Op-Ed: Democratic and Republican Party Leaders call for reform

King County Democrats Chair Bailey Stober and King County Republican Party Chair Lori Sotelo issue a joint call for reform of Washington's public disclosure laws.


The voters created the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) and many of our current campaign finance rules by initiative in 1972 with the purpose of increasing transparency in the financing of political campaigns in Washington State.

Recently, weaknesses in outdated public disclosure laws have been exploited by a few individuals who have filed hundreds of mostly inconsequential public disclosure complaints with the PDC and Attorney General’s Office. This was not the intent of the people when they created the PDC.

“Public disclosure law was enacted through voter approval of Initiative 276 over four decades ago by Washington State residents who believed they had the right to know who was funding campaigns. We both couldn’t agree more. 

"What we don’t agree with is the individuals and organizations using hard working public servants and our state agencies to level political shots at one another. The hundreds of public disclosure complaints have cost taxpayers a magnitude of money that could be spent elsewhere, such as updating services and technology used in compliance with disclosure laws.  

"Additionally, the frivolous complaints are costing both political parties time, money and resources that could be better spent on engaging, educating and advocating for our voters across King County. We are calling on lawmakers and state officials to come to the table to figure out solutions for the good of Washington State.”

Both Stober and Sotelo have committed to working together and with state legislative leaders to ensure common sense reforms are made during this legislative session.

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Op-Ed: LFP Candidate forum highlights experience and passion

Incumbent council members John Resha and Mark Phillips answer
questions at the LFP candidate forum by LWV moderator Kathy Sakahara
Photo by Amy Whittenburg

By Donna Hawkey

The candidate forum in Lake Forest Park on October 18, moderated by the League of Women Voters and sponsored by Third Place Commons, highlighted the choices of experienced city council incumbents versus personally passionate opposers and an interesting situation for the school board position.

The voters will decide whether a City Council candidate in place is a good fit going forward when the City is at its most pivotal decision making point in an over 50-year history. The most important decisions will take place in the next 18 months. Or does the city need new voices to move forward in some different directions?

In the race for Shoreline School Board Position No. 2, the big question is; do the voters feel comfortable giving this position to a Shoreline resident who is a college instructor with strong political experience, or do they want a Lake Forest Park resident with a decade of volunteer experience in school organizations? Jill Brady lives in Lake Forest Park and is not associated with any government. Heather Fralick lives in Shoreline and is the wife of the Mayor of Shoreline.

Because school board directors have to live in the district associated with the position, there are only two positions that a Lake Forest Park resident can run for. Debi Ehrlichman, who is retiring, is the only Lake Forest Park resident on the board.

Back to the City Council race, the voters will decide if the current failed Central Subarea community process caused them to lose confidence in this government and staff decisions to the point of upsets in either City Council Position No. 3 or Position No. 7. Councilmember John Wright, who has 30 years experience as an engineer with Metro Transit, currently holds Position No. 3. “We have only one chance to get this right,” he said, referring to the new Central Subarea Plan which includes Sound Transit 3 planning. He also feels he is the only pure “independent voice” on the current City Council and especially when it involves the more controversial issues, mentioning that he is often the "one" vote in a 6 to 1 decision.

Councilmember John Resha has been acting as the City’s budget chair and says he has served the budget process well even with increased spending in some areas of identified need. “ As we go forward as community, I hope to continue leading efforts for financial stability and stewardship, environmental protections, and developing local solutions with the people of Lake Forest Park through open dialogue and experienced delivery,” (from Councilmember Resha’s recent NextDoor re-introduction posts.) Councilmember Resha also spearheaded the City’s recent tree ordinance update.

The City of Lake Forest Park, Mayor Jeff Johnson, along with City Council and City Staff, did take swift action in recently breaking an up to $200,000 outside Central Subarea services contract that wasted considerable time and energies during an already rushed process for a complex set of projects. Going forward the City Council is promising to really find ways to engage the residents. They learned from this false start and have taken responsibility for what has happened. But will they keep moving ahead on their promises to improve “two-way communication?”

Some residents are still upset from past experiences with the city. Sanctuary and compassionate city issues brought one candidate, Ben Gonzalez O’Brien to the forums, and another, Nick Negulescu, stepped forward after concerns over rumors about rezoning in his neighborhood.

Now both of these opposing candidates say they are hearing loudly from other Lake Forest Park residents that they are tired of the same old lack of communication that has been its own historical rub for too long.

Ben Gonzalez O’Brien for City Council Position No 3 runs his overall platform around “Community, Accountability, Environment.” Ben especially is interested in developing a ten-year plan for the creation of affordable housing in LFP to address increasing housing prices and a lack of senior living facilities. Being a Professor of Political Science, Ben feels that gives him independent thinking perspective. He pledged to hold “office hours” to talk with constituents, push for more community forums, and work on outreach to our low-income and minority communities.

Candidate Nick Negulescu is mounting a last-minute campaign for City Council Position No. 7 as a write-in, challenging the more budget experienced Councilmember Resha for his seat. Nick is a resident living nearby the Town Center in what would be one of the neighborhoods most affected by any ST3 parking garage or other Town Center development.

The most important thing to remember though, is just to vote, and always do your own homework before you vote. Some candidates have websites that can be easily googled by using their name and city/state.

No matter who you choose to vote for, take responsibility for that decision and get involved however you can. Together we can make sure all the winners follow through on their campaign promises!

Thanks to all these candidates for your service.


Donna Hawkey is a 21 year Lake Forest Park resident and can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net.  She has personally endorsed Jill Brady.

Updated to change article to Op-Ed category and correct schools in  

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CORRECTION: Richmond Beach Road and Richmond Beach Drive

CORRECTION: On the op-ed published yesterday, (Op-Ed: Where do City Council candidates stand on Point Wells?) editorial staff added a photo of Richmond Beach Drive with a photo caption that actually referred to Richmond Beach Road.

The caption (now corrected) incorrectly stated that Richmond Beach Drive would have 22,000 daily trips. The caption should have said that Richmond Beach Drive would have 11,500 trips.

Richmond Beach Road will have 22,000 daily trips.

Here is the corrected article.

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Op-Ed: Where do City Council candidates stand on Point Wells?

Richmond Beach Drive would have 11,500 daily trips
Photo by Diane Hettrick

Tom McCormick is working with of a coalition of Shoreline residents and organizations opposing the proposed Point Wells development

By Tom McCormick

The Point Wells project in Snohomish County is expected to generate 11,000 or more average daily trips traveling on City of Shoreline roads.

(The City’s 2013 agreement with the developer (BSRE) assumes for study purposes that the Point Wells project will generate up to 11,587 average daily trips.)

