Opinion

Letter to the editor: Carts and trash by Family Pancake House

Editor: Regarding the carts and trash by Family Pancake House Restaurant. Many thanks to the person who has regularly removed the grocery carts from the bus stop and parking area. The carts would sit there for weeks and it was an ugly eyesore. The bus stop cleaners seem to be paying more attention to this…

Letter to the editor: Geese road rage

Editor: The visiting geese have arrived at Lake Ballinger. What a joy! I consider the geese as pedestrians, so I slow down or stop and enjoy the moments. Other drivers with obese cars are honking, hollering and banging on their car doors and then swerving through the walking geese. Bullying road rage against geese! It…

Reader view: When will the city do the right thing for our creeks?

Here’s a current photo of what a local salmon bearing stream should not look like. This is lower Perrinville Creek, which is now illegally blocking salmon passage because stormwater infrastructure is inadequate to handle heavy rainfall, much of which comes from development in Lynnwood. Over two years ago, when the lower creek was blocked by…

Reader view: Time to act on latest amended housing bill

A major housing bill along with the others are moving through the process in Olympia, targeting single-family neighborhoods in Edmonds and across the state. HB 1110 passed the House only so far and is now open for public hearing input on the Senate side, so please take action today. It can still be defeated or at a…

Reader view: It’s time to tell the technocratic elites — Hands off our town

Just a few days ago, the Washington State House passed HB 1110 with a bipartisan vote of 75-21. In unilaterally taking zoning decision out of the hands of local communities around the state, the Washington State House of Representatives is signaling that it has decided the fate of all of our towns. The entire state…

Reader view: Call to action on four major housing bills

To our Edmonds neighbors and friends, In 2023, there are now four major housing bills coming out of Olympia targeting single-family neighborhoods in Edmonds and across the state. Two are open for public hearing input now, so please take action today. 1. House Bill 1245 will mandate all single-family lots, no matter where located in…

Reader view: Don’t preempt Edmonds’ home rule

Representative Strom Peterson, We are responding to your March 2, 2023 Edmonds Beacon “Guest View: On housing, we need a statewide response.” You state: “this problem is bigger than any one city or county and a piecemeal approach hasn’t worked” Your suggestion that the City of Edmonds extensive work through three Citizens Housing Commissions, Council…

Letter to the editor: Working Families Tax Credit can make a tangible difference

Editor: In my work with Faith Action Network, a multi-faith advocacy coalition, I see faith communities across our state open their doors to their neighbors who need food, transportation, and other emergency assistance. We know one high utility bill or unexpected medical bill can put a family into crisis. That’s why it’s so important to…

Reader view: Top-down approach to housing bills unwarranted, unwelcome

The following was sent to the Washington State legislative delegations that represent Edmonds. We are publishing it here at the author’s request: EdmondsSenator Marko Liias Senator Jesse Salomon Representative Strom Peterson Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self Representative Cindy Ryu Representative Lauren Davis Dear Legislators: An interest in architecture and real estate caused me to notice my surroundings…

Letter to the editor: Work vehicles and traffic safety

Editor: Driving in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, I have witnessed many businesses demonstrating high standards of traffic safety from their drivers … head lights and tail lights on and proper turn signal distances. Spread the word about these smart companies with smart leadership and Drive Smart campaigns! Prince Telecom Office Depot Got Junk? Greenwood…

Letter to the editor: Thanks for golf equipment donations to veterans

To the generous people of Edmonds:  We have delivered your donations of golf equipment for the veterans at American Lake Golf Course. They have been very grateful for your amazing generosity. The need for all kinds of golf clubs and accessories remains and our friends at Reliable Floor Coverings, 542 Main St., Edmonds are continuing to…

Letter to the editor: What a DADU did for my mom

Editor: My stepdad passed away a few years ago, leaving my mom with very insufficient income. We looked at many housing options for her, and even the best one would’ve taken every dime she had in about seven to eight years. Our whole family was worried sick about what was going to happen to her….

Reader view: Taste Edmonds doesn’t belong at Esperance Park

We are a group of concerned citizens that live in unincorporated Snohomish County neighborhood of Esperance. We are writing to express concerns about our beloved neighborhood Esperance Park being potentially destroyed by Taste Edmonds being held at this location. The citizens of Esperance were never notified or included in any of the planning or discussion….

Reader view: A letter asking state representatives to expand housing choice and opportunity in Edmonds

The following letter was sent to members of the state Legislature representing Edmonds and it is being published at the author’s request. To sign this letter, submit the form: https://bit.ly/3EgHWeW. To see who’s signed, click here. Dear legislators: We are residents, parents, workers, students, retirees, renters, homeowners, business leaders, and members of the Edmonds community, proud…

Reader view: Time to show your opposition to housing bill

This year’s housing bill targeting single-family neighborhoods in Edmonds and across the state, House Bill 1110, has been voted out of the House Committee on Housing and will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Please take a few moments to show your opposition to House Bill 1110 by signing in “Con” by 12:30 p.m. Tuesday),…

Reader view: What I discovered about the Edmonds Marsh

I am a 79-year-old lady, recently (within the last five years) transplanted to the Bowl of Edmonds. I was not completely new to Edmonds, having lived right next door in Lynnwood for several decades. But, somehow, I only came to Edmonds for its shops and restaurants. Once I moved here, I began to take walks and to see…

A letter to Gov. Inslee regarding housing

The following letter was sent to Washingon Gov. Jay Inslee and published here at the author’s request. Dear Governor Inslee, There continues to be a huge flaw in all discussions regarding the Growth Management Act (GMA) and planning: the unintended consequences to the environment.  Your Presidential bid had one major platform of the impacts of…

Reader view: Who will benefit from House and Senate housing bills? Follow the money

Pending bills in the state Legislature (HB1110/SB 5190) would require Edmonds and many other cities to rezone to increase the number of housing units on every single-family lot within one-half mile of “rapid transit” or within one-half mile of an “amenity,” defined as a park or a public or private school. On affordability: https://myedmondsnews.com/2023/02/reader-view-house-and-senate-bills-will-not-build-affordable-housing/ On…

Reader view: House and Senate bills will not build affordable housing

I’d like to think our legislators believe HB 1110 (SB 5190) and SB 5466 (HB 1517) will create affordable housing, but since all evidence shows otherwise, it’s clear they’re serving only developers. A Seattle Times editorial states: “HB 1110 includes no authentic proscription to create affordable housing. Instead, it creates market-rate housing.” The editorial claims…

Reader view: Weigh in on HB 1110, SB 5190 before it’s too late

Washington state has a critical middle housing supply shortage. This shortage is particularly acute here in Western Washington. The problem is very real and getting worse rapidly. These “middle housing” bills are not the right approach. These bills will cause far more harm than good. Here is a link to an excellent 2019 TEDx Talk…

Letter to the editor: Sign the petition to oppose state housing bills

Editor: Bills were introduced in last year’s legislative session around issues of land use, zoning, and housing.  When these ill-advised bills were defeated, the sponsors said they would be back this year. A half a dozen bills are before the legislature now that are extreme and draconian and that would revamp land use and zoning…

Reader view: Why choose STEM? What you learn will help you in any career

I’d like to introduce you to the wild world of STEM at Mountlake Terrace High School. STEM (also sometimes known as STEAM) stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art) and Math. While I’m writing this for a class assignment, I think you can tell I’m very excited about the program. At our high school, students can…