State Superintendent Chris Reykdal's Statement on Sham Announcement by the Trump White House

State Superintendent of Public Education
Chris Reykdal

This week, the U.S. Department of Education issued a news release stating that the agency was requesting information from Washington and California regarding "transgender policies." 

Below is State Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s statement.

OLYMPIA—July 30, 2026—Washington state law provides parents and guardians with access to their child's records in school, and our state civil rights laws are fully in compliance with federal law. Period.

For the last 15 months, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has requested—and my office has provided—tens of thousands of documents as part of ED's "investigation" into Washington's civil rights laws. 

While my office has provided every single record that ED has requested, we have not heard anything substantive from their office in months about the status of their efforts.

To the surprise of no one, the Trump White House is playing the worst kind of politics by threatening to withhold federal funds from states that don't comply with their political ideology.

In a press release today, ED stated that they are "demanding" information from Washington and California regarding state policies that govern schools' disclosure of student records to parents and families. 

Today's demands are based on an expectation that we will change our state’s student protection policies to align with a case out of California that is still being litigated. As we have done throughout this process, we will supply ED with all the information they are demanding, consistent with state and federal laws.

Let me be clear: Washington state law ensures that, when parents and families request information about their child from their child's school, the school provides that information consistent with state and federal laws.

Further, Washington state law has robust protections against discrimination for public school students, which has included discrimination based on gender identity for two decades. These protections fit within the scope of what is allowed by federal law and recent court rulings on these issues.

While the Trump Administration continues their lengthy fishing expedition on the taxpayer's dime, my office will continue to uphold and enforce our state and federal laws.

Today’s media stunt by the now dismantled U.S. Department of Education is yet another reminder that they only exist at this point to pump out political and ideological propaganda. 

From over here in the functioning Washington, might we suggest they demand charges against any number of persons identified in the Epstein files or those who allegedly committed abuses of the “ring boys” at the World Wrestling Entertainment company?

If the U.S. Department of Education is looking for something to do, pushing the White House to bring justice to victims of sexual abuse and assault remains an important endeavor.

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Op-Ed: Citizen Action Saves 14 Elm Trees

Story and Photos by John Hushagen

After the removal of 1400 trees for the construction of the two light rail projects in Shoreline, Sound Transit was to plant 7400 replacement trees. 

Some of these trees are at risk during the drought, a condition exacerbated by hot weather. Today I'm writing about a glaring example of this just south of the Shoreline North station at the corner of NE 185th St, and 5th Ave NE. 

In 2024, Sound Transit's landscape contractor installed hundreds of trees and shrubs on the public rights of way and along 5th Ave NE. 

Among these trees are 14 large elms that were planted as street trees. 

The Elm is one of the toughest trees in the world, but trees as large as these need supplemental irrigation to help them get established. 

The landscape architect that chose these trees failed to provide any means of watering them. 

Big mistake! From what I have seen, the trees received no irrigation except rainfall for the balance of 2024, all of 2025, and none thus far in 2026. 

The dry grass had grown to knee high and the corner had become both an eyesore and a fire hazard, highlighted by rapidly defoliating trees.

I began to complain about this neglect to public officials at both the City of Shoreline and Sound Transit in mid-June of this year. 

Just yesterday I learned from Sound Transit that the prior landscaper's contract expired in April, and no one took his place. 

A new landscape contractor is now on the scene and the trees are finally being watered. I raised a ruckus with Shoreline and Sound Transit, and the trees are now getting much-needed attention. 

The 14 Elm trees, that cost nearly$50 Kto install, represent an example of how we sometimes take our urban forest home for granted until it is too late. 

Plant trees! Water trees! And raise your voice until you are heard!

John Hushagen
Shoreline Resident, Retired Arborist

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Op-Ed: Lime bikes are a nuisance

Story and Photos by Michael Bachety

I don’t want to be the curmudgeon I’ve become, but these lime bikes are a nuisance, to me at least. 

They are dumped everywhere and are heavy to move out of the way. So, I’d like to ask the community if it’s just me, and/or if something should be done to address this issue/problem.

In other cities, you must return the e-bike to any charging station (at stations, shops, schools, etc.) to end your ride; this being the infrastructure that we don’t have.

When I wrote to the city asking them to confront the company to build just that, or maybe penalize the rider a dollar if they park/dump an e-bike on a sidewalk, my eventual reply from the city was metaphorically an equity, finger-wagging admonition.

After I thought deeply as to how horribly insensitive of a human I am, for 3-5 seconds, I then thought well maybe the company could incentivize a rider by giving them a dollar for being responsible. 

This has the added benefit of the rider possibly realizing that other people use the sidewalks too and now I’m a considerate person with an extra dollar.

By the way, where is the equity for a resident in a wheelchair? Why do we even have ADA accessible curbs and sidewalks? 

I know people in wheelchairs exist. I see them hugging the side of the street on Linden Ave N. Honestly, that’s because we have no continuous sidewalks on Linden Ave N, though we have begged the city and were promised them, which has been about a decade now.

(Side note: if your kid goes to Shorewood HS and walks to Fred Meyer for lunch, they all walk in the street. I also hear the vroom of cars fly past these kids. I don’t know what the Doppler Effect is, but I know the sound of a car going double the speed limit.)

Anyway, I do see a necessary need for e-bikes for many practical reasons. 

All I’m asking is to end this laissez-faire attitude of governing and proactively address these types of situations that arise, and specifically how we can all get around safely within our community - all of us.

Michael Bachety

Shoreline

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Op-Ed: Participating in sign-wavings gives me hope

Photo by Pam Cross

By Pam Cross

About 50 regulars were at the intersection today. I had to skip last week but, like an addiction, I couldn’t stay away for another. 

Every time I look at the paper or watch the news I get angry. Every day seems to be worse than the last.

Participating in this weekly event brings me hope. We are all angry and the positive feedback we are getting from passing drivers gives me hope that others are angry too.

At this point it is hard to know what to put on to make a new sign because there is one abomination after another. Far too much for a single sign.

Why are farmers angry they are losing workers to ICE when they voted for the current administration?

