Furloughs undercut vital, dedicated county workers

Thank you to Tracey Thompson, principal officer at Teamsters Local 117, for speaking up on the King County furlough issue ["Stop scapegoating King County workers over budget woes," Opinion, guest column, Aug. 26].

It is too bad that Teamsters 174 has not acknowledged what King County is doing to its workers.

After working nearly 17 days straight, including Christmas Day, during the 2008 snowstorm in December, a furlough day was scheduled for Jan. 2. However, workers were requested to work on Jan. 3, for "storm cleanup." If King County workers are so important to have to work overtime on Jan. 3, why not work on Jan. 2? It does not make any sense.

We all know how to fix the budget crisis. Cut the fat in the county, especially downtown. Our political candidates should take on jobs like utilities, laborers, truck drivers, flaggers and more and see how quickly they acknowledge the importance of the King County worker. Furthermore, try to hire this type of service during an emergency, and I guarantee that the costs will be exorbitant.

Remember the next time there is an emergency -- flood, snow or wind storm -- our King County workers are out taking care of business, away from their families and the comfort of their homes in order to make life safer for all of you.

-- Lynette Johnson, Sammamish

Is county revenue really eroding?

I happened to glance through Tracey Thompson's column about blaming King County workers for budget woes, and one sentence in particular really caught my eye: "Revenue flow has been eroding for the past decade "

Any time I see someone making the claim that the government is getting less money I get suspicious.

A cursory search of the Metro King County budget seems to say that total revenues went from more than $3 billion in 2006 to $5 billion in 2008. I may not be a math major, but to the untrained eye that would appear to be a fairly substantial revenue increase.
If that is an example of revenue eroding, then I wish my revenue would start eroding!

-- Philip Peterson, Puyallup

County workers shouldn't be exempt from belt tightening

In her guest column in The Seattle Times, Tracey Thompson appears to feel government workers should be immune to the current financial crisis. She complains that revenues have declined "thanks to an uncooperative state Legislature and voter-approved initiatives that have reduced revenues while demand for services continues to increase."

All over the country in the private sector, good workers have been laid off due to lack of revenue for their companies. For many of these companies, there is continued, though reduced, demand for their goods, forcing employee layoffs if the companies are to survive.

There is no reason why state employees are impervious to layoffs or reduced pay in order that the state can stay within its financial means.

As to the "uncooperative Legislature and voters," who speaks for the public? The voters and legislators or the unions? Cuts must be made and that includes state, county and city workers, too.

Once again a union representative reveals the arrogance that helped bring down Chrysler and General Motors. Unions are not immune to the financial limitations of their employers, be they corporations or governments.

-- Spencer M. Higley, Edmonds

In shut parks, a lost connection to earth

Editor, The Times:

A great sadness filled me as I read of the possibility that 39 King County parks may be shut down due to recent economic woes ["39 King County parks may be shut down," page one, Aug. 18].

Alas, what a devastating picture of national economic and global policies over these past eight years coming home to roost in our local neighborhoods, where there is little money for the needs of ordinary citizens but billions of dollars still handily available nationally for wars and corporations.

What will become of us if our green spaces are inaccessible? What will become of our children, many of whom have little access as it is to experiencing the joys of running across an open field or lying on the sweet green grass to look up through leafy trees at clouds against a blue sky?

How will our young ones learn to love the Earth so they grow up to become citizens who will care for it?

-- Jackie Leksen, Lynnwood

No sense in expensive light rail, closed parks

There are many, but rarely have I seen a better example of a dangerous malady that has been sweeping this state and country. A recent Seattle Times headline read, "39 King County parks may be shut down."

At the same time, Seattle opened a $2.5 billion light-rail line. This is the most expensive light rail ever constructed, costing $180 million per mile or $10,000 per Seattle household. Now, the operations of the train must be subsidized by taxpayers with $10 per ride if the number of riders estimated by Sound Transit are realized, which is doubtful. Further, Sound Transit is planning to spend many billions more to expand this ineffective rail system.

This indicates an unconscionable disregard for community priorities and the placing of politics and ideology ahead of the community's greater good. There are no winners but many victims.

Those who need transit and have no alternative will pay more and have less service, taxpayers will subsidize mostly people who have an alternative and the more than 90 percent of travelers who use the roads will continue to experience increasing congestion because money wasted on rail systems will not improve congestion or pollution.

When will we connect the dots between this stupidity and elected officials?

-- Jim Skaggs, Gig Harbor

Executive race was simply a popularity contest

Editor, The Times:

It's official: Most voters in King County are morons.

We know this because Susan Hutchison came in first in the primary for King County executive ["Former TV anchor to face off against council veteran," page one, Aug. 19].
Here's what most of her voters said to themselves: "Oh, I recognize her name and saw her on TV a lot. Therefore she should run our county government!"

Meanwhile, folks who are actually qualified got few votes by comparison. Pitiful.

-- Matthew J. Barry, Issaquah

In most candidates, a dearth of relevant experience

In the end, I voted. But only for two candidates and the referendum. Why?

Because nearly all of the candidates failed to provide evidence that they were qualified for the job. We know they love Seattle, King County, Washington, the USA., Mother Earth and the Universe.

But did any of the candidates have relevant experience? Apparently not -- otherwise, they would have said so, right? And why waste our time promising they'll solve our economic woes or fulfill any other absurd claims all by themselves? If elected, they'll work with others, negotiating and compromising, right? Isn't that what politics is all about in a democracy?

