To The Editor
March 9, 2010
Speed cameras
Three tickets within a week suggests new system is a little unfair
I just sent $160 to the Issaquah Municipal Court for fines I got on Second Street by Issaquah High School. The fine was originally $375, but was reduced after I threw myself at the mercy of the court.
It was mid-morning; there were no children. I never glanced at my speedometer, because I felt I was doing a safe speed — 27 mph I later found out — given conditions and no pedestrians being present. Read more
To The Editor
March 2, 2010
Trash collection
Cutting the service in half will probably create twice the problems
In reading last weeks article, “Trash changes could extend landfill’s life,” regarding the proposed new every-other-week-collection schedule; my initial reaction was I could live with twice-a-month collections if they would still provide weekly yard waste pickups.
Maybe some of the newer neighborhoods that don’t have yards or established trees could get by with twice-a-month yard waste collections, but my neighborhood can’t. Most weeks, my yard waste is full, because it takes regular work to keep nature in check.
However, after thinking about it, I wondered why if we have all done such a great job recycling that the garbage man can come half as often, shouldn’t my bill go down by half as well? They say the potential change is about saving the landfill, but actually the same amount will be going to the landfill every month, just in two loads rather than four.
We are not stupid. What they want is to reduce our service by half, but charge us as close to the same amount as now if they can.
Of course, if pushed, they will say they are doing this for “us,” and rattle off all of the threatened price increases they have planned. Costs are probably going up, but I, for one, would like to know what they really are.
Let the public hear the true plans they have for our garbage money, and involve us in this process. Maybe the problem is too much duplication in city and county staff endlessly noodling over garbage, and it is that redundancy that should be cut in half. Maybe solid waste in government is the problem. Can we please schedule a pick up?
C.A. Christensen
Issaquah
T-shirt fundraiser
Thank you for fine coverage; high fives for service-minded students
The Press gave fine, in-depth coverage with “Changing lives, one T-Shirt at a time” and the student project at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, with its project to benefit the schools in the Central Asia Institute. The additional background provided by Chantelle Lusebrink on the work of Greg Mortenson is important.
High fives to the many students at Pacific Cascade for their focus on service and one if not the most important lesson of all, in working with community locally to serve a higher purpose and common good.
Mortenson’s latest book, “Stones Into Schools,” demonstrates the effectiveness of outreach across the world with “Pennies for Peace” and projects such as the T-shirts!
Thanks Issaquah Press, and way to go Pacific Cascade!
Rosemary Fahey
Issaquah
Squak Valley Park
A rock-climbing wall would benefit many
Please consider constructing a rock-climbing structure at the new park on Issaquah-Hobart Road. It’s the perfect place, looking straight at Tiger Mountain, and Issaquah is at the base of the Cascades.
No. 1 — It would honor the rich history of mountaineers from our state — Jim Wickwire, Peter Whittaker, Kit Lewis, John Roskelley — and from Issaquah — Jim Nelson — all have made considerable contributions to world mountains.
No. 2 — It’s great and fun exercise.
No. 3 — It’s something positive for teenagers to do with their time.
No. 4 — It’s something to have parents do while watching their kids.
Marymoor Park has one, as does North Bend.
Mike Preiss
Hobart
Soda tax
Proposal could force 25 percent reduction in nearby bottling workforce
The Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington, which started in 1905, is home to more than 1,050 hard-working employees, many of whom have been with the company for a very long time. But if the governor’s proposed excise tax on carbonated beverages and bottled water becomes law, we may be forced to eliminate as many as 25 percent of those good-paying jobs.
Our nearby facility in Bellevue is the largest bottler and only Coca Cola production facility in the state. Like other companies, however, the recession has not been kind to us. We had to cut our workforce by 10 percent in late 2008. An excise tax will only worsen this situation.
Our company, like many bottlers across Washington, already operates on a razor-thin margin in a highly competitive marketplace and this severely restrains our ability to absorb higher taxes.
Raising our prices to cover these punitive taxes will only further depress our sales, and the effect will be felt throughout the entire local supply chain — grocers, restaurant owners, deliverers, convenience stores. A lot of people right here in Issaquah might soon have some tough choices to make.
Our products are very price sensitive. In general, for every 1 percent the price goes up, we lose 1 percent in sales. The governor’s proposal would increase the retail price of many of our soft drinks by 25 percent to 30 percent and a case of water by more than 100 percent.
The Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington are not alone. It’s the same situation for the other bottlers who collectively employ nearly 3,000 workers statewide in good-paying jobs with generous benefits, and indirectly support another 17,000 workers.
We know these are difficult times. We just hope our legislators consider ways to raise funds that don’t unfairly target individual industries, but rather preserve jobs and promote growth in the private sector.
Bob Slack, vice president
Coca Cola Bottlers of Washington
Pledge of Allegiance
When are protestors going to target reference to God in the Constitution?
It seems that every week I sit down to read The Press and discover another installment in the ongoing saga of “Pledge Wars.” I am over 70, learned the pledge before the controversial two words “under God” were added and admit that at first, I sometimes forgot to include the new phrase.
The flag and pledge may have always been more meaningful to me than many, due to the era in which I was raised and the fact that my father was MIA in 1944. In any case, those opposed to its use in present form and citing the Constitution have apparently never read this document in its entirety, as at the very end it is dated along with the words “In the Year of Our Lord.” This phrase, obviously, does not refer to King George or the Emperor of Rome but to Jesus Christ, which is a far more specific reference to a particular religion than “under God.”
So, in the interest of consistency and logic, I will be anxiously awaiting equally enthusiastic protests regarding the posting of the entire Constitution and its reading in any public forum, or maybe it would be much more reasonable to just select another windmill.
Ronald Olson
Issaquah
To the editor
February 23, 2010
Math curriculum
There is no one-size-fits-all way to teach
While some people might shake their heads at all the controversy over the choice of math textbooks in our schools, the controversy isn’t new, nor is it surprising. Math is and has always been a challenging subject to teach and to learn. In the late 1960s, I chose to teach it.
Two math teaching approaches came into vogue during this post-Sputnik era. One was the new math, which had instructors teach math using an abstract concept called set theory, which many school teachers had trouble understanding themselves. The other was guided discovery, which proposed that students were more likely to remember concepts they discovered on their own instead of memorizing a rule they were likely to forget.
I can still recall the first time I used the discovery method to teach my high school algebra students how to divide fractional expressions. After spending what seemed like an inordinate amount of time guiding the students to the correct solution, I heard a voice from the back of the room shout out, “Tell us the rule. What is the rule?”
That year, I learned that guided discovery worked for some, but not all of my students. Being a pragmatist at heart, I taught using the textbook’s guided discovery approach, but whenever a student in the class didn’t get it, I’d reteach the topic using a traditional approach or whatever else worked.
New math was abandoned by the end of the 1960s, and guided discovery has come in and out of use ever since it was first introduced. Although I don’t know the best way to teach math or whether a single approach would work for all students, I do know that each time a school district changes its math curriculum and math textbooks, it puts an incredible burden on its faculty. The change requires teachers to teach out of new math textbooks using new approaches they have barely mastered themselves. And the students are caught in the middle.
Shelly Hawkins
Issaquah
Pledge of Allegiance
Stating ‘under God’ at government function violates separation clause
Isn’t it ironic a recent letter writer assumes that Michael Barr is an atheist, simply because he believes in the separation of church and state? As someone that has known him for more than 20 years, I can assure you he is not an atheist. He simply doesn’t feel it necessary for anyone to force their religious beliefs on others.
Lynn Stuter completely misses the point of Barr’s letter — that we all have a right to exercise our beliefs as we choose, so long as we don’t impact others who may have different views. The Pledge of Allegiance, with its reference to “under God,” does not show tolerance for the views of all Americans, and when recited at government and school functions, contradicts the notion of separation of church and state.
Like it or not, our country is a collection of many different cultures and religions. If we are truly going to be tolerant and accepting, let’s be tolerant and accepting of all, not just those we understand or agree with.
Darryl S. Hamilton
Sammamish
All religion needs to be out of governing
I am not an atheist, so why then do I support the removal of “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance? Because I do not want my government driven by religious beliefs, especially if it represents the majority of the people (mob rule), and I do not want my religion polluted with the corruption of politics.
We see the results of religious fundamentalism, such as the Taliban, Islamic terrorists, evangelicalism (killing doctors to stop legal medical procedures) and thousands of years of Catholic Church rule as a governing body. While democracy allows all religions to flourish, religions do not allow freedom to flourish. Our founding fathers understood that so clearly, that they rightly put a wall between the two.