If you did what you could to avoid getting drafted, what makes you think you should mandate a new draft?

The signs tell a story: We do not want a war. We do not want higher prices. We want the peace and prosperity we were promised during the presidential campaign.

We do not want a national religion. We want to keep the freedom to follow our individual beliefs.

We want to stop being lied to every single day.

We want Congress to start representing the people again.

We want to keep the right to vote. Healthcare. Food we can afford. Gas and utilities we can afford.

We want our country back.

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Op-Ed: My Pre-Obituary: A Shoreline Single Mom Waiting to Be Hit

Stay on the paths at the Park at Town Center in Shoreline

By Lindsey Burke

I grew up here. I have lived in Shoreline since 1997. I am 32 years old, a single mother, and a college student. I have watched this city change for decades. So I am asking a direct question: do you care about reporting on the everyday safety issues residents are actually facing?

There is a patch of grass by the Shoreline Police Station, the one decorated with trolley lights during Christmas. It is consistently covered in dog waste. 

There is enough dog shit you can make a board game out of it. If you step off that path, there’s a 10 out of 10 chance that you will run into dog shit every 6 inches. This is not just unpleasant. It is a public health issue. Dog feces carry bacteria and parasites that contaminate soil and stormwater runoff. It affects children, other animals, and our shared water system. This is basic civic responsibility and it is being ignored.

In 2018 a 20 year old pedestrian was
struck and pinned by this vehicle. He 
survived but with serious injuries.
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

More urgently, pedestrian safety in Shoreline is failing.

Since my car broke down, I have relied on walking and public transportation. Every single time I leave my home or step outside my door, I am almost hit at least once if I do not actively avoid being hit. 

I am following the rules as a pedestrian. In just the last few weeks, I have had to actively jump back to avoid being struck. My children have nearly been hit. 

This is happening on 175th, 185th, in residential neighborhoods, and in community parking lots. 

It happens when crosswalk signals are illuminated. It happens when we are visibly crossing. It happens when drivers simply choose speed over human life.

There has not been a single walk where I have not had to avoid a moving vehicle.

This is not hyperbole. This is daily reality.

If a resident is struck and killed, it will be framed as a tragedy. But what about the pattern leading up to it? What about the dozens of close calls? What about the families who live in a constant state of vigilance because drivers refuse to yield?

I raised concerns about expired tabs years ago. At the time, it was dismissed. Now it is newsworthy. So again, what qualifies as important enough to report? Does someone have to die first?

If you conducted a poll of pedestrians in Shoreline, I suspect many would report similar experiences. The issue is widespread and visible.

Pedestrians have the legal right of way in crosswalks. That is not optional. It is law. More importantly, it is basic human decency.

My life has value. My children’s lives have value. The lives of people walking in the cold, using public transportation, or crossing parking lots have value. Convenience does not outweigh that.

I am asking you to report on pedestrian safety enforcement, traffic patterns on 175th and 185th, crosswalk compliance, and the broader culture of disregard toward people who are not inside a vehicle.

This is not about being politically correct. It is about whether everyday residents matter enough to be heard before a preventable death makes headlines.

Respectfully,
A lifelong Shoreline resident
Lindsay Burke

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Op-Ed: Two wrongs don't make a right

Do the Right Thing and Vote Yes for Both SSD Levies for Shoreline and LFP Students

By Malorie Larson

Reminder: Ballots are due Tuesday February 10th by 8pm. Please use a ballot box to avoid USPS post marking delays and ensure your vote counts! The Washington Secretary of State's Office cautions voters: Do not use a mailbox within 7-10 days of the election due to recent USPS rule changes.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. We learned this in elementary school. Yes, the state is negligent in their primary duty to fully fund K-12 education in Washington State. However, also failing to support the local replacement EP&O and technology levies only hurts our community’s children and sends a message to them that their friends, families, and neighbors aren’t willing to invest in them.

Even a replacement levy proposition with a lower dollar figure puts the district in the position to make impossible choices:

Do they increase class sizes to unmanageable levels that decreases the quality of student learning and sends our veteran, highly qualified teachers to nearby school districts?

Do they cut supports for students and families such as deans of students, security staff, counselors, family advocates, and/or full-time school nurses? This, at a time when members of our community are fearing for their safety, experiencing food insecurity, and “COVID kids” are coming to school with more behavioral needs than ever before?

Do they cut athletics, arts, or other extracurricular activities? These are the things that augment the Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic that make students whole, keep them engaged in their schooling, and attract homebuyers and other families to the Shoreline School District.

Do they continue educating students in 2030 with literacy curriculum from the early 2000s, rather than giving our children modern, research-based instruction that benefits not only their short-term educational needs but their long-term success in accessing information, communicating, and thinking critically about information they receive?

Do the right thing: vote yes for the replacement EP&O and technology levies AND contact your legislators to advocate for better education funding for students in Shoreline schools and across Washington State.

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Op-Ed: Public Health in Washington Faces Nearly 40% State Funding Cut Amid Federal Grant Uncertainty

Megan Moore, MPH is the Executive Director of the Washington State Public Health Association

The Washington State Legislature is poised to cut funding for Foundational Public Health Services by nearly 40 percent in the coming weeks, a move public health leaders warn would dismantle the state’s public health system and leave communities across Washington less safe.

The proposed reduction comes as the federal government threatens to withhold and claw back public health grants, creating unprecedented instability for local health systems.

Every person in Washington will feel the loss of this funding. Our public health system is already strained — a reality made clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Local health departments struggled to vaccinate people, and residents experienced delays in restaurant and plumbing permits, difficulty getting clinic appointments, and longer waitlists for care. With federal funding increasingly uncertain, it is more important than ever that the state’s commitment to public health remains stable.

Foundational Public Health Services operate across county lines and serve all Washingtonians. These investments protect community health and support a strong economy by ensuring safe food, clean water, and effective responses to emergencies.