Since the candidates didn't provide qualifications, precious little relevant experience and nothing but empty promises, here's my suggestion for future voter pamphlets: Let a special election committee draft a blanket statement that covers all the things you have in common -- piety, patriotism, familial devotion and love of apple pie -- together with critiques of how badly it's going, overblown generalities about what candidates will accomplish and declarations that only candidates can save us from disaster.

That can go in the front of the pamphlet, where we can ignore it. Then tell us your actual qualifications.

-- Paul J. Smith, Seattle

With long-term tunnel vision, easy to see it's a poor choice

The Seattle Times' tunnel vision regarding the anti-tunnel vote is extremely shortsighted.
According to The Times' editorial, "A wounded mayor" [Opinion, Aug. 19]: "McGinn's solution, surface transportation, will jam our streets and overwhelm the freeway."

In addition to the short-term consequences of tunnel construction, the long-term global-warming consequences have been ignored. Hopefully our country will admit to the threat of global warming before it is too late for our children and grandchildren to correct the damage we have done.

If we decide to be responsible adults, the tunnel will be obsolete by the time it is finished or shortly thereafter. It is time we stop subsidizing single-occupant fossil-fueled traffic.

The money wasted on a tunnel would be better invested in a first-class bus-rapid-transit system.

-- Bob Jeffers-Schroder, Seattle

Avoiding political storm with mail-in ballots

I would like to thank King County for instituting mail voting and giving me back so much time. I voted the day my ballot arrived, and therefore could hang up on robo-calls, fast-forward through campaign commercials, skip reading all The Seattle Times stories about the candidates and the election and change the subject when friends brought up the election.

And of course, walking to the mailbox is much faster than driving to my old polling place and actually engaging in a communal event of civic engagement.

-- Silvia Ceravolo, Seattle

Automated campaign calls just too 'phony'

Automated phone calls to promote political candidates are doing just the opposite as far as this voter is concerned. It shows the candidate cares only about numbers, not individuals; has little if any initiative or imagination; has poor economic training; and possesses no sense in making more than one "robot call" while only multiplying the inconvenience.

In other words, such efforts are not only annoying and impersonal but "phony."

-- Bill Wippel, Normandy Park

An inconvenience, a lost vote

When will political candidates understand that for many of us, myself included, a phone call from a candidate's campaign immediately puts that office-seeker on the do-not-vote-for list?

We get all the info we need from personal observations and from newspapers, mailings, the Internet and attending forums. A phone call is just a rude irritation that interrupts what I am doing and that takes up my time to either hang up from or to delete from my voice mail. The only exception is when the candidate is on the line live.

I'm on the do-not-call list, and my phone number is unlisted and unpublished.

Unfortunately, politicians are allowed to disrespect this choice. Their choice to do that will cost them a lot of votes.

-- Carolyn Walden, Seattle

Ross Hunter fair game for criticism

I have been working at Wal-Mart for nine years and they still don't pay me enough to afford their health insurance. So I am glad that President Obama is showing strong leadership and pushing Democrats and Republicans to get on board with fixing our nation's broken health-care system. I wish my local officials were showing the same leadership.

I want local leaders who understand me and who push to make the lives of working people better -- not easy, but better. So earlier this year when the Legislature was coming up short -- billions short -- on balancing the state's budget, I understand that they had to make some hard choices. Working people like me make hard budget choices every week.

What I cannot understand is why they failed to get rid of a bunch of tax breaks for big corporations. What I can't understand is why they seemed to help out big business and not do much of anything for the little guy.

Now [King County executive candidate] Rep. Ross Hunter says it is unfair to criticize him because he was only doing what all the other Democrats did ["Attack ads are unfair," editorial, Aug. 7]. For starters, he is the one who wants to be in charge of this county, so that makes him different. And since when is "I was only doing what the other guy did" a good excuse? I don't buy it for a minute. Do you?

I want the guy in charge of King County to be a leader, not a whiner.

-- Mary Watkines, Kent

Lawsuit reveals a candidate not up for the job

Since she decided to run for King County executive, Susan Hutchison has been remarkably quiet. She has not been proactive in getting her agenda before the voters. In fact, quite the opposite has been true. She continues to do well in the polls due to name recognition and her refusal to say for what she stands.

Hutchison did not want the records unsealed from her discrimination lawsuit. One can see why. The records show her to be mean-spirited. She lies about others. She is unable or unwilling to accept factual information and she sees herself as a perpetual victim.

When her ratings fell and she was demoted, she claimed discrimination. When she was not allowed time off over a holiday, she claimed she was sick. When she was caught on vacation with her family and was given days off without pay, she claimed to have made a remarkable recovery and complained about the consequence levied on her because of her behavior. She thought she was treated unfairly.

She lied about her manager, going so far as to call the mother of an intern to warn her about the man. She claimed he had drug problems and was a sexual predator. These were lies.

Is this woman really someone we want to lead our county?

The county deserves leadership that is transparent and effective. Hutchison would provide neither.

-- Carol Barber, Kent

Why newspapers matter

The Seattle Times has shown why newspapers are immensely important to our society by suing for -- and winning -- the release of court documents related to King County executive candidate Susan Hutchison's failed discrimination suit ["Judge unseals records, calls court openness vital," news, Aug. 8].