The only road to Point Wells is Richmond Beach Drive, a two-lane road with just 500 average daily trips today. Richmond Beach Road would be used too; its current traffic volume would double to nearly 22,000 average daily trips.

The City and BSRE are on a collision course. Projected Point Wells traffic will exceed three City-adopted limits and contribute to traffic congestion throughout Shoreline:

• City Limit 1: Traffic on Richmond Beach Drive is not to exceed 4,000 average daily trips (see the Point Wells Subarea Plan). NOTE: In 2011, BSRE filed a petition with the Growth Management Hearings Board challenging the City’s 4,000 average daily trip limit. The City and BSRE have mutually agreed on 27 separate occasions to extend (delay) the proceedings, apparently hoping that they can reach a settlement — BSRE would probably want a trip limit near 11,000 average daily trips.

• City Limit 2: Traffic volume on arterials like Richmond Beach Road is not to exceed 90% of the road’s maximum capacity (this 0.90 V/C standard is in the City’s development code). NOTE: After Richmond Beach Road becomes three lanes next year, it will have a spare capacity at the top of the hill (west of 8th Ave NW) of about 4,000 - 5,500 average daily trips. More traffic than this would exceed the City’s 0.90 V/C standard. The spare capacity east of 8th Ave NW will be even less — perhaps 1,000 or so average daily trips. In contrast, the Point Wells project is expected to generate 11,000 or more average daily trips.

• City Limit 3: Wait times at intersections with stoplights are not to exceed 55 seconds under the level of service “D” standard in the City’s development code. NOTE: After Richmond Beach Road becomes three lanes, one’s average wait time for eastbound morning traffic at the stoplight at the top of the hill (8th Ave NW) would jump to 187 seconds with Point Wells — a delay of more than three minutes! (Source: August 2016 Traffic Analysis done for BSRE, page 35)

How does BSRE propose that things be fixed (mitigated) so that it can shoehorn 11,000 or more average daily trips onto City roads without violating the City’s traffic limits? On page 88 of the Traffic Analysis, under the heading, ”Richmond Beach Road Rechannelization Impacts and Mitigation”, it proposes fixing some intersections, and getting the City to do the following three things (the Traffic Analysis does not address Richmond Beach Drive’s 4,000 average daily trip limit):

• BSRE Mitigation 1: Allow traffic volumes to exceed 90% of maximum capacity. COMMENT: Mitigation typically involves improving one’s roads to increase capacity or, for example, downsizing a proposed development to decrease the amount of traffic that is generated. In contrast, BSRE’s idea is to convince the City Council to revise its rules to let traffic volumes exceed 90% of maximum capacity — that’s not mitigation, that’s congestion.

• BSRE Mitigation 2: Undo the rechannelization of the segment of Richmond Beach Road west of 8th Ave NW, reverting back to four lanes. COMMENT: If, with current traffic volumes, the City Council deemed it wise to convert Richmond Beach Road from four lanes to three lanes for safety reasons, then one would expect that it would refuse to go back to four lanes when traffic doubles due to Point Wells. Reverting to four lanes would make Richmond Beach Road far more accident prone and less safe than before.

• BSRE Mitigation 3: Widen to five lanes the segment of Richmond Beach Road between 3rd Ave NW and 8th Ave NW. COMMENT: It is not possible to build five lanes within the City’s 60-foot right-of-way, with sidewalks, bike lanes, and amenity zones. If the City keeps its promise not to condemn private property to widen Richmond Beach Road, then a five-lane road is not viable unless BSRE could acquire sufficient property or easements all along Richmond Beach Road to widen it.

What will the City Council do when pressed by BSRE? Will the City Council stand firmly behind its three traffic limits, reject BSRE’s three mitigation ideas as being contrary to City limits and policy, and fight in court if necessary?

Snohomish County, the permitting agency, has said informally that they intend to honor the City’s level of service “D” standard and perhaps the City’s 0.90 V/C standard, but will they?

Will the City Council fight any efforts by Snohomish County to let BSRE build a project that generates far more traffic than our roads can handle as determined by the City’s three traffic limits? It is well known that the City wants to annex Point Wells thereby deriving a new source of revenue (see the Point Wells Subarea Plan).

Will the City Council let our roads be congested in exchange for BSRE’s promise to let the City annex Point Wells?

Who we vote for in this year’s City Council election may affect what happens with Point Wells. 

To the candidates: Do you pledge to stand firmly behind the City’s three traffic limits, reject BSRE’s three mitigation ideas, and fight to ensure that Point Wells does not generate more traffic than our roads can comfortably handle?

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Op-Ed: Voting is not enough: Why You Should Go to Candidate Forums

By Tom Petersen

Anybody can look good in a brochure. Anybody can print and post signs. But you wouldn't consciously vote for "just anybody," would you?

The idea undergirding our American Republic from the very beginning is that we have a participatory democracy: that an informed electorate selects its representatives and public servants from among those they know, contact them frequently, and return them to office or bounce them as the quality of their service would deserve. The office holders themselves are assumed to make every practicable effort to stay in touch with their constituents.

If it doesn't always seem to work that way, it's not for lack of opportunity. Over the next two weeks, candidates for city council, school board, fire commissioner, sheriff, county executive, the wastewater board, and more will be speaking and campaigning at neighborhood community meetings and specially promoted gatherings in Shoreline.

It's your chance to "get behind and beyond the brochure:" see for yourself what these people who would speak for you are really like, answer the questions you'd like answers to.

Equally important, the office seekers get to see you. You are not a poll number, a demographic slice, a category: you are a person with a life and a community and friends and neighbors, and politicians need to see that, feel that, and be reminded of that.

Speaking of neighbors: they see you too. The strongest communities anywhere in this nation are those where people are secure in the knowledge that other people care, too, and people know each other and put some effort into working together and with their public servants to maintain the general welfare and preserve domestic tranquillity. Going to candidate forums in advance of an election sends a powerful message.

Here's hoping to see a great many of you at the events between now and Election Day!

Candidate forums this week

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Op-Ed: Act NOW to Show Your Support for Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy

The following is a statement from the staff of NUHSA - North Urban Human Services Alliance

If you believe a healthy community begins with all of us, now is the time to act!

The King County Veterans and Human Service Levy connects military veterans and people who are vulnerable to programs and services that help them live healthy, productive and meaningful lives. It helps individuals and families, remain stable in their homes, find affordable housing, get job training, find employment, receive behavioral health treatment, and more.

The current Levy will expire at the end of this year, so officials have been working to gather input on a new proposal for 2018 to 2025. The new levy has added Seniors to its focus: it is being proposed as the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy.

NUHSA and other human service agencies are recommending a minimum of 12 cents for this Levy (15 cents would be even better!).

