Press Editorial
December 2, 2008
Merchants support you, now support them
There are too many empty storefronts popping up around Issaquah, but you have the power to help keep others from becoming vacant. All you have to do is shop right here in your hometown.
Press Editorial
November 25, 2008
Share your bounty with donation to food bank
Last weekend’s Harvest Dance at Pickering Barn may well have been the first big fundraiser ever held with the sole purpose of benefiting the Issaquah Food Bank. It shouldn’t be the last.
An estimated $14,700 was raised Friday night as about 400 people came to hear two bands, eat food (that was mostly donated), sip a little beer and wine, buy an auction item and make a monthly pledge or a one-time donation to the food bank. Read more
Press Editorial
November 11, 2008
Issaquah is ready for a new museum
Issaquah is long overdue for a real museum. We believe the voters would support a city bond to build a museum, should the City Council agree to give the voters a chance. Read more
Press Editorial
November 4, 2008
Board appointment was thorough and open
Congratulations to Chad Magendanz, chosen last week by Issaquah School Board members to fill a board vacancy. The five applicants for the seat — left vacant by the resignation of Mike Winkler — were all
Press Editorial
October 28, 2008
5th District incumbents deserve re-election
We believe voters should return all three 5th District legislative incumbents to Olympia as our representatives for another term. These three represent the last bastion of Republicanism on the Eastside, making it difficult for them to pass legislation in a Democratically controlled House and Senate, yet they have never stopped carrying the message of their constituents to the capitol. Read more
Press Editorial
October 22, 2008
Corrected — 4:30 p.m. October 24, 2008
Fire station needed sooner or later
At some point, Issaquah will need another fire station. The ballot question before voters Nov. 4 should really ask, “Are you ready to vote for this now, or do you want to wait a couple more years?”
Currently, the fire station is operating from a warehouse near the intersection of Maple Street and state Route 900. It became a temporary station in 2000, expected to house Read more
Off The Press
October 22, 2008
Vote early and often, but not if you’re dead
My wife and I have been deluged by political pollsters and automated calls from candidates to the point where we have turned off the phone for the past month. Now, if only I could tune out all of the negative attack ads on TV. Read more
Press Editorial
October 14, 2008
Proposition 1 on your November ballot will get you a half-cent-per-dollar increase in sales tax. That’s for sure, and immediate. Along the way, a new bus route or another bus for an existing route might come your way and hopefully will be going the way you want it to. And, someday far, far away — maybe in 20 years — you might live long enough to take a bus from here to Bellevue, where you can catch a ride on a light rail train to Seattle.
Sound Transit has sweetened the pot in just about every city in three counties to get voters to say yes. Issaquah would get additional bus runs on Sound Transit express buses from the Issaquah Transit Center and the Highlands Park & Ride to downtown Seattle. Voters must decide if that’s enough to justify a sales tax increase to raise $17.9 billion for the bus/light rail package.
We vote no. Prop. 1 will only put 20 percent of its tax collections toward more buses.
It just may be that the notion of light rail in the Puget Sound region is too late. The only traffic solution we envision is one that gives drivers the option to use their very own driveway as a personal park & ride. We need collector buses that go into neighborhoods then connect to buses to take people where they need to go when they need to get there.
Voters thought they’d gotten the message to Sound Transit when they rejected a similar proposal only a year ago. The cost is too great — King County would have one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation — and then wait too long for light rail to kick in.
Another traffic related ballot issue is Initiative 985. It seeks to open carpool and bus lanes to all traffic except during peak hours — from 6-9 a.m. and from 3-6 p.m. weekdays. While it’s a tempting notion, the change comes with a price tag. Funds would be diverted from state taxes already in place. But, most of all, there is no clear evidence that it would make much difference in drive times. Vote no.
Editorial: Newspapers are key to our democracy
October 8, 2008
Your city budget is being impacted by the recession, just like you. Graffiti is on the rise, but does that mean gang activity is, too? The house down the street was burglarized and you only found out about it when you read the paper. Are there more empty storefronts than usual, or does it just seem that way? Thanks to an obituary notice, you were able to offer comfort to neighbors.
Off The Press
October 1, 2008
Fair play alive and well among prep athletes
With five minutes remaining in the Liberty High School football game against Mercer Island two weeks ago, Patriot coach Steve Valach called a timeout. It seemed odd to some sideline observers, because Liberty was cruising to an easy victory over the Islanders.
Valach then turned to his bench and said, “Anyone who hasn’t played raise their hand. All right, you guys go in.” Read more