The release couldn't have come at a better time for this voter, as I filled in my primary ballot this weekend. The records provided by the court have gone a long way toward shaping my mind on Hutchison, and there can be no doubt as to whether we'd have seen those documents without the Times: No blogger would have sued and been able to win the release of those records in such a timely manner.

-- Andrew Smith, Seattle

Forget more taxes, let's scrap the foot-ferries idea

King County Executive Kurt Triplett says we have to raise taxes to avoid closing 39 parks, public-health clinics and regional police services ["County exec: Tax needed to avoid closures," NWSaturday, July 18].

I've got a better idea: How about funding those necessary services by shifting funds from the new $220 million foot-ferry fleet that King County wants to install on Lake Washington and Puget Sound ["The folly of foot ferries," NWWednesday, Danny Westneat column, July 15]? The cost for a 30-minute walk-on ferry ride in that system is estimated at from $24 to $324 per rider. And that's only one-way!

None of these planned routes are projected to attract more than 300 riders a day, even during the highest ridership period. King County throws precious taxpayer dollars at quixotic projects like this foot-ferry fleet, then comes whining to the taxpayer that, "We simply don't have the money for public-health clinics and regional police services."

-- Frank Schumann, Seattle

Cut the nonessentials instead, taxes have already risen

King County Executive Kurt Triplett talks about supporting a property tax increase, but he fails to mention property taxes have already increased for the 2009 tax year. Council members Larry Gossett and Julia Patterson have proposed this bright idea.

The facts are that the value of my Shoreline home increased by 12.5 percent for the 2009 tax year despite the fact that property values decreased in 2008. The 2009 tax amount increased by 13.5 percent. Not a small jump, and I am certainly not in favor of another property-tax increase.

Increasing the sales tax is another bad idea. Visiting a shopping mall clearly indicates that people are limiting their spending for nonessentials. Those on unemployment have already tightened their belt more than once, so where does Triplett think the money will come from?

Maybe the King County Council should look at their budget and eliminate the nonessentials from their spending.

-- Fran Whitehill, Shoreline

Hutchison slammed by biased Times

In the finest tradition of The National Enquirer, The Seattle Times has taken the muckraking hatchet to Susan Hutchison ["Hutchison to fight unsealing records," NWThursday, July 16]. Not content with merely making inquires, The Times has used its Opinion page to slam her ["Open up, Hutchison," Opinion, editorial, July 17]. The contents of her successful lawsuit against KIRO-TV were sealed by a judge. How dare he?

Hutchison has headed a $100 million foundation for the past six years yet is still referred to by The Times as a "former news anchor." KIRO-TV, still smarting from their loss, says they have no problem unsealing the record. How kind of them. Anything that would help, right?

The Times might be better served to investigate the stalking tactics of Dow Constantine showing up at Hutchison rallies ["Rivals show up at Hutchison news conference," NWThursday, July 2].

But then, that's what I love about the media --they are so objective.

-- Denny Andrews, Bellevue

The Times practicing yellow journalism against Hutchison

This is yellow journalism at its best! Expect nothing more and certainly nothing less from The Times. I believe you have hit a new low regarding the candidacy of Hutchison, with your attempts to find out the details of a sealed, settled private lawsuit between her and her former employer. If ever there was a more blatant attempt to discredit a candidate, I'd like to hear about it.

Shame on you, The Seattle Times, for seeking out what you know to be unproven allegations about a candidate on the eve of an election and then inevitably printing them as fact. Is it your job to create news or to report news? Have you delved into the backgrounds of all the other candidates to such detail, or is it just because this is a conservative?

Your lack of integrity is astounding, but then when you are the only daily newspaper in town, you must believe you can do and say anything. What type of journalistic standard do you hold yourself to?

-- Dave Herrington, Edmonds

Health cost not only budget factor

The Seattle Times and some King County executive candidates think making Metro KC employees pay a portion of health care premiums would help close the budget gap ["County workers should pay part of health tab," editorial, June 10].

The Times states that health-care costs at the county have risen 29 percent in the past six years. I am sure that this figure is tiny compared with other state and national averages.

King County employees and their families have been participating in an innovative program to fight rising health-care costs by aggressively managing their own preventive care and improving lifestyle through diet and exercise. This effort has been lauded nationally for improving employee health and performance and managing long-term health-care costs, not just the short-term budget gaps.

Yes, the county budget limps somewhat from crisis to crisis, but this crisis, by all accounts, is extraordinary. And the limping is a statewide affliction that does not affect just King County with its unique employee benefits.

County Executive Ron Sims chose to manage human-resource costs by requiring all nonessential employees to take 10 furlough days in 2009, equivalent to an almost 4-percent pay cut and far more than $41.20 per employee per month. This cut has a huge impact on employees and families as they manage other rising costs, including county-assessed property taxes, food, utilities and services. This strategy was an aggressive, short-term fix for the current fiscal crisis.

Everything is always on the table when labor negotiations begin. But the new executive must remember the high cost of living for the employees in King County and not jump to the conclusion that employee health-care costs are the only thing "zapping" the budget.
-- Judi Radloff, Kirkland

Call it a pay cut

Regarding your editorial on county workers picking up their health tab: No they shouldn't. Call it what it is: a pay cut.