Protestant Christianity is losing its place as the majority. Soon, Catholicism will overtake it, and then other religions. Will those in the majority now then be happy to sit by quietly as the good behaving minority as other’s beliefs are forced upon you? I sincerely doubt it.
That is why I support keeping all religion out of government and government out of religions, and so should any other religious person. This approach truly supports free will and freedom at the same time and that is the whole point of our great country’s system.
Michael T. Barr
Sammamish
Triple X car shows
Come support these events that are true, community gatherings
The car show season has started even though the weather isn’t cooperating and the Spring Opener isn’t until Sunday, May 16, 2010. The Triple X Rootbeer Drive-In brings many visitors to Issaquah, and as the weather improves there will be more and more car aficionados showing up for the scheduled Sunday shows.
In addition to the Sunday events, car builders and owners show up on Saturday evenings to eat, visit and display their “works in progress.” It’s a more informal gathering with a wide variety of marquees showing up and quite often a better opportunity for conversations between owners.
The Triple X car shows are truly community events, since the Triple X itself and the neighbors along East Gilman Boulevard support the events, Sunset Highway Cruisers (a local car club) set up and clean up for each event, and the profits from every scheduled event benefit the local charity Life Enrichment Options.
I encourage everyone to support these events. Pick up a schedule (available at the Triple X) and visit a car show of your choice. Show up for the car shows, ogle the beautiful vehicles, do some people watching and enjoy the food.
Lee Woods
Issaquah
To The Editor
February 16, 2010
Tent City 4
Thank you for a story that shared the little-told stories of the residents Read more
To The Editor
February 9, 2010
Tent City 4
Thank you for showing a glimpse of the lives of real people and their difficulties
I cannot thank you enough for your excellent articles on the presence of Tent City 4 in Issaquah.
Your portrayal of the real people who make up that community, the difficulties they face and the enormous effort it takes to overcome “houselessness” in today’s collapsing economy goes a long way to overcome the prejudice and ignorance that comprises much of the public speech these days about our sisters and brothers on the streets.
As one of many who were privileged to help move our new neighbors in, I saw a glimpse of how much work it takes to survive in the wet, cold and limited privacy of a tent community. We’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few of the residents so far in our weekly Thursday lunch at the Community Hall, and invite any of our neighbors, housed or not, to join us at the table (from noon – 1 p.m.) to get to know some of the Tent City folks.
May their stories give us the strength and courage to organize ourselves to provide safe, healthy, warm housing for all.
Wes Howard-Brook
Issaquah
Klahanie Park
If city of Issaquah doesn’t have the money for upkeep, let Sammamish have it
I have been reading the articles and watching the City Council meetings about the annexation of Klahanie Park.
Having heard each department head for Issaquah describe the painful budget cuts for 2010, plus staff cuts, I do not understand how Issaquah could possibly afford the maintenance of this large, complex park. We aren’t getting streets repaired, we have little staff to maintain our current open space (one person is responsible for all and works like crazy, but it is a job for about six full-time people), and all of us are paying increased water rates to even support our water fund. We simply cannot afford Klahanie Park.
The county has no money for Klahanie Park.
Sammamish wants Klahanie Park!
Clearly, Klahanie residents have a large historic investment in this park. It is unreasonable that after all of their years of care and feeding, they could be cut off from the park they have nurtured. Maybe the best place for concerned Klahanie residents to place their energies is in getting representation within Sammamish for Klahanie Park.
Frankly, the city of Sammamish should step up and offer a Klahanie Park Board that has veto power, populated with one-half Klahanie residents in the interlocal maintenance agreement that is currently being created. (Or some other idea that gives Klahanie residents a large measure of control.)
Imagine Klahanie residents actively wanting their park to be a part of Sammamish because they know, in advance, that they are being treated with respect and given a large say. Is Sammamish that smart?
Connie Marsh
Issaquah
Pledge of Allegiance
A government function remains an inappropriate location for pledge
A recent writer acknowledges that since we are such a diverse culture in the U.S. that we can offend others with our differences, yet his solution is to dismiss those in the minority, telling them to politely sit by quietly when offended.