A reduction in the levy amount would mean millions less for seniors, people with disabilities, homeless people, people struggling with mental illness, people struggling to overcome addiction and incarceration and their children and families all left out in the cold.

Losing this funding would have a tremendous and negative impact on our area. In Shoreline, nearly 16% of our residents are over 65; in LFP, the number is almost 18%.

Furthermore, more than 26% of people in Shoreline are living at or below 200% of the poverty level, and more than 11% in LFP are living at this level. 

(The Federal Poverty Level for a household of 2 is $18,670 for a family of 4, it's $28,290. As you can imagine, even living at 200% of poverty level provides significant and highly impactful challenges for people in our area.)

If you agree with NUHSA and the human services organizations in North King County and throughout all of the County that a healthy community starts with valuing and supporting all our citizens--especially our most vulnerable--please act now to let your Councilmember know.

Call or email your King County Councilmember and let them know that you agree the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy should be 12 cents at a minimum-- or even better, 15 cents!

For Shoreline, LFP, and Kenmore, our Councilmember is Rod Dembowski: 206-477-1001 rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov

What else you can do:

• Levy Board meetings are open to the public. Find out more here
• Learn more about the Levy here

F.A.Q.s

The proposed measure will cost the owner of an average home in King County - currently $450,000 - about $3 more each month. The owner of an average home currently pays about $1.50 per month to fund the levy, which will go up to $4.50 per month if it is renewed.

The new levy will generate just over $400 million over the next six years, that's $66 million each year, continuing our commitment to veterans and vulnerable populations - and meet the needs of our region's growing senior population.

Yes, this tax is regressive since the only tools we currently have to work with all are. At the same time, this levy includes an exemption/rebate on property taxes for lowest income seniors, so they will actually pay less taxes if it passes than they would if the levy is not implemented.