I would bet that more than the $7 million you cite could be saved by pooling the health-care costs of large numbers of public employees into self-administered co-ops. As expensive as health care is, private health insurance -- with its unconscionable, profit-driven need to spend huge sums to just say no to its customers -- is much more costly.

I am not alone in this opinion. Just a few inches from your editorial, an eloquent letter to the editor from Elizabeth Hanson ["Treat it like a utility"] makes a similar point. Health care, along with clean air and water, universal education, defense, safety and infrastructure are too expensive and broadly necessary to have their missions perverted by the often rapacious and equally inefficient private sector.

-- Bob Gordon, Bothell

Deputy angling for job

Rich Medved, chief deputy of King County Assessor Scott Noble and a longtime Snohomish County voter, wants the voters of King County to believe that his move to King County was not connected to his running for office.

Let's look at the time frame. Medved registered as a King County voter on March 31. Noble was involved in a vehicular assault on Jan. 18. He pleaded guilty March 19. This all occurred before Medved registered to vote in King County.

He now states he is "getting caught in the crossfire" over when Nobel will resign ["Deputy tells Noble: Do 'not prolong this thing,' " NWFriday, May 22]. He is the same person who is putting pressure on the assessor to resign and "not prolong this thing." It has been written that Noble had a drinking problem. Why did Medved cover this up all these years?

I think King County voters can do a lot better in choosing a new assessor.

-- Bob Blanchard, Redmond

Start with creating jobs and affordable housing

In regard to Erick Spencer's letter ["Susan Hutchison: Where does she stand?" Opinion, Northwest Voices, May 15], I have a suggestion.

Why don't you ask Susan Hutchison where she stands on the out-of-control spending in King County, or how she plans to create jobs and affordable housing and not let her wiggle out of it? Then you will know if she has what it takes to be the next county executive.

Later, you can ask irrelevant questions, like if she supports domestic partnership, or her favorite color for that matter.

-- John Cooke, Bonney Lake

401 (k) contributions should be matched by employer

In The Times' editorial in Wednesday's paper, the editorial board supported a proposal to change the current policy -- arrived at through negotiations -- regarding health-care premiums for King County employees ["A healthy dose of reality," Opinion, May 13]. The editorial board pointed out that King County employees don't pay health-care premiums.

In order to be fair and balanced, your editorial should have also pointed out that 401 (k) benefits provided by King County to its employees don't include an employer-matching contribution. Most private employers who offer a 401 (k) benefit also include some kind of a matching contribution by the employer.

It would seem that in this respect King County employees have an inferior benefit compared to the private sector. That being the case, perhaps The Seattle Times should also editorialize in favor of improving the King County 401 (k) benefit to include an employer contribution.

After all, I'm sure the paper would want to be fair to King County employees.

-- Frank Lippman, Seattle

Where does she stand on Ref. 71?

Susan Hutchison is a favorite in the County Council race? ["County exec hopefuls raise $200,000 for bids," NWWednesday, May 13.] She has name recognition, but her views on the issues are largely unknown.

I have a suggestion: The next time she appears at a debate or interview, somebody please ask her if she supports or opposes Referendum 71. That's the referendum that would roll back the recently expanded domestic-partnership law. Don't let her wiggle out of this one. Does she support it? Yes or no?

Her answer will say much about whether her views are in line with the mainstream of King County, and about her prospects to be our next county executive.

-- Erick Spencer, Seattle

Consequences of top-two primary

It's amusing to see The Seattle Times squirm at the consequences of the top-two primary and nonpartisan election of King County officials ["County exec primary deserves voter attention," Opinion, editorial, May 3). "By some calculations," we are advised, the one known Republican in the race "has sufficient name familiarity to survive the primary," thanks to her former career as local TV news anchor. The foremost assumption of such calculations must be that no other Republicans will enter the race.

Under the old system, GOP voters would not have to rely on "calculations" to be able to have a standard-bearer in November, but the phony drive to have politics without parties means that now we get backroom deals to limit the field instead of an open nominating process.

For myself, I'm happy to have a range of experienced, talented Democrats to choose from to lead King County. But voters who think the main contest of ideas should be on the general election ballot should take note of what they have put at risk, and perhaps lost, at the behest of The Times.

-- Tyler Page, Kent

Public safety should be highest priority

What is it that our governor and legislators don't understand? The first responsibility of any government is public safety. Yet every time there is a budget shortfall, the first to go on the chopping block are the police and firefighters ["Tough times take bite out of criminal justice," page one, April 9].

Now they want to close a prison and youth facilities, and reduce sentences and supervision of paroles. What's next?

This is irresponsible government and the people should demand that our elected officials do the job they're paid to do.

I recently read an article in The Times that stated our state spends millions of dollars each year for medical care for illegal aliens ["Immigrants' economic drain disputed," NW Thursday, April 9]. Want to save money? Start here and stay away from public safety.

-- Welland B. Scott, Kirkland

Cutting wage increases: a shallow reactionary plan

The Times editorial titled "King County's riches" [Opinion, April 7] backs a proposed county ordinance from King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert to eliminate negotiated cost-of-living (COLA) increases during a revenue shortfall. This proposal ignores past employee sacrifices and negotiated trade-offs. Further, the statistics used in support should be an embarrassment to The Times' editorial board.

As a bus driver and member of Amalgamated Transit Union 587, I have an obvious bias, but I also have some information for you to consider.

