Letters to the Editor
June 2, 2010
By Contributed
Immigration
Democrats need to secure the border
America was angry when Democrats in the United States Congress gave a standing ovation to Mexican President Calderon following his blistering attack upon the recently passed Arizona immigration laws.
Instead of heaping accolades upon a charlatan, the Democrats should have been praising Arizona for doing what the federal government should have done a long time ago. What is it about “illegal” that the Democrats don’t want to understand?
Mexican immigration laws are draconian. “Illegals” in Mexico are treated harshly and thrown into jail. But “illegals” in America get welfare benefits, free education for their children, pay fewer taxes and even get free health care. And we know, legally or illegally, which party they’ll vote for.
An increasing number of illegal crossings are being made by people from Muslim countries, such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, according to some sources. That is why terrorist organizations are using Mexico as their gateway into the United States. Do you think these Arabs and Muslims are coming to America to mow lawns or pick cherries in Washington? Their purpose is obviously much more sinister.
Illegal immigrants or drug smugglers are suspected of murdering Arizona rancher Rob Krentz in March. But Democrats don’t care about Krentz or the hordes of terrorists entering the U.S. because their Mexican fellow travelers will vote Democrat. They see them not as illegal immigrants but rather as “undocumented Democrats.” That means the security of the U.S. is being sacrificed merely for votes.
Billions are being spent on the Department of Homeland Security and our borders are still wide open. But, votes and the political power they bring are more important to the left than having secure borders and preventing the next terrorist attack on our homeland. America will be destroyed by Democratic Party’s duplicity.
This is not only an immigration issue. It is looming as a security issue. But all the Seattle City Council can do is to criticize Arizona for trying to protect itself. That’s just business as usual for the left. I hope others will join me in boycotting Seattle.
Joe Crecca
North Bend
Snoqualmie dog park
No more barking about dog park, please
I sincerely hope that with the pending closure of the private dog park at Eagle Pointe on the Ridge, we won’t be treated to years of more whining from Ridge residents about a special (city funded and maintained) dog park, but I suspect that’s not the case.
The fact is that the city has a lovely, well-maintained and huge dog park, and one park is all our city can afford right now. If driving five minutes instead of two minutes to a beautiful park is the biggest sacrifice you have to make during this recession, you might want to consider being thankful for what you have, rather than complaining about what you feel you are owed.
As for the Three Rivers park being too muddy — I checked out the Eagle Pointe park several times, figuring if you all were so willing to whine about it for so very long, it must really be something. It’s nothing but mud; it’s just a smallish mud rectangle surrounded by chain link fence, buffeted by incessant high wind (presumably because there are so few large trees left).
One does have to navigate the occasional pile of elk poop at Three Rivers (a $20 pair of rubber boots will fix that for you, by the way). The thing about that is you live in the country. I, for one, am incredibly grateful to live in a place my own large dog can run, swim, roll in elk poop and just be a dog.
In fact, I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the Parks Department employees who work so hard on repairing fences, installing gates (to keep your dog out of the river), stocking the poop bags. Having such a great dog park in a rural area is not something we expected when we moved here from the city, and we’re very thankful for it.
Maureen Whitney
Snoqualmie
King County
Accessible data key to open government
This month the King County Council voted unanimously to require county agencies to publish what they call “high value” data to a new website. The “one-stop” data website will be where the public can go to access such information as crime statistics, transit data and construction schedules, wastewater and flood information or information on public parks.
A key goal of open government advocates, government datasets or databases, are designed to leverage more user-friendly technology and provide for more transparency and accountability. This takes the value of sunshine laws to a new level and opens up the business of government with a click of the mouse.
In addition to leveraging new technologies, how transparent or accountable county government operates is also about creating a stronger communication link between county residents and public officials.
That is why Countywide Community Forums is providing both small forum meetings and online opportunities for people to provide important feedback on issues impacting their communities.
Through June 13, forums are being offered throughout King County with an online survey option available beginning in June.
The forum topic, “Public Trust: Customer service and public engagement,” is about how we interact with essential services and access important information. Countywide Community Forums wants to know how county government can be more responsive and accessible to you — the public.
Visit www.CommunityForums.org or call 206-296-1633 to learn more.
Carrie Shaw
Deputy Citizen Councilor, Countywide Community Forums
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