Letters to the editor
October 30, 2008
By Administrator
Support for the
community center bond
A remarkable change has taken place in Snoqualmie during the past few weeks as residents discuss the upcoming community center vote. The old divide between the Ridge and historic Snoqualmie is showing welcome signs of dissolving away.
At the Oct. 13 council meeting, former mayor Charles Peterson clearly and publicly stated that it is time for the community to come together and support this effort. He noted the significant investments that the city has and will make in downtown and stated that it is time that we stop looking at all issues through a divisive Downtown/Ridge lens. His statements were a gentle rebuke of comments made by a long time local county (not city taxpaying) resident, who had made disparaging remarks about the motives of Ridge residents in general. This past week, Fuzzy Fletcher wrote a letter to the editor in the SnoValley Star stating, “While Mayor of Snoqualmie I opposed the last ballot measure to build a Community Center in Snoqualmie. I have since reconsidered, and here are my reasons….” In addition, the current pro-community center campaign has a very enthusiastic downtown resident on its committee in the form of Barb Pexa.
This current community center proposal has also garnered the support of Valley-wide community organizations and governments such as Encompass, the Si View Metropolitan Parks District and the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
On the whole, these endorsements demonstrate a remarkable improvement since the early and tumultuous years when Snoqualmie struggled to adjust to the rapid cultural and political changes wrought by being the fastest growing city in the state of Washington. Unfortunately, this remarkable and historic change in tone was altogether missed by the Issaquah writers and Issaquah editorial board of the SnoValley Star. In its Oct. 23 editorial, The Star referred to events from six years ago and proclaimed, with ill-founded self importance, “Snoqualmie needs a plan that unifies the old and new sections of town.” What made this statement appear altogether meddling and misguided was the fact that it was located immediately adjacent to former Mayor Fletcher’s letter.
In the Star’s recent articles about this subject, it was not these former mayors that were quoted, but rather a disgruntled non-city resident who will not even be required to pay taxes should the community center be approved by voters. This type of reporting shows either a complete lack of understanding of the community, or a cynical attempt to solicit more interest in their paper by stirring controversy where little exists. Regardless of the result of the 2008 vote on the community center, Snoqualmie residents should take pride in the new tone and direction the conversation has taken. We are beginning to come together as one community.
Mayor Matt Larson,
Snoqualmie
The proposed Snoqualmie community center will not only provide fitness, sporting, recreation, learning and meeting facilities, it will also strengthen our community and improve our quality of life in ways most of us don’t even think about.
My wife Lisa and I did our homework before moving to Snoqualmie. We learned that street layout, how homes are placed on lots, the inclusion of sidewalks and paths, and the availability of parks, retail and business areas strongly impact how we interact with neighbors and our community. The more gathering places and amenities we have locally, the more connected we are with friends, neighbors, businesses, services and government.
Local services are crucial. The lack of these amenities and having to drive out of town to find them isolates us from each other. The presence of gathering places like the community center not only provides services we want, but it connects us and helps us build relationships within our community.
The benefits of our friendships and connections are huge. Connected communities are safer. Connected communities take better care of kids. Government works better when we know those who serve us. It’s a real pleasure to walk down the street and greet people you know.
Think of your favorite neighborhoods. The people make it special. It’s no exaggeration to say that our lives are richer and more satisfying when we know each other and interact as we go about our daily routines. Long-time residents and newcomers alike value our vibrant small-town environment, and we have the opportunity to preserve and strengthen it further.
We strongly support the proposed community center not only because we’ll love having those amenities close by, but also because we’ll meet others in addition to neighbors and friends, and that enriches all our lives. Vote yes, and we’ll look forward to seeing you there.
Dwight & Lisa Hutchinson,
Snoqualmie
My family and I have lived in Snoqualmie for over 10 years and will be voting yes for this important bond. This partnership between the city of Snoqualmie and the YMCA is the perfect arrangement.
This facility will be all-inclusive (not exclusive like a private health club). It’s for all income levels (YMCA has financial assistance for those in need). It’s for young and old alike. It’s a great way to bind all of Snoqualmie together.
There will be opportunities for people of all ages to create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime while participating in all types of classes. It will be a healthy place where teens will always be welcome in an environment with healthy choices. It would mean reduced driving to other cities for these healthy activities; they will be available right here in our own community.
This is an incredibly affordable amenity for our entire city that will be a major draw for new families considering Snoqualmie as a place to live.
My wife recently spoke with Dick Burhans (long-time Snoqualmie Valley resident and local artist) who is so excited about the opportunity to share his artistic talents with others through art/painting classes by volunteering to teach at the new facility. We’ve seen this excitement with others as well. Our Valley is full of all kinds of wonderful people with talent they are willing to share and this facility is just what we need to create the opportunity to coordinate all types of “teachers” with “students”.
Please, let’s not spend the next 15 years debating this issue while an entire generation grows up hanging out at the grocery store or gas station.
Please vote YES on the Snoqualmie Community Center bond Nov. 4.
Rob Smith,
Snoqualmie
Cat Tales censorship
Kudos to the SnoValley Star for printing the letters of former Cat Tales columnists Quinn Hopkins and Chris Pulliam. What better way for the community to see first hand why Mount Si Principal Randy Taylor needed to edit the student paper? How did these two manage to graduate without understanding the responsibilities attached to their freedom of speech? They both act as if they’ve never heard the word “no” spoken by an adult who actually meant it.
I’m amazed at the unmitigated arrogance to cry censorship when neither displays any appreciation for self-restraint or even good manners. Both exhibit a pronounced sense of entitlement that grants them executive editorial privilege without paying any journalistic dues. Both wanted real-world adult rights in high school. Sorry, guys, much to your obvious frustration, it doesn’t work that way. Your actions/letters prove you’re still not ready.
Get a journalism degree, be a cub reporter, get experience from the bottom up, and then pop off. Maybe then you’ll deserve an audience who will actually pay attention to what you have to say. With your current attitudes, you wouldn’t last a week for a commercial paper where rookies are always edited. It’s called an apprenticeship.
Newbies who insist on lecturing their bosses (yes, boys, your teachers and your school’s administrators were your bosses) will be summarily fired. That’s the way it is in the real world. Calm down, clean up your act, and master your craft or the only people who might hire and retain you are the nut jobs at the ACLU.
Fred Strine
North Bend
Opposition to Jay Rodne
These are trying times when trying to make your vote count for something. How the heck do you vote for, and put a politician in office, when they don’t protect your interests?
Indeed, Representative Jay Rodne has worked for the last two years in direct opposition to the will of the people. The very people that voted him into office. He may be our State Representative, but he is also the legal council for the troubled Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.
In September of 2007, the people in his district voted against funding for a new 70 million dollar hospital. Since then, Mr. Rodne has worked diligently, trying to force this hospital, and it’s huge debt, down the throats of the very people who voted him into office. Exactly how does this reflect the will and interests of the people?
He has encouraged the SVH to appeal the decision to allow Swedish to build their hospital in Issaquah. Swedish is a full-service hospital, with no public taxes. Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is tax-supported, offering very limited services. Again, how is this protecting the interests of the people in his district?
His explanation is that he has to have a job. Being a State Representative doesn’t pay enough to support his family and a guy’s gotta work. So, I guess his employer is more important to him than his constituents. I thought his constituents were his employer.
Let’s let Mr. Rodne have his day job, but kick him out of Olympia!
Make your vote count! Vote for Viebrock, State Representative, District 5.
Herschel Backues,
North Bend
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