First you note that county employees receive "step increases" along with COLA increases. True, but only because management negotiated union concessions to create a lower starting wage for new hires.

The transit contract requires employees to work six years before they reach the top step. The majority of transit workers are bus drivers who also start as part-time, working only two-and-a-half per day. They must work a split shift to increase their hours. If they go full-time, they must then work nights, weekends and holidays to reach the top-step wage. Do you propose that the county give up the productivity of a lower starting wage?

As for COLA increases, they are based on an arbitrary index in which the top step does increase, but these are not exactly A.I.G.-type bonuses. The unions have negotiated for decades and have settled today for minimal, single-digit increases that would be completely inadequate if we experience double-digit inflation. Does Lambert propose to give up the county's protection against inflation if employees are deprived of the minimum?

It should be noted that COLA increases come only after inflation and workers have been behind on this cycle since it started, and county employees only get 90 percent of the increase. Why? Because the county agreed to pay 100 percent of the monthly benefits premium.

Finally, I would like to point out that comparing the county's benefit premium with the state's is grossly unfair. The sate has a far larger group, which results in an enormously reduced premium. They're called "group plans" for a reason.

Instead of investigating and getting involved in the difficult policy issues of contract negotiations, Lambert proposes a shallow and reactionary ordinance. The Seattle Times should be embarrassed for piling on without doing the minimal analysis needed to see that this idea is bunk.

-- Daniel T. Linville, Graham

Opening the door to partisan leverage

The contest for King County elections director is not actually nonpartisan at all. Though four of the candidates have never run for any public office as partisan candidates, two have run for public office as Republicans.

You might recall the Lori Sotelo attempt at voter disenfranchisement in 2005, featuring perjury and illegal modification of voter registration challenge forms. King County Councilmember David Irons and state Sen. Pam Roach are running to make this the official policy of the King County Elections Department.

If either are to win, we can look forward to officially recognized attempts to make low-wage voters give up a day's pay to defend their franchise. Signature-matching programs will be modified to throw out as many ballots as possible, and it is likely that the policy of three attempts at voter contact in the event of mismatches will be eliminated on the grounds of expense. There is ample precedent for this: Florida Republicans threw voters off the rolls if there was an 80 percent match between their names and a list of felons. Not good news at all for people named Jones or Smith in non-affluent Zip codes.

The current Republican leadership is committed to the notion that voting is not actually a citizenship right and duty, but a carnival kewpie-doll prize you can only win by getting past all the barriers they put in your way. Honest Republicans who disagree, such as our own John McKay, who refused to pursue bogus cases of "voter fraud," were summarily fired as U.S. attorneys.

As Paul Weyrich famously said, "Now many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome -- good government. They want everybody to vote. I don't want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people, they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down."

-- Martha Koester, Seattle

Just not right

It is troubling to read that four employees of King County may be penalized for reporting inadequate/inhumane conditions at the Kent Animal Shelter. Common sense tells us that leaving cats in small, unprotected cages overnight in freezing conditions is not right ["Officers who criticized cat care at shelter could be reprimanded," News, Dec. 26].

Records and Licensing Services Director Carolyn Ableman faults Sgt. Steve Couvion for making his report, saying "I think he used that as a method to bring it to the attention of management." Well yes, I think he did too. Apparently because the people in charge of the shelter couldn't figure out the problem with what they were doing for themselves.

Ableman seems much more concerned that her department has been exposed for doing a shoddy job than that cats are being held in inadequate conditions in her facility.

The newspaper story says tarps and insulating bales of hay were provided for the outdoor shelter area only after the Couvion report was filed. One has to question whether these improvements would have been made if the report had not been filed.

-- Jan Whitner, Kenmore

Forever ruined

Congratulations Mayor Greg Nickels. Thanks to you and the powers that be in Western King County. You may have just set back mass transit 10 years thanks to the grade "D" handling of the snow.

Last Friday, with most of the snow gone, I expected bus routes to continue as normal, but instead had to pay full fare and walk 40 minutes to work. It's Monday and we are still running limited routes and are expected to be like that for the rest of the week.

Why? Almost all of the snow has melted.

Enjoy what little time you have left in office; I will remember this come voting day.

-- Russ Crandall, Seattle

Get it right

I am disgusted with the response of Carolyn Ableman, Record and Licensing Services director, to the situation at the animal shelter ["Officers who criticized cat care at shelter could be reprimanded," News, Dec. 26]. In response to the heroic actions of Animal Control Officer Michael Cronin, she said, "We're probably going to give him some response -- at least a 'coaching and counseling' on how to do it in the future."

Cronin wrote a complaint. He is a professional with 24 years of experience. He saw a problem and was attempting to get something done quickly to prevent animals from suffering needlessly. I applaud him.

Ableman's response is unacceptable. We live in the U.S. When we see problems, we are supposed to speak up and should never fear a reprimand for doing so.

Whether Cronin's complaint proved to have merit is not the issue. It was a complaint, not a conclusion. Cronin's actions were entirely correct in this situation.

Ableman is the employee who should receive a written reprimand and should improve her skills and understanding of how to function professionally, or she should be terminated.

-- Linda Rio, Seattle

Assault on the senses

Now that the third runway at Sea-Tac Airport is being used, the trial balloon of a fourth runway has been released.