The members of the King County Alliance for Human Services provide a range of services that help strengthen communities and families across the county at all points in the life-cycle, from early childhood to aging well. We help people going through crises like domestic violence, homelessness, or food insecurity, as well as our supporting our youth and seniors.

~~~

NUHSA aims to build the community’s capacity to respond to human service needs in North King County, encompassing the cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville.

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Op-Ed: State Insurance Commissioner reacts to the U.S. Senate Health Bill

Insurance Commissioner
Mike Kreidler

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate today releasing its draft health care bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: 

"The Senate Republicans drafted their health care bill in secret, and now we know why: It will erode the stability of our health insurance market and cause people – especially those who are sick or poor - to pay significantly more for less coverage.

"This is not partisan rhetoric, it’s how insurance works. By removing the individual mandate, you guarantee that fewer healthy people will get coverage. If only people who need coverage buy it, the costs will rise for everyone. By removing the funding for cost-sharing subsidies, people will face unaffordable deductibles and copays.

"The Senate bill is not a mirror image of what the House passed, but the result is the same: It will seriously destabilize the health insurance market and harm the millions of individuals and families who have counted on having access to meaningful and affordable coverage.

"The Senate bill makes deep cuts that will directly harm people who rely on Medicaid for their insurance. It reduces the number of middle-income people who qualify for premium subsidies and rolls back the Medicaid expansion starting in 2021. Medicaid covers half of all births in our country, and cutting its funding jeopardizes the health of women and children.

"Like the bill passed by the U.S. House, it allows states to waive requirements to cover essential health benefits such as contraceptives, maternity care and mental health care. And just like the House Republicans, Senate Republicans have rushed through their legislation in the dark of the night and without a thorough examination of the costs and effects on consumers by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Up to 24 million Americans would lose coverage under the House version and we estimated that 700,000 people in Washington state could lose coverage if the bill becomes law.

"My review of the Senate plan has just begun, and the CBO score – expected next week – will shed light on the true impacts we can already begin to see.

"As I’ve said many times before, we can make meaningful improvements to the Affordable Care Act that will help people in real ways using sound insurance principles, including tackling rising out-of-pocket costs for medical services and the surging prices of prescription drugs.

"The latest bill pushed in secrecy by the Republican-controlled Congress will not bring relief to anyone other than the wealthy in search of another tax break. Everyone should be able to buy health insurance, regardless of their income, age or health. Republicans are targeting the very same people they are sworn to represent, and people’s lives are at risk."

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Op-Ed: Washington state robbing kids of most important rite of passage

Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-32

Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, issued the following statement as more than 15,000 high school seniors will fail to graduate because of not passing one or more statewide high stakes tests:

“While budget negotiators in Olympia continue to receive 30-day extensions to complete their work; more than 15,000 high school seniors in our state are simply out of time. For many, graduation day has already come and gone. There is no going back.

“When did petty political gamesmanship become more important than truly making a difference for thousands of young Washingtonians? Our state cannot rob our kids of one of the most important rites of passage.

“For 81 percent of our state’s public high school graduating seniors, high stakes testing is not an issue. These students passed all three state required tests for graduation: English Language Arts, Math, and Biology. However, for the 15,645 students that failed one or more of these tests, this is an issue. Particularly, special education students, English language learners, low-income, and students of color are disproportionately impacted by the requirement to pass high stakes tests to graduate. Over 10 years of high stakes testing research and experience in our state shows that instead of positive outcomes, we have an achievement gap that grows wider each year. The state does not require private schools to administer these tests as a requirement for graduation.

“The House of Representatives has voted on a bipartisan bill to completely delink high stakes test results from graduation requirements three times this year. Unfortunately, when it is the Senate Republican Majority’s turn to act they push for only delinking the biology exam, thereby ignoring the bulk of the students who are penalized by these tests. I view this lack of action as a failure of leadership and of governance.

“One of my young constituents contacted me with a desperate plea after failing the English exam by one point. Only one point stands between this student and their high school diploma. High school graduation is the touchpoint by which you measure your life. We ought to show our high school seniors that state government can be an instrument of good and change lives for the better.

“The quality of our students’ education is more important than test results. Scholars and researchers recognize that the Smarter Balanced assessments were not designed to assess whether a student should be advanced to another grade level or if a student has demonstrated the competencies to graduate from high school. In short, by continuing to require passage of all three high stakes tests we are perpetuating a highly flawed system.

“Washington state is currently on the wrong side of history on this issue, as one of thirteen states, down from 27, across the United States with high stakes tests in place for the graduating class of 2017. Increasingly, offices of college admissions recognize that a student’s high school record is a more accurate prediction of success in higher education than a standardized test. By making standardized tests optional at the college level, schools are able to obtain more diversity without any loss in academic quality. It is a ‘win-win’ for both students and schools.

“I believe that our students should be accountable for their education; however, that accountability must not rob them of their future, or one of life’s precious milestones. These kids’ hearts are breaking.”

Sen. Chase represents the 32nd legislative district in the Washington state legislature. The 32nd includes Shoreline, Woodway, parts of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and northwest Seattle.

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Op-Ed: A love letter to the Shoreline Fire Department and Medics

Shoreline Fire Medic One van
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline resident G.M. Wiegand is a contributor to the Shoreline Area News

On Thursday, the 18th of May, I met members of the Shoreline Fire Department: the professionals who come to help when one calls 911.

I am 76 years old, severely hearing impaired, suffer from extreme Asthma and a number of other ailments, all associated with maturing (getting older).

I had been struggling with allergies (in response to pollen) and suddenly could not catch my breath, felt my heart race, had chills, felt dizzy, felt shaky, ran a temperature, in short: felt totally out of control.

I am not given to panic, but this was scary.

My daughter, also a Shoreline resident, after consulting with my Doctor, called 911.

And the Shoreline Fire Department came.

..with a Truck

...and several competent Professionals.

The individual in charge (whose name I do not remember) was courteous, competent, calm, reassuring and exuded a sense of being able to handle the situation, that allowed me to turn things over to him, and concentrate on not falling apart.

In addition to all that, he truly paid attention to the fact that I am hearing impaired.

I lipread to understand what is said to me. It is essential that I be able to see the lips of the individual talking to me. If I do not see them, I get a sense of being isolated, and have no idea about what is going on: in a situation like this, it is truly frightening. 

The Fire Fighter who took care of me maintained eye contact with me, kept his face turned to me and made sure that I understood what he said and what was going on.

After a while, a Shoreline Fire Medic van arrived, staffed by similarly competent, confidence-infusing Medics. They loaded me up and transported me to the hospital: driving quickly and gently (no two-wheeled maneuvers), again exuding a sense of competence and calm that allowed me to concentrate on staying calm.

The two of them stayed with me until I was checked into the emergency room.

As it turned out, it was appropriate that I checked into the Hospital: I stayed for 4 days.

I am home now, recovering, and thinking about the whole experience.

I felt the need to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Shoreline Fire Department: Not only are your Personnel chosen carefully and appropriately, but they are trained remarkably well.

Thank You.

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Op-Ed: Gov. Inslee - bring in the National Guard for the Seattle May Day March

May Day March 4th Ave  Seattle 2008
Wikimedia Commons

Shorewood students Jacob Delaney, Tyler Hanthorn, and Keegan Cass have written an open letter to Gov. Jay Inslee with their concerns about the Seattle May Day March. They plan to deliver the letter to his office on Thursday.

Dear Governor Inslee,

We write to you today as concerned citizens and students from Shorewood High School. In light of recent developments in our region and across America, we fear this year’s May Day protest march may likely turn dangerous.

We ask you to carefully consider calling the Washington National Guard into Seattle to protect life and property in the event that the protests become violent.

People are angry. People are scared. They see messages of peace but they are tarnished by the violent actions of a righteously angered people claiming the same values as the ones preaching love. Many of these people do not see a peaceful, non-adversarial approach to ending hatred.

We see our friends losing faith in the government’s ability to impose order, enact just legislation, and keep the peace.

On January 20th, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Following President Trump’s inauguration, many protests broke out across the nation, including in the great City of Seattle. The largest protest in the city that day was a peaceful protest, organized by the Socialist Alternative, that began in Westlake Park.

However, upon their arrival in Red Square at the University of Washington, where a crowd had gathered to see controversial journalist Milo Yiannopoulos, a group of black bloc* rioters emerged from within the otherwise peaceful protest group and began using acts of violence to force people away from the event.

*[Ed. Wikipedia. "A black bloc is a name given to groups of protesters who wear black clothing, scarves, sunglasses, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing and face-protecting items."]

We were in Red Square when the protests got out of hand. We watched as our friends and neighbors were assaulted and robbed by black bloc rioters. We ran from Red Square to the sound of gunfire.

On the news that night, we saw Seattle Police Chief O’Toole proudly announce that no arrests were made and that the night was a good night for free speech. She may have been right; she may have been wrong, but from the experience we had, this was not a reassuring message. We felt as if the police had been ordered to stand down against a threat to public safety and as a result we did not feel safe in Red Square.

In the weeks since January 20th, we have seen our peers become more open to violent solutions. We have watched our friends on both ends of the political spectrum defend recent political violence and express support for further violence as they see necessary. Outside our community, rallies and protests across the Pacific Northwest have led only to increased tensions.

Marchers for Trump in Lake Oswego, Ore., brought in militants from the Three Percenters for security when a small group of progressives arrived to counter-protest their rally. In Berkeley, Calif., fights routinely break out between the increasingly militant right-wing group the Order of the Alt-Knight and the left-wing militant group By Any Means Necessary. There is an atmosphere of anger, fear, and hate, and it appears to be nearing its boiling point.

On May 1st, there is going to be a protest march in Seattle. In recent years, the annual May Day protests have often gotten out of hand and devolved into riots. Last year on May 1st, people were injured and property was damaged; Seattle police were attacked with rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails. Considering the history of these protests and the growing tension since President Trump has taken office, there is a legitimate fear that this year's May Day protest may likely turn dangerous.

Present at this event will be at least three groups: peaceful protesters, black bloc rioters, and the Seattle Police Department. Also with the recent formation of the Alt-Knights and other calls to action within right-wing circles, it is not unlikely that there may be a violent right-wing resistance to the black bloc rioters as well.

Given the current social and political environment, any spark of violence, chaos, or destruction could undermine the entire purpose of the march, putting countless lives in danger in the process. In addition to the threat to life, we are concerned about acts of arson, vandalism, and looting that occur in these riot situations.

To this end we strongly urge you, the governor, to consider the placement of the Washington National Guard in Seattle for this protest march on the first of May.

We believe the National Guard is suitable for this situation because the stated mission of the Washington National Guard is to, “on order of the Governor, support the civil agencies that have the primary responsibility to protect life and property, and preserve the peace, order and public safety.” 

The May Day protest this year could pose a threat to life and property, as well as peace, order, and public safety.

Concern will be expressed about the presence of a paramilitary organization at the site of a nonviolent protest. Their concern is justified, but so long as the purpose of this placement is to safeguard life and protect property, and so long as this goal can be achieved with integrity and respect for all human life present, including the crowds they will be forced to control, we believe that the presence of the Guard could be instrumental in avoiding a tragedy this year.

If it cannot be ensured that the Guard will be providing for the safety of the protesters, citizens, and police, then they should not be placed in the city. This is not the only solution, and it may not be the best solution, or the one you ultimately arrive at, but it is an option that must be seriously considered because of the severity of this threat.

This is an important decision to make but it must be made carefully. Bringing in the National Guard could save lives, but if implemented poorly it could further increase public distrust in the government. The views of the people will need to be taken into consideration, since this is likely to be a major event our state’s largest city, but the call will ultimately be yours to make, Governor Inslee.

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Op-Ed: Shoreline STEM Festival and Science Fair is a "Must-See"

A young exhibitor at last year's Shoreline STEM Fair
Photo by Peter Tong

Ray Koelling lived in Lake Forest Park for 25 years. His son went through Shoreline Schools from LFP Elementary to Kellogg to Shorecrest.

Ray organized the Shoreline Science Fair at Shoreline Community College over five years ago. Now that he has moved to Spokane, others are running the Fair, with Ray's enthusiastic support.