Public health services supported by this funding include:

• Issuance of birth and death certificates
• Restaurant permitting and food safety inspections
• Water quality testing to ensure safe drinking water
• Emergency response and recovery during disasters such as wildfires and the recent historic floods in King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties
• Septic system safety to prevent water contamination
• Translation of health communications into the many languages spoken across Washington

Before the state invested in Foundational Public Health Services, counties were forced to shoulder the cost of these essential services on their own, leading to inconsistent access and unequal outcomes across the state.

This funding has been game-changing for public health. It allows us to respond in real time to what’s happening on the ground — without delays. One week it can support flood cleanup efforts, and the next it can be used to track measles cases. No other funding source offers that kind of flexibility.

The proposed state cuts coincide with renewed threats from the Trump administration to eliminate or reclaim major federal public health investments, further destabilizing health systems across Washington.

At a time of increasing federal uncertainty, Washington must stand up and protect Foundational Public Health Services. These investments are critical to keeping our state a safe, healthy place to live, work, and raise a family.

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Op-Ed: Why Shoreline Students Need Voters to Support the 2026 Levies

Years of state underfunding, outdated staffing models, and inflation have left schools with few options

By Malorie Larson

The Shoreline School District (SSD) Replacement EP&O Levy for 2027-2030 that will be on the ballot February 10th 2026 is asking voters to continue supporting our community’s children in our schools, in large part because the state and federal government continue to underfund public education.

Since 2021, Washington State has underfunded Shoreline School District by $136M—$6M for utilities and insurance, $22M for special education, and $107M for salaries and benefits. And that’s just for basic needs. 

Even those basics fall short because the state’s staffing model is outdated, requiring unrealistically large enrollments to fund essential staff—for example, 603 students for a full-time librarian, 684 for a nurse, 1,286 for a social worker, 3,846 for a psychologist, and 5,063 for a security guard. By comparison, the average Washington elementary school has just 400–500 students.

From presentation by Dan Steele, Assist Exec Dir of WA Assoc of School Administrators
Photo by Malorie Larson

WA State funding models are severely outdated and students are suffering the consequences. This chronic underfunding is why SSD needs the levy to pass as proposed on the February 10th ballot. Shoreline SD is already covering what the state does not in some areas and still needs to do more. Students need more support, more adults in buildings.

SSD has done the hard work before coming to voters to ask for help. They are asking for what a community member panel agreed was necessary. A vote NO (as some might suggest you do so the district could come back with a lower levy amount) will result in more staff and program loss for Shoreline and LFP students. The right thing to do is vote YES and demand better from our legislators so the burden does not continue to rest so heavily on property taxes.

SSD already spends below average both in administrative costs and student spending compared to other surrounding districts. The district continues to make staff and program reductions in attempts to avoid a negative balance and state oversight (also known as binding conditions). 

This has resulted in 67 position reductions that include but are not limited to: multiple administration, maintenance, groundskeeping and custodial positions, front office supports, library technicians, and drug and alcohol counselors. There is nothing left to cut but MORE staff and essential student educational and support programs.

Despite these reductions, since the 2020-2021 school year, district expenses have increased 23.13% ($160.4M vs an estimated $197.5M for ‘25-26) and costs continue to rise. All internal and external audits of Shoreline SD have all concluded that without an increase in revenue, cuts must continue to be made. There is no evidence of fund mismanagement. Regional and state agencies that routinely review and monitor the financial health of school districts have flagged SSD as concerning due to having an “average of less than 30 days’ worth of cash available for the fiscal years”.

Total enrollment may be down 1.98% from 9,261 students (October 2021) to 9,078 students (October 2025), but overall, SSD’s forecast is seeing that recent enrollment remains stable with slight growth of 0.1% for this year and projected in the years to come. Regardless of enrollment, electricity, heat, and water still need to be used and paid for. Teachers still need to be in classrooms regardless of if there are 22 or 25 students in the class.

To summarize: hard decisions have been made to get revenue in line with expenses and it is still not enough. State staffing models are inadequate and inflation has significantly affected state-mandated costs. We need to do MORE to protect the level of quality education that the Shoreline School District is known for. We need to vote YES.

Vote yes to prevent further staff cuts, larger classes, and fewer extracurriculars. Vote yes if you believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity for a quality education. If you support all of the above, but are frustrated that it so heavily relies on levies, I urge you to do both: lobby for better education funding by contacting your legislators and support the February 10th, 2026 replacement levies.

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Op-Ed: Patriotic Citizens Continue to Protest the Authoritarian Rule of Trump

By Tom Krebsbach

Many groups of citizens assembled in various areas of Western Washington Tuesday afternoon to protest the worsening dictatorial leadership of President Donald Trump. These demonstrations were called for by the national Women’s March group. 

At the intersection of Bothell Way and Ballinger Way in Lake Forest Park approximately seventy-five people stood along Bothell Way with their protest signs. The crowd was a good size, considering that the protest at that location was organized at the last minute. The intersection is well-traveled, and there were numerous honks of support for the protesters from passing vehicles, as well as many displays of thumbs-up and waves in agreement. 

A similar response is generally demonstrated on Saturdays when a smaller group stands at the corner from 11am until noon.

Some may question why people would want to stand with protest signs along a well-traveled road for an hour or two, listening to passing vehicles honking in support. 

Could it be that these citizens, many of whom are senior citizens and have lived their whole lives within a democratic form of government, now feel horrified to witness a narcissistic, megalomaniac leader take on all the trappings of a dictator? 

Or perhaps they are outraged that Donald Trump has essentially turned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency into his own private army and now uses it to extract revenge on large cities that did not support him in the election, with various immigrants being deported without hearings to diverse corners of the world and citizen protesters being shot point-blank in the head without any repercussions for the murderous agent.

Some citizens seem to be disturbed that Trump essentially ignores the law, both domestic and international, and proclaims that the only constraint on his behavior is “his own morality” and “his own mind,” this from a man who appears to have not a scintilla of morality and who has the maturity of a five year old bully on a playground. It certainly is not very reassuring.

Then some are quite concerned, after he ordered the U.S. military to invade Venezuela to kidnap its leader primarily so the U.S. might profit from Venezuelan oil, that Trump will next order the military to invade the friendly territory of Greenland and thus destroy NATO and cut ties with the vast majority of American allies. Could any leader be so heedless and stupid? From what we have seen of Trump, he is certainly capable of such disloyalty to friends.