As a 30-year resident near the flight paths I can see why the Port of Seattle wants to continue its assault on our senses.

For all the battles against further expansion of Sea-Tac Airport we give the Port a blank check. We are pawns in the Port's progressive cementing of our neighborhood.

We fight in the courts, lose and wind up paying higher costs through our taxes.

Never mind the Port of Seattle has raised its budget 11 percent while other entities of government are cutting back. We are subjected suckers to the Port's excessive spending.

Time for another secret sweet lunch for Port executives and contractors to plan to spend that next 11 percent at our expense.

Instead of three martinis, it'll be two. Times are tough you know.

-- Bill Wippel, Normandy Park

They're not over, yet

What wasn't mentioned in the story about the impending King County election manager's race is that state legislators' fundraising will be hamstrung ["King County elections-chief job may see lots of candidates," Politics, Nov. 20].

Sen. Pam Roach has until mid-December to solicit campaign contributions, then state law will prohibit her and any other legislator from soliciting contributions until the 2009 Legislature adjourns, which is long after the Feb. 3 special election.

Times reporter Kevin Ervin is right about the peculiarity of the timing of the February special election. Common sense and common courtesy would have been to hold a primary in August and the top two vote getters are placed on the November ballot.

But, that's not what Toby Nixon, the architect of the charter amendment, wanted. Nixon wants to make it as difficult as possible for incumbent legislators to run, so that he and other right-wingers can have a better shot at winning.

When all is said and done, there will be at least a dozen candidates filing, because they realize the winner may need to get only 25 to 30 percent of the total votes cast in order to win. The winner will serve until Dec. 31, 2011.

You can remove the political labels from the ballot, but you can't remove the political motives of the candidates.

-- Steven Kendall, Seattle

Thomas James Hurst / The Seattle Times

Property owned by West Marine, a longtime marine-supply business located on Mercer Street, is being condemned by the city, part of a long-range plan to widen and beautify the Street.

We must do better

Editor, The Times:

I am of the opinion that fixing the "Mercer mess" is a very questionable use of resources ["Council bets hopes on federal stimulus plan for Mercer," Times, News, Nov. 18].

Surely, we can see the handwriting on the wall. Lines at food banks are increasingly lengthy.
Homeless, including families with children, are scattered around our city, living in filth and danger.

Community health clinics are strapped for resources and losing ground every year. In every age range, folks are suffering.

How can we decide to leave potholes and bridges in disrepair and consider, even for a moment, fixing the "Mercer mess"? How can we ignore the needs of our people?

Our mayor pushes to make Seattle a "world-class" city.

I prefer a city that honors its citizens by providing housing, transportation, health care and other human services. That would make Seattle a world-class city -- not pandering to developers (and a mayor) who may want an easier route to South Lake Union and its amenities.

Wake up. We can and must do better.

-- Nancy Bryant, Seattle

Not so average

I appreciate that you have published a positive story during the economic downturn ["Average King County family 'pretty solid,'." News, Nov. 18].

However, you have neglected to emphasize an important detail that sets the Bentler family ahead of many that are not so "solid." They purchased their home eight years ago for about half of what it's worth today. Incomes have certainly not doubled in eight years.

Do you think the Bentler's could have afforded a $300,000 home eight years ago with their income? Not a chance.

Today, many two-income professional families starting their careers are priced out of owning such a "modest" home.

My wife and I make about $57,000 and we have a young child and a dog, much like the Bentlers. We live in an apartment because we cannot afford the mortgage payment required for today's home prices. Too many families live in communities where home prices are way out of alignment with incomes.

A rise in foreclosures and sluggish home sales are a symptom of this misalignment. A price correction in the housing market is badly needed. Who will they sell homes to if a whole generation of young professionals cannot buy them?

-- Glenn Kohler, Olympia

Let's be real

Since Oct. 31, 12 people have died from youth violence ["Seattle to spend more on homeless; garbage, water, parking rates to rise," News, Nov. 18].

For decades, suburbanites have had the nonchalant attitude, "this will not happen in my neighborhood." This attitude led adults to believe the deviant and criminal behavior of the youth will not negatively impact the upper echelon of society.

We have raised a generation of children with no awareness of self and who are unloving, uninvolved and uncaring. We call them misguided youth; you can only be misguided if you received improper guidance. We looked down upon the youth in disgust with their sagging clothes, crooked baseball caps and revealing clothing. I remember my days of the AJ jeans, cross colors, white T-shirts, khaki pants, the Kangol and the NWA blasting from my boom box on the back of the bus.

But today it is time to get off the fence, stop whining about how much things will cost, what programs we need to establish, what label to use and most important stop living in blind fear. What we should do -- at no cost -- when you see young men in their sagging clothing or young women in their revealing clothing, stop and look them in the eyes, say "Hello, how are you today?" -- instead of turning your head and looking down at the ground.

We should always show the youth with our words, deeds and a positive visions how great an asset to society they can become.

I grew up around pimps, drug dealers, hustlers and gang bangers. I needed a reality check and these young people need one as well.

We must show them what life looks like if they continue on their destructive path. Show them the lifeless bodies of the young people who have died from violence. They do not need to see those nonthreatening, prom-dance photos that we see in the media.

We need to show the courtroom photos of the bereaved parents passing out, screaming and yelling because of the eternal pain, deep sorrow and emptiness they suffer. Show them there is no glamour when a jury discloses their verdict and a judge's sentencing is real.