~~~~~~~

By Ray Koelling

I would like to offer my full and enthusiastic support for the “must see” Shoreline STEM Festival and Science Fair. It is being held May 20, 2017 at Shoreline Community College.

My name is Ray Koelling. Mariko and I lived in Lake Forest Park until recently. Our son Kennosuke went through the Shoreline School District and graduated Shorecrest in 2010. Currently he is about to finish his Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering at UW.

About six years ago, I helped organize and start up the very first edition of the Shoreline Science Fair. Great people helped with that original fair and each year the fair continues to grow, expand and improve.

It is an important event in K-12 STEM education for the local region and worthy of everyone’s support. 

Whether a student eventually will work in a STEM profession or not, it cannot be over-emphasized how critical it is for every person in society to have a firmer and more solidly grounded idea about STEM.

Environmental, local, personal, global, political, social, technological and economic decisions are currently being made almost entirely emotionally and irrationally by societies. 

Unfortunately, without the critical “thinking through” and reasoning that is a basic and easily learned tool and forms the very fiber of STEM, positive progress in society is elusive, sporadic and can even come to a dead stop.

Although I came to Spokane to retire, I’m now on the lecture faculty for the UW School of Medicine in Spokane. I’ve not forgotten students and science fairs. I’m still on the Board of the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (the 60th year, March 31/April 1 in Bremerton). Hoping to see some of you there.

Additionally, on March 16, the first ever Eastern Washington Regional Science and Engineering Fair was held in Spokane and which I helped organize and start. At least 25 students and teachers from that fair will travel 300 miles and attend the state fair in Bremerton. The big news is that two superior projects and students from Spokane are being sent, all expenses paid, directly to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles this May to compete against 1,800 high school students from 70 countries. I hope Shoreline will one day soon be represented at both state and internationally.

From President Obama’s 2011 State of the Union Address: “The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations.” “We need to teach our kids that it is not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the Science Fair”.

Please come see the 700 students and projects from all around the state in Bremerton March 31 and April 1. And look me up then.

Do be sure to attend the Shoreline Fair on May 20. Think about and see how your kids can turn a good science project into awards, scholarships, cash and other prizes of over a million and a half dollars we give away every spring at the Washington State Fair. Shoreline students deserve the chance to be part of those rewards and have that lifetime opportunity.

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Op-Ed: Shoreline's Deep Green Incentive program will sacrifice livibility

Shoreline residents Pamela Cross, Barbara Twaddell, and Margaret Willson are deeply concerned about the unintended consequences of the Deep Green Incentive program. Shoreline documents can be viewed here.
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The City of Shoreline has made a commitment to reduce harmful community greenhouse emissions by, among other things, encouraging the construction of environmentally friendly or “Green” homes.

Our concern is that applying their proposal in single family home neighborhoods will sacrifice the livability of our beautiful city.

The City has insisted that developers need incentives to build Green because:

• the houses are expensive to build
• there are few contractors qualified to build them
• and demand is relatively low.

In our subsequent research we have learned that Green houses can be expensive to build. But an article in the Seattle Times 1/28/2017, section D. states:

“One of the biggest misconceptions about Green living is that it is more expensive. In many instances, it’s easy to get wasteful by purchasing products that are poorly made or lackluster performers. 

"As a result, those items are discarded and new ones purchased. Eco-friendly products in many instances are extremely well made and may be more durable and long-lasting. These materials may even end up saving you money.”

So if you focus on materials and energy efficiency, you can have an eco-friendly home that will save you money on utilities and not add unnecessary pollutants to Shoreline streams and lakes.

Are there a limited number of Green builders? Is there any demand?

We looked up Built Green, the second company listed in the Shoreline proposal. From their website we learned they work with over 200 builders certified to build these houses. They have completed over 27,000 Built Green Certified Homes.

So now we wondered, do we need to provide incentives for Green building?

Seattle offers faster permit review and streamlined processing for Green building projects. They have formed an advisory committee to review and assist with proposals that have items that may not be covered in the current technical codes.

Hmmm. There is no mention of financial incentives. What is Shoreline proposing to offer?

Shoreline’s Proposed Deep Green Incentive Program (DGIP)

The incentives proposed by Shoreline to increase eco-friendly construction of single family homes include:

1. waiving of permit fees, licensing fees, and application fees.
2. departures from current building codes, such as setback distances from neighbors, and coverage standards (the maximum percentage of the lot that can be covered by the house).
3. a bonus to build another house or two on the same lot! 

AND! the entire lot does not have to be buildable to qualify for two houses. If part of the land slopes steeply, which is not unusual in Shoreline, then the houses can still be placed on the buildable part of the land because the developer can apply for other available code departures including setback and lot coverage standards.

If the houses fail to meet Certification requirements, there are financial penalties for the developer. However, the houses are already built - and that is a permanent penalty for the neighborhood.

Shoreline City Council will be discussing DGIP at their public meeting on March 27, 2017 and adoption of the measure is planned for April 17, 2017.

You can email the City Council at council@shorelinewa.gov or attend the meeting and speak there. Either way, be sure to provide your input before the Council votes, because once DGIP is accepted by the Council your ability to change it will be gone.

--Pamela Cross, Barbara Twaddell, and Margaret Willson

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Op-Ed: Thank you, Voters!

Superintendent Rebecca Miner

Rebecca Miner is the Superintendent of Schools for the Shoreline School District

Now that the school bond election has been certified by King County Elections with a final approval rate of 74.28 percent, I wanted to take a moment to thank our school district’s voters for helping shape the future of our schools. This continues a tradition of support in our schools that has left a lasting legacy of academic excellence and opportunities for our students, staff and community.

Whether you voted for or against the bond, your participation in the democratic process is what makes our community, state and nation profoundly great. Democracy is a participatory sport, and it takes all of us to make it work.

I especially want to thank the many community members who attended one of the presentations, submitted questions or visited our website for more information about the bond. Your willingness to seek understanding about the proposal is deeply appreciated.