The author of this article is a U.S. Army veteran and a Vietnam veteran. I keep thinking about the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of U.S. soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending American democracy and freedom. 

And now far too many people are unwilling to raise cries of outrage at the specter of one narcissistic, ignorant, self-centered, megalomaniac leader destroying American democracy from within. What has happened to America? What is wrong with its people that this destructive man has not been removed from power yet?

This and many other reasons are why I and hundreds and thousands and millions of others in this country stand in protest, demanding that Donald Trump be removed from power. Whether it is effective, we cannot say yet. But we feel it is the least we can do.

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Op-Ed: School levies - let's talk real numbers

Echo Lake Elementary parents sign-waving for the levies

By Malorie Larson

Levies and taxes can be confusing, especially when costs keep rising. I understand why voters want to know how a levy will actually affect their household budget. 

Here’s how I calculated the real cost for my family before deciding how to vote on the Shoreline School District EP&O and Technology Levies on the February 10, 2026 ballot.

1. Step 1: Enter your address here on the county assessor’s website to find your assessed property value.
2. Step 2: Scroll to your tax history and note the “Taxable Total” for each year. Look at how that number has gone up or down over time.
3. Step 3: Dividing “Taxable Total” by 1,000, then multiply by the corresponding levy rate for that year. This shows how much you’ve already paid to the school district for that year.

Use this district chart to find the levy rate for each year

Future property values are unknown, so estimates matter. In my case, my assessed value has gone up 7.5% one year and down 14% another year. Remember, we are not voting on property values; those are outside our control.

If my property value stays the same (I don’t expect it to, but I’m using this to estimate), the replacement EP&O and Tech levies would cost my household $157.37 more per year from 2027–2030. 

Claims that homeowners will pay “thousands more” are misleading. 

Compare what you paid from 2023–2026 to what you may pay from 2027–2030. The current average levy rate is $3.23 per $1,000 of assessed property value, while the proposed replacement average rate is $3.16.

Personally, I’m willing to pay under $200 more per year to support smaller class sizes, student supports, extracurriculars, and updated technology for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park students. My goal is simply to help families understand the real-world costs before voting.

Thank you for reading, Shoreline and LFP!

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Op-Ed: With your help ShoreLake Arts can expand services and offerings

2025 has been a transformational year for ShoreLake Arts as we stepped into this year with substantial goals and renewed mission to offer more to our community.

Through your generous donations and unwavering support, we have been able to deliver more classes and events to our community, and we are tremendously grateful for all we have achieved together.

Because of your contributions, we were able to bring back the beloved Battle of the Bands in 2025 and make this event free! 

This allowed more than 100 additional people to enjoy local musical talent without needing to buy tickets. Plus, the Battle of the Bands gives emerging musicians an opportunity to connect with new audiences.

Battle of the Bands

As this year is coming to a close, ShoreLake Arts is planning to expand our services and offerings to the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park neighborhoods, but we cannot do this without your continued support. 

We are asking for you to kindly consider donating to our organization to keep the wonderful programs thriving through 2026.

One of our most impactful programs, After-School Classes gives youth a positive creative outlet and fosters stronger relationships between students and families. 

Our organization intends to invest more into the After-School Program which will require additional staffing and supplies. Your donation can help us get the resources we need to reach more students.

We provide options for either a one-time donation or monthly contributions – whichever fits best in your budget. Our team works tirelessly to make sure your financial gift goes directly back into the community to bring art and culture to everyone.

Looking forward to another fantastic year at ShoreLake Arts!

Many thanks,
Laura James, Executive Director

ShoreLake Arts

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Op-Ed: Support the Shoreline Historical Museum as we take the next steps into our future

In Gratitude Event at the Museum featuring a special ukulele performance by Ken Doutt!

To all of our friends of the Museum,

The footsteps of history start here in a rustic little red house hidden in plain sight at 185th and Linden Avenue N. Within these walls, gems of the past reside, and growth continues. The recently unveiled artifacts whisper the mastery of crafts from generations gone by. The Miyawaki Forest is alive with the sounds of life. From the gentle hum of a bee to the lively song of a bird, the forest has become their home.

The Shoreline Historical Museum, sustained by an energetic and visionary community, lives and thrives in collecting the stories and wisdom of the past as well as preserving the footsteps of today for future generations.

This year, with your support, we took many steps into that future.

We reached three crucial milestones for our King Conservation District funded Miyawaki Forest Project:

• The ADA pathway completed
• Weatherproof interpretative panels
• Informational Kiosk

Now we are only one year out for a self-sustaining Miyawaki Forest to give back to the Earth and reduce our carbon footprint!

A substantial portion of our collection has been successfully rehoused in order to promote research access and future exhibit development.

With the departure of Kenneth Doutt, our former Director and Robby Grillo, our Collections Manager, assuming the role of Director, our staff is now reduced to one. With your support, we will continue to expand our team in order to achieve the goals of a holistic and inclusive history for the communities we serve.

Join and support us with your donations as we take the next steps into our future together.

Join the museum

With gratitude,

Armand Micheline
President, Board of Trustees

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Op-Ed: Lake Forest Park, it’s time to get our environmental priorities straight

By Robert Anderson

Lake Forest Park resident

Over the last few years, a controversy has arisen that pits environmentally-minded Lake Forest Park residents against one another. Sound Transit’s plans to expand the regional public transportation system, and specifically to widen Bothell Way to add an additional lane for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to and through Lake Forest Park, has prompted major concern from residents about the loss of trees in the corridor and other environmental impacts.

Don’t get me wrong: I love trees, and I deeply value the forested ecosystems we have in Lake Forest Park and the benefits our tree canopy provides. I’ve made my career working professionally in the environmental restoration field in the region, including planting forests, restoring salmon habitat, and researching human-environmental interactions. 

I’ve also spent years restoring my own backyard with diverse native trees and shrubs – I’m about as much of a “tree-hugger” as you could ever meet, and proud of it. And I believe that in all the concern about trees being cut down, the bigger picture is getting lost when it comes to the environmental challenges facing our community and our world.