Show them the photos of children in their orange jumpsuits in chains at Echo Glen and the lonely, haunting and cold jail cells of Maple Lane with a community toilet and shower.

If all else fails, show them videos of McNeil Island or Monroe penitentiaries. Explain to them the staggering number of their high-school friends they thought were cool who are now or will become jobless, homeless, addicted or incarcerated.

The game is still the same; it is only fiercer.

-- Elder Wyatt, Seattle

Now more than ever

Today, you reported that Seattle will finance youth-violence prevention and social services for the homeless population on a two-year budget approval.

This is interesting because I recently began outreaching to the homeless population in San Francisco, and was wondering how Seattle, where I am originally from, helps the homeless. As a community member, I feel extremely optimistic that during this recession, the city still recognizes the importance of selflessness for others in greater need and is not going through budget cuts for social programs that are vital to our community.

What people don't realize is that because we are in a recession, more people will need to access food banks and other social services and that change takes time. Sure, we don't want to pay more for utilities or parking meters, but it's just like gas prices; we complained about how high they got but still drove anyway because we had to.

One thing that could really make a difference is better education about homelessness. I know many people who are quite ignorant about issues surrounding homelessness and as a result don't understand the need for funding of important programs.

-- Karen Hong, San Francisco, Calif.

A wonderful day

As I worked the polls on Nov. 4, a lot of the voters talked about how sad it was that this connection to the community would no longer be. Absentee voters still like to deposit their ballots at the polling place.

Teachers brought students thru the polling place to observe the vote and cast their absentees in front of their students. Mothers and fathers came with their first-time-voter teenagers. Families let their younger children place their ballot in the scanner. A couple of men said this would be their last time to cast a ballot as they only had six months to live.

A 91-year-old woman walking with a cane, a blind man using the audio to vote, toddlers playing on the gym floor as their mom or dad voted, keys were lost and found and poll workers shared their food as the day grew long.

There were those with tattoos, piercings, bright-colored hair and dogs.

It was a wonderful day in this wonderful country we call America.

-- Bev Read, Lake Forest Park

Take away more than the Lexus

As I read "2 sentenced for running brothel," I became very disturbed to learn the prison sentence these two men received [News, Nov. 2].

Yin Hoo Yap received 27 months in prison, and Kou Chwung Liu was sentenced only one year. These men were involved in operating a local place of human trafficking, which is a nightmare for all of the victims.

We assume too often that there is no such thing as slavery in America. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report in 2004, 10 million people were victims of human trafficking. This does not include the 600,000 to 800,000 people, including children, who were trafficked across international borders and sold into slavery.

Many of these people who are trafficked have been promised a bright future in another country, arrive at their destination, and are immediately raped and sold as if they were objects for others' pleasure and disposal.

Open your eyes, take a look around. Thousands of women, men and children are entering through our ports and being sold into the most vicious slavery that I can imagine. Children under the age of 18 are being sold and used as if they were something that wasn't precious to anyone.

What if that were your child, sister, brother, niece or nephew being forced into a cold crate and shipped across the world to be raped and put to excruciating work.

The acts that these people sold into slavery are being forced to be a part of are inhumane and tragic.

There are ways to put a stop to this business of human trafficking and a prevent millions from being victims of slavery. Sentencing two guys from one to a little over two years is not going to prevent them from trafficking more innocent people once they get out of prison. I would have given them life in prison.

The judge who imposed the sentence, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, states in the story, "the tragedy of these cases is that, culturally, in Southeast Asia it is more acceptable for young people to be drawn in to this activity."

I don't care where you're from or what your culture allows you to be a part of. These two men were in America, home of the free, not home of slavery.

These two shouldn't have gotten off as easy as they did. One of them had to forfeit his 2004 Lexus. Oh
dear, how will he ever survive without it? I believe the sentencing should have been dealt with more harshly than just a slap on the wrist and a "go home now."

--Ashley Bales, Kirkland

We get to fix what you've started

The future depends upon the health and well-being of our people, and as youths and high-school students of King County we are inheriting this community from those who may be ruining it for us.

In the 2009 proposed budget by King County Executive Ron Sims, a suggested $19 million will be cut from Health and Human Resources. Cutting and reducing these services not only violates our basic rights, but it will also add a greater strain to our dismal economy. The lack of these essential services could possibly cause more homelessness and disease, poverty rates and unemployment rates, and increase levels of violence. The increases would have devastating consequences, including raising our debt when forced to deal with these complications.

Even with these risks, the county appears to have had no other choice but to cut or reduce these programs because there is no extra money. We have a $943 million deficit and it is not going to pay itself off.

How can we solve this problem without slashing funding for what may be the most vital services for a fully functioning society?

We must increase public awareness. Many people think the only reason we are in a budget crisis is because of the economic turmoil we are facing in the U.S., which has contributed $58 million to the deficit.

Another tremendous factor is that voters imposed new limits lowering property taxes, causing King County revenues since then to grow unsustainably by 4.2 percent while our expenditures grew by 7.7 percent.

If property taxes had been sufficient to sustain services, we would currently have an extra $135 million more in the budget. If the media increasingly emphasized the necessity of Health and Human Services, the public would be more aware of how their lowered property taxes are affecting our most-vulnerable communities.

