Reader view: Prioritizing spending and protecting taxpayers’ dollars

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…

Reader view: Candidates are stepping up to the campaign pledge

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…

Reader view: Will candidates pledge to support charities?

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…

Reader view: Remembering Rosalynn Sumners’ World Figure Skating Championship in 1983

Watching the World Figure Skating Championships on TV a couple of weeks ago brought back wonderful memories of 1983 when our own Rosalynn Sumners won the Ladies’ World Championship in Helsinki, Finland. She and her longtime coach, Lorraine Borman, both lived in Edmonds and our city — actually, the whole state –celebrated in grand style!…

Reader view: Leave tree-removal decisions to homeowners

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…

Reader view: Greenbelt or housing in south Edmonds?

I live on the east side of Highway 104 and have walked and driven in the vicinity of the proposed south Edmonds park on 232nd for over 20 years. Here is some information about this area from the perspective of a neighbor.  – 232nd is the drivers’ cut through route to South Edmonds neighborhoods, Firdale Village,…

Reader view: Density — who decides where it should go? Cities or the state?

The State will soon be telling cities where to put growth and not allow any appeals. The 2023 Washington State Legislature is considering a bill that would require all cities over 25,000 in population to increase density one-quarter and one-half of a mile around major transit stops. The argument made by supporters is that this…

Reader view: South Edmonds needs a working park; say no to proposed land purchase

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. —…

Reader view: What to know about ‘rescuing’ baby cottontails

It’s baby cottontail time! In past years, some well-meaning residents have kidnapped perfectly healthy baby cottontails because they think that the baby cottontails are in distress when they are not. The babies are then taken to local wildlife shelters, which will most likely euthanize them because the Eastern cottontail is considered an invasive species. So instead…

Reader view: Don’t upzone Grandma from her home

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…

Reader view: Perrinville Woods property purchase a better choice for environment

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…