Global climate change, driven by our society’s ongoing burning of fossil fuels to power our industries and cars, is rapidly changing the face of the planet. It leads to drought, flooding, wildfire, and other hazards, contributes to biodiversity loss and the extinction crisis, and has major impacts on human health and wellbeing. 

And one of the most essential actions that we can take to mitigate these impacts is simple: get out of our single-occupancy vehicles, and start using sustainable green transportation such as walking, biking, light rail, trains, and buses.

This is the broader frame through which we should be seeing Sound Transit’s expansion projects: as an effort to build a world-class transportation system for the Puget Sound region that allows people to move about without relying on fossil fuels. 

Bus Rapid Transit in Bothell, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park will connect tens of thousands of people to the new high-capacity light rail line that brings us to downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, the airport, and other destinations, and this is just one leg in an extensive network of buses, light rail, and more connecting the entire region. 

Within this network, every dedicated bus lane we build can carry thousands of riders per hour, several times more transportation capacity than an equivalent car lane, and with a far lower carbon footprint.

As such, LFP’s BRT project is about much more than “saving just a few minutes” on a single bus route, as critics of the project often frame it. It is one step in the realization of a much broader vision for a sustainable future in the Puget Sound region, the construction of an urgently-needed, long-overdue mass transit system that allows us to shift away from the “car culture” that has fueled planetary environmental degradation. 

And it’s going to be a great thing for our community, allowing us to hop on a short, fast bus ride to Northgate where we can access light rail to speed us toward our workplaces, cultural events, and much more.

Does this come with costs? Yes: construction of the project will temporarily contribute to traffic and noise, some neighbors will lose a portion of their properties, and we will lose trees, including several hundred in Lake Forest Park. And these trees are a tremendous loss to our community, not to be taken lightly.

But I also don’t think they should be taken out of proportion. In a recent opinion article in the LFP Town Crier, city councilperson Paula Goode appeals to the ecosystem-service benefits provided by the trees to be removed, highlighting “five giants” that each sequester over 600 pounds per year of carbon dioxide. 

Let’s put that number into perspective: a single passenger vehicle emits over four tons of CO2 per year. In other words, getting even a single driver out of their car and into public transit would eliminate more carbon emissions than a dozen of these giant trees can sequester.

Moreover, many of the trees to be removed (including the single biggest one listed, a black locust) are actually non-native, invasive species that should be removed to promote healthy native forest regeneration. 

And the vast majority of the trees are far from “giants”: many of them are essentially large shrubs, such as dense thickets of smaller-diameter (6-12”) English holly and cherry laurel, also both invasive species, that are already at their full size and are actively degrading habitat conditions and reducing biodiversity by their presence.

Of course, large native trees have many other benefits besides carbon sequestration, and I’m certainly not trying to argue here *for* the removal of the giants that we do have. I would love to see as many native trees saved as possible in the construction process. 

But as a lifelong environmental advocate, activist, researcher, and professional, I am dismayed—and frankly, offended—by the attempts to twist this issue to claim the environmental high ground on the part of opposition to the project. 

In her opinion piece, Councilperson Goode spins pro-transit advocacy as anti-environmental and sweepingly lays claim to everything from indigenous history to climate action in an effort to center tree advocacy as the only valid form of environmentalism. This narrow, exclusionary idea of environmentalism is misguided and misleading.

Lake Forest Park, it’s time to get our environmental priorities straight. Trees and forest canopy are wonderful and valuable, but they are not the be-all, end-all of environmental stewardship. Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture, and do all we can to support real climate resilience through sustainable transportation.

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Op-Ed: Join the Lake Forest Park Voices for Justice on October 18, 2025

No Kings II: Rise-Up Protest!

By Donna Hawkey and Elizabeth-Simmons-O’Neil 

At Lake Forest Park’s Democracy Corner
Bothell Way & Ballinger Way
Saturday October 18, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 pm

We recognize the urgent need to counter the rise of authoritarianism, and we urge people to join in to make a difference. 

The “NO KINGS” movement continues with our local LFP non-violent “Rise-Up” protest on October 18th, in Lake Forest Park (LFP). This will be a nationwide protest with all of us working in solidarity.

People power can bring about change and has historically done so within many movements. 

Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan have issued dire warnings about the court’s decision regarding Donald Trump’s presidential immunity. 

“In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law,” Sotomayor wrote. She notes that this immunity ruling "will have disastrous consequences for the presidency and for our democracy.”

Come to our local LFP rally in support of nationwide protesters and one another. Join in on this one, or please find another protest that works for you via Indivisible.org or https://www.mobilize.us/nokings. 

RISE-UP by joining your neighbors in Lake Forest Park to stand up for democracy and for each other. We will have activities such as music and a friendly gathering of like-minded individuals, along with a steady stream of traffic passing by Bothell Way.

We will continue to collect and deliver donations of school supplies for our children. And for adults in need, we will collect and deliver self-care and hygiene products. The past contributions are greatly appreciated!

Did you know that at our Brookside Elementary School, 33.8% of students come from low-income households, and at our Lake Forest Park Elementary School, 28.3% of students come from low-income households?

Lake Forest Park Elementary principal Aimee Miner noted, in appreciation of the donations received from our September protest: 

“The supplies were exactly what we need to ensure that every student at LFP has supplies to learn with. Our school supply budget was slashed, and many families cannot afford the extensive list of supplies that are needed for the year.”

If you would like to join the Voices for Justice-LFP email list, we are the organizers of our protests, please send a note to lfpvoices@gmail.com.

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Op-Ed: Getting around Shoreline without a car shouldn’t be this hard

Heather with her e-bike

Monday is the beginning of the Week Without Driving

By Heather McLaughlin

I live on the border of Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lake Forest Park — three cities built with cars in mind. But I don’t drive.

I stopped when our family car, a 2010 Prius, became unreliable, and I realized that with light rail opening nearby and a trusty e-bike, I could get by without it. Today I use a mix of biking, transit, and the occasional ride-hail. Most days it works well — but it also reveals just how hard it is to live without a car in communities like ours.