We are all free to believe and exercise our beliefs as we choose. Cite the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, pray at your church or in your home, acknowledge your god in your daily life, but just don’t do it at a public, government function where others not sharing your view are forced to be involved in it.
This is not about the rights of the majority being trampled, and this argument is an offensive ruse deflecting from the group whose rights are really being trampled by mob rule.
We had this discussion in March 2007, too. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When will the City Council and school board become effective government and break this cycle by dropping the Pledge of Allegiance?
Michael T. Barr
Sammamish
First Amendment protects everyone to worship as they please, not just atheists
It always amazes me when people like Michael Barr complain about the Pledge of Allegiance. While Barr, an atheist, shows no tolerance for other religions, that he wrote the comment he did shows he firmly believes others should show tolerance of his religion.
That he expects other religions to be tolerant of his religion, while he shows no tolerance for other religions, is mindful of Germany under Hitler, when the slaughtering of millions was justified because of their religious beliefs.
Barr needs to remember that the First Amendment not only grants him the right to worship as he chooses, but others also. If he doesn’t like that, there are countries where such tolerance isn’t observed. No doubt he won’t like the reality of those countries either.
Lynn M. Stuter
Nine Mile Falls
To The Editor
February 2, 2010
Levies
Volunteers, voters have helped make school proposals successful in the past
The Issaquah School District has been blessed by the support of volunteers and voters in the past many years. Their actions have translated into creating a school district that has been recognized for excellence in student achievement, and I know that as a community, we want to continue to demonstrate that excellence. Read more
To The Editor
January 26, 2010
School levies
Vote yes to provide an essential safety net in these troubled economic times Read more
To The Editor
January 19, 2010
Merry Christmas Fund
Thank you to everyone who contributed and for helping people in need
We at Issaquah Church & Community Services extend our deep gratitude to all of the big-hearted people of Issaquah who donated to the Merry Christmas Fund 2009, and to Debbie Berto, publisher of The Press, whose passion, spirit and tireless efforts on behalf of those among us who have fallen on financial hard times — thank you!
Our 25-year-old nonprofit agency saw a 50 percent increase in need in 2009 and your gifts were appreciated more than ever. We at ICCS are a dedicated group of volunteers who serve each weekday, answering phones and meeting with those seeking assistance and you are our partners. Together, we serve the people of Issaquah — our friends and neighbors.
If you are reading this and finding yourself coming up short because financial hardship has struck your family — please call us at 391-0137. All we ask of our clients is to pass it on when you are able.
Again, thank you all for showing the world that we in Issaquah are a generous, compassionate people.
Marilyn Taylor, president
Issaquah Church & Community Services
School levies
Vote yes to renew vital funding for programs to keep schools outstanding
As a 30-plus year parent and teacher in the Issaquah School District, I believe that one of the main factors that contribute to our quality of life is our outstanding school system. In order to continue providing our children with the best education we can, I urge you to vote yes for the three school levies on the Feb. 9 ballot.
These levies would replace the current levies that will soon expire. If passed, the average homeowner would pay the same or fewer tax dollars as they currently pay.
These levies are absolutely vital to maintain quality education for our children. Levy 1, maintenance and operations, provides almost 20 percent of the total district budget and these dollars go for basic necessities, such as special-education services, teachers, support staff and utilities. Levy 2, the school bus levy, will provide for the purchase of 41 new buses, which will run cleaner and more efficiently than the older buses they replace. Levy 3, the capital levy, will provide for needed structural repairs and also for educational technology.
The Legislature cut education funding last year and in light of the current revenue forecast, will probably do so again this year. Levies are the one funding mechanism that enables the local community to directly invest in the quality of its schools to offset the lack of funding from the state level. So please, vote yes on all three levies on the Feb. 9 ballot.
Neva Luke
President, Issaquah Education Association
All three levies are crucial to keeping Issaquah’s top-quality education
We all love the Issaquah community we live in. We are proud of our community and of the education the Issaquah School District provides our community and our children. Our district does an amazing job of providing a top quality education on a limited budget.
Education funding continues to take tough financial hits. We, the voters, have the power within our hands to make sure on Feb. 9 that our three levies do not take a financial hit and all three of these levies pass. Every one of these three levies (operation and maintenance, transportation and technology) is crucial to maintaining our top-quality education!