I value the confidence that our voters and community have placed in our school system. The District will continue to act as a good steward of the community’s investment in our schools and provide opportunities for community input and participation in the project design processes. You’ll be hearing more about these opportunities in the coming months.

I look forward to continuing the collaboration together as we continue to build the foundation for our students’ success through the amazing learning spaces that will be developed thanks to the hard work and belief of so many.

In gratitude,
Rebecca Miner
Superintendent

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Op-Ed: weighing the benefits of passing the school construction bond to the risks of failing it

Lisa Surowiec is a long-time neighborhood and PTA leader.

By Lisa Surowiec

You have gotten a ballot. Maybe you've returned it. But maybe it's sitting on your table, because you just aren't sure how to vote. There have been some conversation strings in a couple of places online, and you don't know what's true.

Here are the inescapable facts:

• This is money that will go to Building Schools. Construction. It cannot and will not be used for instruction or classroom activities. It also cannot be shuffled to the general fund.
• McCleary, the Levy Cliff, and all the other school funding scenarios would not affect the running of this bond.
• The capital projects being considered are: rebuilding the 2 middle schools, rebuilding Parkwood Elementary, and constructing an early learning campus where the current Shoreline Children's Center lives.
• You will probably feel the tax increase, but the portion of your overall tax bill going to schools has likely been going down. Check out the King County Property Tax Assessor's website to see the percentage you've been paying.
• There are many different perspectives on this issue. Many that I have heard voiced actually have little to do with whether building these structures is a good idea. We have gotten tied up in some emotional ideas and lost sight of what this bond means. Below, I have addressed some of the concerns that I've heard, from my own personal point of view. I may not have an answer for your perspective, but here are my rebuttals for the arguments I've heard.

For those parents and community members who are still upset because of school closures:

I get it. My oldest daughter was in the most impacted class when Sunset Elementary closed. Not many people fought harder than I did to keep our beloved school open, testifying, researching, and pleading, vilifying the former Superintendent and (probably) terrifying the Board.

A couple of things about that. One, we were wrong. Sue Walker's administration did not actually get us into the dire financial situation we were in, although she made a great target for our ire. They made a spectacular hire in Marcia Harris (and then Marla Miller), and closing those schools and moving those programs likely saved the District's financial future. Did it suck? Yes it did. Are we still under State supervision? Nope. In fact, we have a great credit rating and we qualify for State matching funds of $25M.

The demographic survey at the time showed that we were in a dip, but would eventually get our student population back. It just didn't make sense to operate schools that didn't have enough students to justify the expense. Now that we're out of the dip, the predicted growth is happening (the projections were right), and we officially closed the boundaries to elementary students who do not live in-District (our middle and high schools are NOT overcrowded at this time).

The thing is, this doesn't have anything to do with whether or not we should build these schools. Harboring a grudge or distrust of a previous administration does not mean that an early learning campus is a bad idea, or increasing capacity at Parkwood doesn't make sense, or that the middle schools don't need to be rebuilt.

The District, since those closures, has actually done a very good job with taxpayer money, even retiring a bond early. If they were running rampant, we'd see a bond request for several elementaries, just in case things really got out of control population-wise.

For those who would vote it down because our kids are protesting / demonstrating:

If you just read the publicity around the walkouts, you might think we've lost control of the teenagers, and that the District fully supports and encourages this behavior. Here's how it came across as an Einstein parent...

The school's ultimate responsibility is to ensure the safety of the students, and of course to educate them when they're in school. The understanding is that as with any decision, there are consequences. If you walk out, you need a parent to excuse the absence, or you have an unexcused absence on your record. The school has predictable consequences, and leaves the high fives or groundings to the parents (depending on your family's belief system).

If you don't have a kid in middle or high school, you might not have talked to one recently. There are exceptions, but these kids are paying attention (that would be "woke"). They are reacting to potential threats to loss of rights, and choosing to be visible and participatory when most of them cannot vote. They are learning, through both school and community, that our country allows them the freedom to express those concerns in a walkout, just as others can choose to stay in class and pursue the day's education.

This also has nothing to do with whether it's a good idea to build schools. The fact that some of them exercised their right to make this statement means that they are learning about this country, and about freedom and rights. It would be a great argument in favor of a levy, if we were running one.

For those who think the 6th graders should stay in elementary school:

I understand the arguments against that decision. However, that was done parallel to, rather than as a result of, the bond decision. The middle schools are in need of rebuilding, and these two capital projects were voted on in October. The IPCC finished its work months later. So here we are. A majority of public comment was supportive of moving these kids up, and it will be happening.

If you're uncomfortable with that scenario, the very best place for your energy would be helping to identify the best configuration of the middle school grades and providing input. If you are concerned about their social-emotional learning, perhaps mentoring programs or student mediator programs deserve an advocate? Or you may think it's unconscionable to make decisions propelled by curriculum. But if we don't give kids access to (for instance) true science labs earlier, won't we be then yelling at the School Board when our kids can't compete for spots in great STEM universities because they can't fit advanced science classes into their high school schedules?

6th grade is moving up. Shouldn't we be in favor of supporting them with more secure buildings and better spaces?

For those who think the bond is being rushed:

There has been some surprise from a resident or two who only realized this was going on when they got the first mailing. But the Board vote was in October, and Shoreline Area News reported on it then. And after dozens and dozens of public meetings, everyone should have been reached in at least a couple of different ways.

Yes, there is a lot of publicity around McCleary. That does not mean the District is rushing to push a construction bond through.

For those who think the schools get too much money:

We do invest a lot in our schools. It's one reason we have a great reputation. And yes, roads, healthcare, and human services are important too. But education is important not just so that our community has productive members, but because it really does help break the cycle of poverty. Early childhood programs in particular have been proven to be the biggest bang for our buck. The fact that we're considering building a whole campus for those programs is extraordinary.

For those who think the schools should just be repaired:

It is hard to hear the dates that the schools were constructed, know when our own homes were constructed, and think "well of course they should be torn down." If you are a homeowner, you know very well about all of the things that need repair and regular maintenance.

Remember that schools are different than your home. Every day, hundreds of kids are living hard in these spaces. The materials that were available at the time these were built were only meant to last a couple of decades. Our homes, especially the older ones, were likely built with better materials.

The materials are old, the pipes are old, the designs are old. Could they last a few more years? Sure. But enough has changed since these were constructed that it really is time to rebuild.

Ultimately, we are weighing the benefits to passing this construction bond to the risks of failing it. 

The benefits of passing it are better facilities for the middle school kids, potentially better situations for the surrounding neighborhoods (traffic patterns and other impacts), capacity relief at the elementary school level, and investment in our early learning programs. The risks it are to property values and future attraction of quality educators, but also to neighbors who might struggle with increased taxes.