Unless you’ve been in this position yourself, it’s easy to miss the daily challenges: bus routes that don’t line up, gaps in bike infrastructure, or the sheer cost of alternatives when transit doesn’t reach where you need to go. 

When my husband broke a rib late one night, getting to the ER meant a $40 Lyft ride. By the time we left, the price had jumped to $80 — an impossible burden for many. Even with light rail, the trip home by transit took more than an hour.

These moments highlight what’s at stake in this year’s Week Without Driving (September 29–October 5). The annual event, started in 2020 by Disability Rights Washington, asks people — especially policy makers — to give up driving for a week, a day, or even just one trip. It’s grown into a nationwide effort with 400 organizations across all 50 states. 

Here in Shoreline, Urbanist Shoreline is encouraging neighbors to try it and share their experiences.

The point isn’t to shame drivers — most of us rely on cars because our communities have been designed around them. The point is to show what life is like for the more than 10% of Washingtonians of driving age who cannot or do not drive. Their voices are too often missing from transportation decisions.

That’s a problem not just for people like me, but for everyone. When policy makers assume driving is the only viable option, they leave us all with fewer choices. Drivers get stuck in traffic with no alternatives. Kids can’t safely bike or walk to school. Older adults lose independence when they can’t drive anymore. And our cities’ climate goals become harder to reach.

Shoreline’s own climate action plan identifies private vehicle trips as the single biggest source of carbon emissions — and calls for reducing them sharply over the coming years. We’ve made progress: light rail expansion, new sidewalks, and bike lanes are real steps forward. 

But they’re not enough. We need a full network of safe, convenient, and affordable non-car options: buses that connect seamlessly, protected bike routes that don’t vanish at busy intersections, sidewalks that work for people of all abilities.

For me, biking to my bookkeeping clients around the region works — most of the time. But when I have to get from Shoreline to Renton, patience is the only way to survive the two-hour trip, even with light rail. That shouldn’t be the case. 

If our cities truly invested in alternatives, everyone would benefit: people who don’t drive, people who can’t drive, and yes, even people who do.

That’s why I’m inviting you to join me in trying the Week Without Driving. Pick a day, or even a single trip, to leave the car behind. Notice what works and what doesn’t. Could you get there by bus? Was there a safe walking or bike route? Did it take a reasonable amount of time?

The answers to those questions matter far beyond this week. They should shape the way we plan and build our communities. Because a Shoreline that works without a car is a Shoreline that works better for everyone.

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Op-Ed: Defending the Soul of America

Op-Ed from reader Sam Doyle, Mountlake Terrace

Neighbors are being stolen by masked and unidentified ICE officers and being sent to El Salvador. Countless people have been deported without due process, which our Constitution promises to every person on American soil-person, not citizen. 

SNAP cuts are hurting hard-working local families. Tariffs are hurting local businesses. Civility has gone by the wayside. 

Medicaid cuts threaten millions. The democratic process is being attacked at multiple levels. Tanks roam Washington, DC, without justification, criminalizing the unhoused. Grocery prices rise. 

Billionaires bask in obscene wealth at the expense of working people like me and you.

It is disheartening to feel powerless right now. America is better than this. The soul of America is NOT as xenophobic, angry, uncaring, misogynistic, or as racist as the behavior that the loudest and most brash people in the nation have been exhibiting without restraint for months. 

This country is becoming increasingly diverse and those typically in power are using any means necessary to fight that tide, as they lose grip on what they see as their natural born right to control this country. Ceding and sharing power is rarely peaceful, even if it is just.

I believe in the inherent goodness and promise of this country and of her people. I dream of an America where power and plentiful resources are shared equitably and where our constitution is upheld; it is possible. 

I acknowledge that we are imperfect, with bloodstains on our flag from African-Americans, women, Japanese-Americans, LGBTQIA folks, and other historically marginalized communities. We have had other tumultuous periods in history and clearly we are in the midst of one now.

Despite the struggle, we cannot give up. YOU cannot give up. It is not an option. We cannot let hatred and division tear our cities or our country apart. America is for everyone-- immigrant, refugee, queer, disabled, trans folks--America is YOURS too. 

To each of you who have attended a rally, written to an elected official, donated to a food bank, voted, reached out to a new neighbor, defended a marginalized person--thank you. You matter, your actions matter, and thank you for believing that this country is worth fighting for.

Keep going.

We are in the midst of almost unbearable national and communal pain as previously underground forces that seek to maintain White supremacy’s dying grip on power threaten our bonds to each other and to our nation. We must not let these bonds break, although we feel them bending. 

Remember, everyone is hurting--even those whose actions we neither understand nor condone while they fight to retain their solitary grip on power. Work to find compassion for them as people even as you fight against their actions.

From Maya Angelou in her poem “On the Pulse of Morning”:

“History, despite its wrenching pain

Cannot be unlived, but if faced

With courage, need not be lived again.

Lift up your eyes upon

This day breaking for you.

Give birth again

To the dream.”

Sam Doyle
Mountlake Terrace, WA

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Op-Ed: More thoughts on why supporting the supplemental school levy is important

By Lisa Surowiec

I've read the comments on the previous Letters to the Editor, and can hear the frustration in some of the words. I had my own experience with school administration that angered me so much that I saw no other option than to pull my support by resigning my position with the PTA that year. Although that relationship didn’t fully recover, I still believe that a public school education is too valuable to throw away.

It can be tempting to consider private schools when your kids are clearly not getting what they need - or worse. And it then follows that you want to see the whole system defunded, abandoned, and burned to the ground. Why commit precious tax dollars to a losing effort?

Because kids (and their adults) get more than reading, math, and field trips out of attending public schools. And these things that are wonderful and beneficial for our kids also present challenges to the School District.

We have broad socio-economic diversity. Only 2 of our schools have under 20% Free & Reduced Lunch kids. A full 33% of the District is eligible for that support (up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level).

Kids in our schools speak a whopping 81 languages. That means an environment rich in peers with lived experiences in different religions, backgrounds, family makeup, traditions, food, politics, and priorities. And for the District, that requires various kinds of support to ensure all kids reach their potential.

