A few months ago, after the last local election, I submitted a letter to the editor offering my observations on the conduct of one of the newly elected City Council members, Dan Decker. As I have no personal knowledge of Mr. Decker, I limited my comments to my observations of his conduct during City Council meetings.
Economic times are tough and we are all looking for ways to economize. While we are all cutting out unnecessary expenses we must be careful not to embrace false economies.
On Feb. 3 the future of Bonney Lake government will be determined in a special election based on Councilman Dan Decker’s petition regarding whether or not Bonney Lake should become a charter city or remain a code city. If passed, the proposal is expected to cost the taxpayers of Bonney Lake hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement; current projects and positive improvements currently occurring in the city will likely be disrupted or delayed. Bonney Lake does not need a change, especially not another one initiated by Dan Decker.
There has recently been one or more false reports circulated throughout the community and in The Courier-Herald that stated the city was in the “red” (deficit) and that I and city staff have been deliberately lying to the people about the city’s financial status.
As we usher in the new year and look forward to a brighter future, let’s remember to vote “yes” on Feb. 3 for the Enumclaw School District’s capital facilities and technology levy.
Recently we received a very upsetting letter from White River School District Superintendent Tom Lockyer about serious budget cuts for the district due to the changes to I-728. One possibility that has been put forth is the closing of Wickersham School of Discovery.
The stock market is down, unemployment is up, home sales are falling, foreclosures are up, and the GDP is down. On the bright side one sector thrives in this disappointing economy – Congress. Congress will receive a 2 percent raise, which on a $174,000 salary means a meager $4,700 increase. Know anyone who couldn’t use an extra $400 a month? How do these public servants eke out a living on such a paltry sum? What makes the raise more onerous at this time? Congress has an approval rating hovering around 10 percent (Rasmussen Poll), which makes President Bush look like the Christmas Star in the East. The politicos had a chance to vote against this raise, but after much squirming and hand wringing. . .that didn’t happen – after all, there are those pesky holiday expenses. There is a bright spot though – the same poll indicated that 2 percent of the people believe Congress is doing an excellent job!
I have been reading Tom Brokow’s book “Boom: Voices of the Sixties” centered around 1968, and it got me to thinking about my own 1968 and 2008. In January 1968 I was at Fort Lewis, Wash., with two weeks of Army basic training yet to complete.
Where to start, and even whether or not to start a response to Quinn Dahlstrom’s allegations and outright lies?
Ah, yes, ‘tis the season of peace, good will and merriment. Except of course for those who wish to usurp the season for a holiday that you or I or someone doesn’t celebrate. Then we must jealously guard our symbols and holiday time against those who wish to steal them. We must say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or whatever, defiantly, to let others know that our holiday is best. Those who are timid will meekly say happy holidays, or seasons greetings for fear of offending.
Letters to the Editor
It was a fairly pleasant day as we drove toward Highway 410 on Mud Mountain Road. Rounding the corner just before the area where Mount Peak hikers park, I grabbed the dash at the sight of a small white car coming over the hill straight at us! The driver was passing two cars on a curve in the road. “She’s going to hit us head on,” I yelled to my husband who by then was heading toward the ditch to miss the oncoming car. The young woman glared angrily at us as she sped by, barely missing us.
“Citizens Should be in charge of Bonney Lake.” This was the headline on Ms. Dahlstrom’s latest Letter to the Editor included in Dec. 3 edition of the Courier Herald. It’s not my intent here to deal with the entirety of the letter because much of it is accusations without basis. However there are a few items that need rebuttal.