtown Lynnwood into low income housing by giving tax incentives to wealthy property owners. Lynnwood already provides a great deal of housing for low-income people.

The council needs to consider that it is pushing the city toward a majority of multi-family housing over the next few years if it continues on the course of cramming as many people as possible into the City Center, then giving them tax breaks for living there.

Will this mean a property tax shift to those of us who live in the non-preferred areas of Lynnwood? Will multi-family residents comprise the majority of the residents of Lynnwood? Will government continue to treat the downtown area of Lynnwood as a unique part of the city with a different set of rules to play by? The answers to all these questions right now lean more toward yes than no.

Craig Spicer

Lynnwood

Director Washington Conservative PAC

Firland Sanitorium

Education was the cornerstone of life

Someone remarked that I have had an unusual life and I have. High School graduation is upon us again, reminding me that I was the Valedictorian of my class in 1954. However, there were only seven students. Three housewives getting their GEDs and four high school patient students graduating from high school. Officiating was the Superintendent of the Seattle School District in the Firland Sanitorium Tuberculosis Hospital Library. Three years of schooling took four years to complete in 11 months of the year. I had a very special education orchestrated by extraordinarily talented teachers, who, through their ingenuity in formulating courses in a limited situation, were brilliant.

I quickly went from a C-D student to college level in some subjects and even though no credits were given by the school district, I learned from college-level books. Removing grading freed both teacher and student. The rapport that developed was an aid in finding different ways to produce success. Added to this special learning opportunity was the addition of “Patient Teachers” combining writers, editors, attorneys, university and college students, student nurses and doctors, teachers and one psychologist forming a group that gained special permission from the hospital director to create a roundtable-like discussion group with subjects from pea soup to world wars. The experience has been the very cornerstone of my whole existence.

My speech was made in tears of gratitude, followed by a lifetime of serving my community. I am constantly impressed by the rising level of dedication of today’s high school students and I am proud of them. My heart is with them for they are the promise of hope for those coming up behind them — the next generation. Many of us in my generation provided all of you with generally a safer life and better opportunities. How you choose to perform your obligations will determine if you will be able to walk down our streets in the same safety that I can at age 72. I have trust in you. Congratulations Class of 2007! I am anxious to see the new you.

Shirley Malloy

Mountlake Terrace