In the 2006 budget speech, Sims stated, "The most fundamental duty for any government is to care for the health and welfare of its people."

Sims has not upheld this statement with the actions that may be put into place with the new proposed budget.

As youth still growing in our community, we hope our generation can fix what the past has started. Perhaps if more people listen and feel they have a voice, this situation can change for the better.

-- Amy Johnson, Sarah Talvi, Katie Yam, Seattle

Help and guidance,
not punishment

I am concerned that our priorities are not in the right places ["Budget cuts force King County charging process to change," News, Sept. 25]. It seems that citizens are getting caught up in our county's lack of full-prosecuting power, while ignoring the plight of thousands of impoverished who rely on county services to survive.

Are we really more concerned that some minor drug users won't be labeled as felons, rather than that people will not be able to feed their families? Or about the thousands who will sleep without a roof over their heads, rain or shine? Or maybe we aren't as concerned about the abuse victims who will have to go without counseling because they can't afford it.

I think that it is about time for us to change our priorities from punishment to genuine help and guidance.

-- Sam Bender, Seattle

Someday it may be you
Recently, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a proposal for the King County budget that includes large cuts in human-services funding.

While I realize we are facing a potential budget shortfall due to the downturn in the economy, human-services funding is exactly the wrong area to make cuts.

When times are tough, the people who rely on services like food programs, in-home care for the elderly or disabled and county-funded charities need help even more.

Not only is it altruistic to aid these vulnerable people; on a purely financial basis it is cheaper to keep them comfortable in their own homes instead of ending up in demoralizing group homes or even on the street where more expensive emergency programs will have to take care of them.

Contact Sims and the King County Council and tell them not to cut aid to the most vulnerable members of our society.

Someday it may be you or your relatives that need these programs.
-- Scott M. Taylor, Seattle

Cuts will destroy human services
I wish people would recognize that cutting human-service programs results in expensive consequences ["Who will fall victim to cuts? news, Oct. 13].

If there are not support systems for citizens, rates of substance abuse, mental illnesses and crime rates will increase. Emergency rooms will become overcrowded, jails will become full, more people will die of unnecessary illnesses that millions of dollars on research is being spent to prevent, and children will not excel academically.

Cutting funds to human services guarantees a weakened society. It will not provide individuals with support systems to develop skills ensuring they keep up with a rapidly changing world.

If it weren't for human-service agencies that helped me when I became homeless, I would not be where I am today with a home, a job and a degree.

A community should be built focused on what individuals need to be healthy emotionally, physically, cognitively, socially and spiritually. This will allow for a stable society.
-- Pam LaVergne, Lynnwood

Die with dignity
I am writing to comment about King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg's intention to seek the death penalty for Joseph McEnroe and Michele Anderson, who had confessed to killing six members of Anderson's family on Christmas Eve ["Carnation killings: Defense vows fight to save life of suspect who asked to die," page one, Oct. 17].

First of all, Gary Ridgway killed many more people and was not considered for the death penalty. It is inconsistent to seek the death penalty for McEnroe and Anderson.

My guess is that the only reason McEnroe is being considered for the death penalty is because of the unfortunate (for him) situation that Anderson insists she wants the death penalty.

God can forgive McEnroe and Anderson if they are sorry and ask for forgiveness. Hopefully they will take advantage of this opportunity.

Even if they are confined to prison for the rest of their lives, they can still live meaningful, loving lives among the rest of the inmates and die with dignity.
-- Mike Marley, Seattle

Revoke their freedom
Regarding the child-abuse article [".'Never seen a case of abuse this bad,' detective says," Times, page one, Oct. 14], I think $20,000 each for bail is surely is not enough money to let those criminal "parents" out of jail.

According to the King County Superior Court judge, they were "not a threat" to the community nor a flight risk.

What does that really have to do with it?

Do we let killers out of jail because we're pretty sure they won't kill again?

Freedom for these two sadists should be revoked, just as they took away their child's freedom for years.
I don't care how loony that stepmother is; she needs a lot of jail time to remind her how it must have felt ... of course she'll get fed.
-- Jill M. Schultz, Seattle

Give voice to the voiceless
I am absolutely appalled after reading about the 14-year-old Carnation girl who was nearly starved to death by her stepmother and father. I hope that they get punished to the full extent of the law.

This was an open-and-shut case in just one month? How could any questionable situation be evaluated in that amount of time?

I don't know if CPS [Child Protective Services] didn't follow through properly on this or if they went to the limit of what was allowed by law. Either way, something needs to change.

We need to be less worried about "individual rights" and more diligent in protecting those who do not have a voice.
-- Sandi Weir, Kent

Don't elect election boss
The Leagues of Women Voters of Seattle and King County South urge you to vote against King County Charter Amendment 1 ["King County Charter amendments: substance and popcorn," editorial, Oct. 9].
This amendment adds an elected elections director to King County government for the purpose of running our elections department.
Currently, our elections director is appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county council. The director is accountable to the elected county executive and can be immediately replaced for poor job performance. The council regularly reviews the elections department performance through oversight and review of the budget.
The King County elections director needs to be a qualified professional administrator with a full understanding of the technical challenges facing the 21st century.
We can see the potential danger of conflict of interest if the person managing our elections is forced to spend time with fundraising and campaigning.
We support keeping an appointed elections director.
-- Denise Smith, Seattle