I was a member of the levy development committee and saw what basics these levies are going toward maintaining. It would be devastating if these levies did not pass. For example, the maintenance and operation levy pays for approximately 21 percent of the district’s operating budget. Can you imagine the complete havoc our district would be in if they had to reduce their budget by more than 20 percent? It is imperative that we all vote yes for these three levies and encourage everyone we know to mail in their ballots with yes votes.
Jody R. Mull
President, Issaquah Schools Foundation
Pledge of Allegiance
Criticism of supporters was rife with false strawmen arguments
I am so thankful The Press printed Matthew Barry’s letter. The only thing that he stated that was true was that “those that don’t want to recite the pledge at school board meetings can remain silent or skip the meetings.” He attacked two letter writers, me and Carol Stair, while there was a third letter by Barbara Extract, supporting the pledge as is, in the Dec. 31, 2009, issue. Why not go after all three?
Barry has put up a number of strawmen in his Jan. 6 letter addressing:
(1) “under Allah” as being part of the pledge, when this country was established via the Declaration of Independence — “We hold these truths….endowed by their creator.”
(2) “Reverting to a 1954 pledge version,” would Barry also want to revert before Dec 6., 1865, or Aug. 18, 1920, when the 13th and 19th amendments were ratified? You cannot have it both ways.
(3) “Ken’s age” — my folks could not provide me and my brother with any money to spend, so I don’t know what was on the currency.
(4) “Racist country” — I don’t know what this has to do with the school board reciting the pledge.
(5) “Atheists” — That word does not appear anywhere in my letter.
(6)”Enforcing their beliefs” — The U.S. Congress and school classrooms recite the pledge at the start of each day’s session, so restricting it from a school board meeting, due to one person’s request to eliminate it, is not the American Way. Majority rules, the school board members were elected by a majority vote.
(7) “Eating meat” — What does this have to do with reciting the pledge at the school board meeting?
It appears Barry is attacking these two letter writers in trying to justify his agenda.
Ken Sessler
Issaquah
Klahanie Park
Community’s best interests are not being represented in ownership fight
I am writing as a 17-year resident of Klahanie. I want to comment on the Klahanie Park proposal.
I have two daughters and a dog, and I feel so lucky to have raised my family in this community. But I feel the best interests of the community are not being represented by the continued fight to keep control of the King County/Klahanie Park.
My daughters both play soccer and other sports and have been fortunate in the past few years to have the city of Sammamish’s vision to put all-purpose fields in both the Skyline and Eastlake parks. Without these fields, our teams would be limited to only the two high schools’ turf fields, and it would have been nearly impossible to get practice or games once the grass fields become unplayable and close for four months.
During this time, the city of Sammamish has done a great job of scheduling use of the fields and making sure we have lights when needed. I feel the best option for the many residents of Klahanie would be to have the county turn the fields over to Sammamish. I trust their vision and I know they would do a great job of maintaining the fields and giving the many residents of the plateau and Klahanie the best option for the future.
When I talk to my many neighbors, we all agree that this is the best proposal and feel that having Klahanie maintain control of the fields would not be in the best interest of residents and community. I hope we can work closely with Sammamish and make the transition to the city smooth and not take on a responsibility that is not in our best interests.
Brian Bofto
Issaquah
Close park before letting Sammamish take it over
I love parks. They are places to sit and reflect, walk, enjoy nature, run and play. I have voted for every park bond and levy that has ever been put before me on the ballot. I would willingly pay more in taxes to keep our parks open. Parks make up the heart and soul of our communities.
I would never have thought that I would be saying this, but I would rather have Klahanie Park shut down than to have King County give the park to the city of Sammamish. I have nothing against the city of Sammamish, but giving our park away to a city where we have no say in the future of the park is so egregious that I would rather have the park closed.
If the park is not transferred to Klahanie, it should be shut down and kept as unmaintained open space until the time that maintenance funds are available or Klahanie is annexed to either Sammamish or Issaquah.
Diane Weinstein
Klahanie
To The Editor
January 12, 2010
Pledge of Allegiance
This unnecessary and offensive practice needs to be stopped Read more
Rapid response
January 12, 2010
What suggestions do you have for the Central Issaquah Plan Advisory Task Force as it guides redevelopment in the 915 acres that include Gilman Village, Costco area and the retail corridor along East Lake Sammamish Parkway? Read more