We have special ed, highly capable, home education resources, and our amazing alternative education program, Cascade K8. And the biggest bang for our educational buck is a strong early ed investment, and so we have that too.

It is in our best interest as a society to make sure the next generation is educated - even those of us who do not have kids do need a well-educated, functional workforce coming up behind us. Public school kids head to college, into the trades, into the military, and straight into the workforce, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have the resources to make them successful.

If you think Shoreline should spend only what's budgeted by the State, consider this. School funding is allocated according to the prototypical school model (RCW 28A.150.260). That assumes elementary schools of 400 kids (K-6), middle schools of 432 (7-8), and high schools of 600 (9-12). According to that model, we would have:

• 1 nurse shared between every 4 elementary schools
• 1.02 nurse shared by the 2 middle schools
• 1.156 nurse shared by the 2 high schools
• 1 counselor shared between every 2 elementary schools
• 2.2 counselors per middle schools
• 6.25 counselors per high school
• 1 teacher librarian shared between every 2 elementary schools
• 1.66 teacher librarians shared between the 2 middle schools
• 1.2 teacher librarians per high school

Some of those numbers get a little bit better in September 2025, but that funding does not resource our students the way they should be. (note that these numbers are approximate)

Shoreline did make some cuts (14 FTE of Family Advocates, for instance) and spends below average in Admin $ per student and Total $ per student compared to other surrounding Districts. They continue to preserve what they can while facing funding shortages.

The Future is worth our investment. Lobby for better education funding, call your legislators, and please support this Supplemental Levy on August 5.

--Lisa Surowiec

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Op-Ed: Investing in Public Safety Is a Shared Responsibility

Chief Mike Hardan
Lake Forest Park Police Department

By Mike Harden, Chief of Police, Lake Forest Park

For years, our police department has operated on lean budgets, stretching every dollar to meet the growing demands of public safety. But we’ve reached a tipping point. Without the additional support of a temporary levy increase to support our police department, the level of service our community expects is at risk.

Our funding comes primarily from the city’s general fund, and it doesn’t just support patrol; it covers dispatch and jail costs, training, equipment, vehicles, and the basic operations that keep our community safe. These aren’t luxuries; they’re essentials. And today, they cost more than ever.

Recent increases in dispatch and jail fees took a major bite out of our budget. Equipment, vehicles, and technology have surged in cost, and staffing has become a greater challenge than ever. Operating in the Seattle-area job market means we must offer competitive wages or risk losing experienced officers. That’s not a staffing inconvenience, but a public safety risk.

When seasoned officers leave, they take years of institutional knowledge and leadership with them. New hires must be trained, supervised, and equipped. Each one requiring a significant investment of time, money, and mentorship. This adds pressure to field training officers and command staff who are already stretched thin.

The result? Fewer officers to handle more calls, longer response times, and limited capacity for proactive policing and community engagement. It affects officer wellness, too, leading to burnout and mental health strain. These professionals give their all every day to protect our community, and they deserve the support to do their jobs well and stay healthy doing them.

We’ve made do for a long time, relying on grants and our generous nonprofit foundation to help cover the cost of equipment and wellness programs. But that’s not sustainable. It’s not the job of outside groups to keep our department running. It’s a responsibility we all share as a city.

Despite these challenges, our commitment to this community has never wavered. We live here, we work here, and we’re proud to serve. We host Safety Day events, teach safety in schools, build partnerships in neighborhoods, and respond when you need help most. Public safety isn’t just about police, it’s about people and the relationships we’ve built.

A temporary levy increase would safeguard the public safety services that help our community thrive. I’m grateful that our dedicated City Council is actively exploring solutions to address the city’s budget challenges, and they continue to welcome input from residents throughout the process.

Chief Mike Harden
Lake Forest Park Police Department
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
206-957-2851

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Op-Ed: Setting the Record Straight on Stride S3 and Lake Forest Park

Paula Goode
Photo courtesy City of LFP

By Paula Goode

Oliver Moffat’s recent op-ed (Lake Forest Park's Climate Goals face roadblocks) misrepresents the efforts of Lake Forest Park, CORE, and me regarding the Stride S3 project. While I appreciate his enthusiasm for transit, his claims about the City’s position and my involvement are factually incorrect. 

I serve proudly on the Lake Forest Park City Council, a role I was voted into AFTER co-founding CORE. I serve ALL the constituents of the City of Lake Forest Park, the people that voted for me and the people that didn’t. 

Our residents are very impactful to the City and critical to all decisions that are made for all ordinances covering housing, density, sidewalks, etc. Unfortunately, Mr. Moffat never requested a conversation with me and I would always be happy to answer his questions should he want to discuss.

1. Lake Forest Park is Not Delaying Stride S3

Moffat asserts that Lake Forest Park has "sought to delay" the project. This is false. The City has actively engaged with Sound Transit to propose a cost-saving and time-efficient alternative that preserves 93% of the northbound/eastbound bus travel time savings while reducing exorbitant cost, construction and environmental impacts. The proposal, detailed in the City’s July 2024 letter (07-11-24 Letter to Sound Transit RE Stride S3 Line Project), modifies only 0.6 miles of an 8-mile corridor by:

• Retaining a new full BAT lane from 165th to 41st Streets
• Eliminating only a small section of BAT lane from 153rd to 165th, where congestion concerns are highest of the 47 driveways in this segment. A later design decision shifted the roadway to the west which substantially increased the project cost, while also causing significant environmental damage and requiring dozens of additional partial property acquisitions. CORE’s Google traffic analysis ( https://www.lfpcore.org/copy-of-docs2 ) confirms that not building the BAT lane in this 12 block-segment yields nearly all of the expected transit travel time benefit.
• Keeping the existing BAT lane at 165th to Kenmore
• Adding signalized queue jumps to maintain bus priority

This is a pragmatic adjustment, not an obstruction. If Sound Transit truly prioritizes efficiency and cost-effectiveness, they should be eager to consider this approach rather than dismiss it. After all, it would be cheaper, faster to implement, and achieve almost the same goals.

