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I have requested that My Edmonds News post my May 16, 2023 email to the Edmonds City Council below. Since the May 15 meeting, the concerns of the gentlemen who expressed concern about being taxed out of his home has weighed heavy on me. My concern is that residents who have lived in Edmonds for…

A request was made that candidates who are seeking public office in Edmonds pledge to contribute their unused campaign contributions to a local charity/nonprofit of their choice. The full article about the pledge can be found here (Reader view: Will candidates pledge to support charities? – My Edmonds News). I’m reporting with great pleasure that…

There was a recent article in My Edmonds News about the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission seeking guidance on how candidates for elected office can use left-over campaign contributions. While the article itself may have somewhat flown under the radar of most of us, there were a number of very good observations and suggestions posted…

Editor’s note: The following was sent to the Edmonds School Board and Superintendent, and has been published here with permission. I am writing to express how deeply concerned I am about the Edmonds School District budget cuts proposal for next year and the deep impacts they would have on the performing arts across our school…

The following was sent to members of the Edmonds City Council. It’s being republished here at the author’s request. Residents of Washington for the most part are tree-huggers. If and when they make a decision to remove a tree, one that is threatening their homes and their personal safety, or has become so large that…

Angie Feser, Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Human Services Director, gave an introduction at the Edmonds City Council meeting of March 21, 2023 about what she termed a “fast-moving project” to add a park in South Edmonds. This interested me, as I have lived blocks from this property — located at 9302-9306 232nd St. S.W. —…

I recently attended a get-together where everyone was in the “senior” age group. Surprisingly, the conversation had two divergent topics – travel now that COVID is “over” and property taxes. Many in the group were very upset by the increase this year in their property tax bill. And, not without reason, those engaged in the…

The Edmonds City Council last Tuesday evening was given a presentation about a 1.09-acre site the city hopes to purchase in south Edmonds for additional parkland. The asking price is said to be $1.3 million. If the city does move forward to buy the property, the parks director has said, that acquisition would fill the…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….

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),…

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…

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…

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…