If you are still on the fence, please go to the School District's bond information page. 

Watch the video. Look at the charts. Go over the information that came out of the Instructional Committee and the Building Committee. Find research on school districts that fail bonds. Bethel: Spanaway market "cold; " Niche #118, School Digger #109 Marysville: market "cool; " hasn't passed a bond in 10 years. Niche #173 , School Digger #119 Shoreline: Niche #10, School Digger #10 market "warm"

And then weigh in. We need 16,002 people to cast ballots to validate the election.

Please vote Yes. 60% +1 passes. The investment is worth it!

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Op-Ed: Support the Fircrest community center with an email

Fircrest Activity Center

By Jean Hilde

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a gathering place that could be the "heart" of our south-end neighborhoods?

A pool and community center where neighbors could come together, in turn giving more cohesion, safety and a sense of community to us all?

Well, Rep. Cindy Ryu has generously offered the opportunity to apply for a community grant that would give us the ability to create such a place on the Fircrest property!

A refurbished pool and activities building would provide countless opportunities for south-end neighbors as well as for Fircrest residents, from swim lessons to water therapy, from cooking classes and catering for neighborhood groups to theater and athletic events, from book clubs and language classes to game nights and cultural events, from senior activities to teen and children's programs.

Adding a pea-patch and outdoor concert area on the lawn near the activities building would give neighbors the opportunity to garden, to picnic while listening to music, and to otherwise get fresh air and exercise.

We south-end residents currently have no communal gathering space to speak of. Many of us do not have the financial ability, the time, the transportation to travel to other City of Shoreline resources, most of which are in the north and west. Our neighborhoods are rich in diversity but financially not so much. We need our own community center and that's exactly what Rep. Ryu's grant could provide!

We will be writing and submitting the community grant application this coming week. The more community support we can show, the better our chances of the application being approved and funded.

If you'd like to help create a gathering place in the heart of Shoreline's southern neighborhoods, feel free to use the draft letter of support here for ideas for your own letter.

Please email your letter for inclusion with the grant application materials we will submit to Rep. Ryu this coming week.

Thanks, all! Together we can make wonderful things happen!

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Op-Ed: Dorn: Court Did Little More than ‘Kick the Can’

The Supreme Court of the State of Washington filed a ruling in the McCleary school funding case. Below is a statement from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn on the ruling.

OLYMPIA - I was more than a little disheartened by the state Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling. Until yesterday, I held out hope that at least the Court understood the importance of the issue.

But now I can count them as more leaders in this state who don’t want to push the hard button to ensure equity in education for all students in Washington.

On its face, McCleary is about funding. As the Court ruled nearly five years ago, the state isn’t providing adequate education funding for our students.

But McCleary is about much more than that. It’s about Zip codes. It’s about the haves and the have-nots. It’s about a funding system – and therefore, an education system – that widens the chasm between wealthy and poor.

And the Court’s response to this chasm? They want to wait yet another session to see what the Legislature does.

They want to kick the can.

Sure, we can wait another session. That won’t be a problem in wealthy districts. Voters there pass bonds, which help build new schools. They pass levies, which can pay extra for teachers, giving those students access to higher quality teaching. But in poor districts, individual homeowners have to pay more for the same levy amounts. Students in those areas simply aren't getting the same 21st century education opportunities as students in wealthy districts.

I worried that in an election year the Court would do nothing. I filed a lawsuit in July because this issue must be resolved. The Legislature has to fix the overdependency districts have on local levies. The Legislature cannot keep passing bills that force districts to spend local levy dollars on basic education. That is the state’s responsibility, not each district’s.

In August I likened the Court to a parent who begs and pleads for the child to clean her room. The child keeps saying, “I will, I will.” The child cleans her closet some, and maybe straightens up her desk, but that’s it. What should a parent do in this situation?

Certainly not to wait a year and ask again.

That’s where we are now. We’re waiting yet another session and hoping the Legislature cleans its room.

Our children deserve better – much better. Our children deserve a world-class education. Our children deserve leaders who don’t bow to political pressure. Our children deserve leaders who care about them every day and every year.

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Op-Ed: National Arts in Education Week

Especially as we begin a new school year, it is important to remember the value of arts education. For decades, research has shown that when students participate in the arts, they go on to succeed in school, work, and life.

Designated by Congress in 2010, the week beginning with the second Sunday in September is National Arts in Education Week: a national celebration of the transformative power of the arts in education. We are celebrating here at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and encourage all supporters of arts, culture, and education to join us.

The new national Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law in December 2015, replacing the No Child Left Behind Act. This new bill fully supports the arts as part of every student's "well-rounded" education. It provides the flexibility for students to learn creatively and for local communities to embrace the arts.

What we know is simple: students attend school more often when they have access to the arts.

However, so often we see gaps in access to arts education in communities across our state and the country. In a public opinion poll, 67 percent of Americans believed that there is not sufficient access to the arts for students to reap the benefits.

As we celebrate National Arts in Education Week, let’s take pause to cheer for our accomplishments, but also remember the work we have to do.

We need to provide equitable opportunities for all of our young people and utilize the new law to create arts-rich schools.

We need to support parents, families, and the community by providing more opportunities for engagement. It's up to us —the arts education community —to take a stand and lead.

Kelly Lie
Arts Education Manager
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council

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Op-Ed: We can end homelessness

By John Wilson, King County Assessor

As I’ve talked to all kinds of folks about affordable housing, I’ve recognized there are many stories to our affordability crisis. I got to hear more of them this week.

For the past couple months, we’ve had a homeless encampment on the second floor plaza of the King County Administration Building. Rather than hand out money, I decided to buy sandwiches and soup. With the help of Catering by Edwin, we handed out sandwiches and a cup of chili to about 60 folks who had been calling the plaza home.

As they got their food, I chatted with them. I wanted to know their stories. Each one was a little different. A tall man with a full backpack on told me how he came from Denver to join a fishing crew headed for Alaska only for the ship to have a mechanical breakdown, never leaving the dock. That left him stranded in Seattle, homeless and without a job.

There was the young couple, trying to find stable housing and employment, so they could get their four-month-old son back from child services. They readily admitted their drug use was a mistake, had cost them their child, and they were determined to get on track so they could be reunited as a family.

There was another couple who lost their apartment and were now living in a tent. She was battling cancer. He was looking for a job.

No one story. No stereotypes. Just too many people and too little housing. Too many people living perilously close to the edge.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, some choose to live in tents as a lifestyle. But there are better, safer, and more effective ways to house people and help reintegrate them into mainstream society.