2. The Retaining Wall is a Necessary City Design Decision, Not an "Unvoted Expense"

Moffat claims Lake Forest Park passed regulations forcing Sound Transit to build “decorative retaining walls” as an unnecessary, voter-unapproved cost. This is misleading.

What’s actually happening:

• SR 522 runs through the heart of Lake Forest Park. Sound Transit’s plan calls for a blank, flat concrete wall up to 16 feet high for nearly a mile.
• A plain wall is prone to graffiti, increases noise pollution, and creates aesthetic and environmental concerns.
• The City worked with Sound Transit to design a wall with planting pockets to reduce noise, mitigate maintenance costs, and align with community input. The City also has to bear the future cost of wall maintenance.
• Residents demanded that the City improve the design, as seen in public meetings from May 2023—long before I was elected to the City Council (meeting minutes here https://lakeforestpark-wa.municodemeetings.com/bc-ccrmm/page/city-council-regular-meeting-21).

This was a responsive and responsible design choice, not an arbitrary expense. Moreover, neither the retaining wall nor the BAT lane itself were explicitly detailed in the 2016 ballot measure—Sound Transit made these decisions later.

3. Yes, This Project Will Deforest the Corridor—That’s a Fact

Moffat implies that claims of “deforestation” are unfounded. They are not.

• The project will remove almost 399 mature trees (6 inches or greater in diameter), plus additional smaller trees and vegetation.
• Trees play a critical role in water runoff management, noise reduction, and maintaining the aesthetic of the corridor-as well as the visual heart and soul of ‘Lake Forest Park’.
• Cities across the region, including Lake Forest Park—have climate action goals that this project contradicts and will place us behind in our required climate action goals set forth by Olympia.

Residents have repeatedly voiced concerns about the loss of tree canopy, wall height, wall visual, impact to the City visually, etc, and it is entirely reasonable for elected officials to advocate for mitigation efforts.

4. Concerns About Traffic Gridlock are Based on Real Data, Not Fearmongering

Moffat mocks CORE’s warnings about a "traffic armageddon," yet ignores the documented issues with cumulative traffic impacts as well as Fire and Emergency response. In fact, the Shoreline Fire Marshal spoke at a recent council meeting concerning the Sound Transit Project.

• Washington State law (WAC 197-11-060, 197-11-792, 365-196-640) requires that cumulative environmental and traffic impacts be studied when multiple projects overlap.
• The Stride S3 Environmental Impact Study (EIS) from 2021 failed to account for other upcoming major projects along the corridor, as did the updated SEPA dated Aug 2024 (https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/documents-reports/stride-s3-line-sr-522-ne-145th-brt-sepa-addendum-august-2024).
• When CORE invited Sound Transit’s Manon Garg in December 2024 to discuss the project and its impacts, he was unaware of these other impending projects—proving that necessary coordination has not happened.

This isn’t fearmongering—it’s following the law to ensure that regional construction projects don’t cause unnecessary chaos.

5. I am a Co-Founder of CORE, Not Its Sole Leader

Finally, while I appreciate Moffat’s belief in my influence, he misrepresents my role. I co-founded CORE before I was elected to the Council, but CORE is a community-led effort advocating for smarter transit solutions. This isn’t about personal interests—it’s about protecting local businesses, residents, and the environment while improving transit access.

Conclusion: A More Honest Discussion is Needed

Oliver Moffat’s op-ed pushes a false narrative that Lake Forest Park is trying to derail transit progress. The truth is that we are advocating for a smarter, better-designed project—one that balances transit efficiency, saving unnecessary expenditures (i.e. TAXPAYER funds), environmental responsibility, community needs as well as the personal devastation that imminent domain has caused for almost 100 residents in Lake Forest Park. No other City has impacts on RESIDENTS in the same manner our little 3 square mile City has.

Instead of distorting the conversation, we should be discussing how to make Stride S3 work for everyone.

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Op-Ed: The Rights of Transgender People should be reaffirmed, but we shouldn’t have to do it

By Bill Leon, Ph.D., Lake Forest Park

Tonight (March 27, 2025), the Lake Forest Park City Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming the rights of transgender people in the City. 

It is an excellent resolution. Most Councilmembers, the Mayor, and several citizens attending commented on how important it is to do this. Shoreline and other local cities have done the same. But it is shameful that people need to do this. I offered the following comments before the vote in Lake Forest Park.

Politically, socially, and economically, these are troubling times. Among all the many misuses of power being brutally and blatantly used by the President and by others in his administration and in many local and state administrations controlled by Republicans, one of the most egregious is the attacks on transgender people.

Fascists and others who support or who act like them often pick a scapegoat for the focus of their hatred. The tactic is designed to get a mob to side with them against people who are different in some way and to distract the masses while the leaders take more power and resources from everyone for the use of the elite.

In Nazi Germany it was the Jews, homosexuals, and Romani. Today in America, they target transgender people (and also immigrants, people of color, and others). If they succeed, more hatred for more groups will follow.

Actions to take away the rights of transgender people are multiplying across America. It takes courage to speak out against this and to reaffirm one’s support for people perceived as different. Doing so really helps. It helps transgender people, and it helps all of us recognize our common humanity, despite how we look, who we love, what we think, or how we choose to live.

We cannot protect people who are trans from all hatred and consequences, but we can speak out on their behalf. They do not need any special rights, just plain old human rights.

“Rights” are not something governments can give or take anyway. They are inherent to being human, to being alive. It is sad that we have to keep reminding the world that all people deserve equal rights, but I am glad that I live in a city where people and leaders are willing to speak up when needed.

I encouraged the Council to pass this resolution and to keep reminding staff and citizens in Lake Forest Park that we will not tolerate discrimination on any basis. I suggested the City hand out copies of the resolution with all applications for passports with a short note explaining that even though the current federal government does not respect the right to be who you are, this City does.

This community, the schools, and especially our youth are supportive when people come out or transition. At least here, most people tolerate difference. Maybe we can learn from our youth that, in reality, we are all different in some way. Tolerance of difference with real equality and equal protection under the law is the basis for a real democracy.

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