That’s why I’ve been working with Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, and we’ve identified around 300 publicly-owned locations within the Seattle city limits for possible housing. And I’ve been working with Executive Dow Constantine, his team, County Councilmembers Rod Dembowski and Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Councilmember Bagshaw on a truly innovative approach to short-term housing that could be a model to add thousands of units to our housing stock over the next few years.

We can solve our housing crisis. It can start with something as easy as a sandwich, but it should end with a safe, secure place everyone can call home. It’s just a question of do we have a willingness to do it. I think we do.

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Op-Ed: You can help save the planet

Ava Hamilton, daughter of Michele and Keith Hamilton, just completed the 6th grade at Echo Lake Elementary with teacher Derek Dalasta. Ava is described as "passionate about the environment and what our species can do to improve the planet."


Are you prepared for Earth’s ending? Because it’s happening. And it’s because of climate change. Climate change is evidenced in disasters caused by humans producing too much carbon dioxide, which gets trapped in Earth’s atmosphere. Climate change is a similar topic to global warming (aka the greenhouse effect); global warming refers to average temperatures while climate change is the term for not just global changes, but also differences in precipitation, wind, extreme weather, the length of the different seasons, etcetera.

Climate change is an important topic that should be discussed more often in order to find ways to prevent it. Why? Climate change harms wild creatures, natural damage has been caused by climate change, and climate change prevention will benefit everyone’s lives.

Climate change affects not only humans, yet animals too. For example, animals have had to move north for more suitable climates. Climate change warms temperatures, and causes animals to be unable to live in their original habitat any longer. For instance, fish in the North Sea have been moving north, and some have reached as far as the Shetland and Orkney in northern Scotland islands from their home in Cornwall, in the southern UK.

Another example of damage done to animals is the polar bear species. Polar bears rely on ice water for hunting their main prey, seals. Due to climate change, sea ice has been recorded to be melting at a rate of 9% per decade, and a consequence increasing the chance of polar bear extinction.

One last example of this damage to animals caused by climate change is the effect it has on sea turtles. A sea turtle’s nest temperature completely determines the sex of the sea turtles: colder sites produce male offspring while warmer ones produce female. Thus, climate change threatens the sea turtle species. Climate change has an immense impact on many animals’ lives.

Climate change is currently affecting and has affected natural environment. Ocean acidification plays a role in effect. Ocean acidification is a poisoning to our community; the term is used to describe seawater is changing in result of carbon dioxide raisings.

You may know that shellfish play an important role in Washington, as they are plentiful in the Pacific and are a delicious appetizer for many, making them an important resource to our community’s economy. Ocean acidification can have negative impacts on these important resources.

In addition to that natural damage, droughts, caused by climate change, also may have an impact on the environment. Droughts have occurred more often, due to warming temperatures. Record-breaking droughts happen every decade rather than the originally predicted every half-century.

Consequently droughts, in Eastern Washington in the summer of 2015 for example, are a variable to huge forest fires, and are prone to lead to a never-ending chain of forest fires because of the extreme heat and dryness. Equally important to this, loss of sea ice, rise in sea levels, and more intense heat waves that scientists predicted years ago are now occurring.

A study from NASA showed that recently, carbon dioxide levels reached 400 parts per million! That’s the highest it’s ever been in human history. For thousand of years, the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels never reached beyond 300 parts per million. We need to take action now to prevent further mind-blowing records, and inferences from actually happening.

Indeed, as I’m sure we can all agree by now, climate change is a problem. Prevention of it can benefit the entire community, especially if we do something about climate change now.

Gov. Christine Gregoire once said, “By taking action now, we have a better chance of protecting Washington’s people, jobs, economy and natural resources from climate change risks, taking advantage of our unique position in the Pacific Northwest to increase our competitiveness and helping build resilient communities...” 

In which she meant that our daily life can be easily impacted by climate change, with everything somehow connected to nature. She continued to say, “It’s good government and good business to consider climate impacts as part of ongoing work.” We should always have in mind climate changes’ impacts.

In short, climate change is a serious event that needs to be explored in ways to avert further occurrence. Climate change hurts other species besides humans, natural catastrophes will and have occurred, and there are upsides to aversion of climate change. Climate change needs to be prevented. 

Here are some simple ways you can help:

• Walk more. Walking can not only decrease the amount of carbon production, yet it can improve your health and your mind too.
• Eat locally. Eating locally means less transportation, which means less carbon in the air produced by vehicles of all kinds that move food.
• Drive slower. The faster you drive, the more gasoline contaminates the air. 
• Encourage others to help too! The more help, the bigger impact. Every person can make a difference. 

Sincerely, a concerned student,
Ava Hamilton

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Op-Ed: The Charter School issue is a distraction

By Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-32

A number of people have asked me why I voted for Charter Schools last session. I would like to provide a response.

The Charter School vote was one of the hardest I have ever taken. I voted against Charters in the legislature a decade ago, when the bill passed and was repealed by the voters, and I voted against the initiative to create Charters. However, the initiative passed, very narrowly, but it became the law. Many bills pass the legislature narrowly – the margin doesn’t matter. They become law.

Nine Charters were created as a result of the initiative passing. I went to visit one of those schools, Summit, in January before returning to Olympia. I met many students who had struggled in their schools and were two or three years behind. It was a remarkably diverse population of students with a high percentage on free and reduced lunch. The students I met were excited about their new school and were engaged in their education. I could not see the benefit of closing their school.

My primary focus in the legislature during my entire tenure has been creating opportunities for children and youth who face the greatest barriers to success. That is why I have fought for high quality early learning opportunities for low income children. Research shows that is absolutely the best investment we can make in their future success. A drop-out reengagement bill I passed six years ago has allowed over 4,000 drop-outs to get their high school diploma. I have sponsored bills to improve education for foster children, mental health services for children, and bills to provide stronger support for children struggling to stay in school.

I do not see the Charter School bill as a threat to public education, or I wouldn’t have supported it. The bill we passed limits the number of Charter Schools to 40. We have over 2200 public schools in this state. The funding in this budget for Charters is $10 million. The funding for K-12 is over $18 billion. Charter Schools are not a threat to our public education system. Our failure to fully fund our public schools is the threat; it should be the main focus of this campaign and of the Democratic party this year.

I voted for over a billion dollars in taxes three years ago when the House passed Representative Reuven Carlyle’s bill closing tax loopholes and extending the B&O surcharge. The funding was dedicated to public education. We would likely not currently be in contempt of court if that bill had passed the Senate. We must now raise over $3 billion next year to meet our constitutional obligation. The Charter School issue is a distraction from this imperative.

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Rep. Kagi represents the 32nd legislative district in Washington state House of Representatives. The 32nd Legislative District includes the city of Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, the town of Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of Snohomish County, south Edmonds, the city of Lynnwood, and part of Mountlake Terrace.

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