Yes, we need young people in our civic organizations, like in our Kiwanis Club of Issaquah. There is really not much that we can offer but to make them feel comfortable and be part of the group. Most young professionals are very busy with work and raising young family, but they check their emails and get into social media, so maybe we can create an Internet club as an extension of our noon club. They need a break from work so they need a fun meeting where maybe sometimes they can bring their families or bring their wife into a fun evening meeting once a month. These activities can be dancing, (karaoke) singing, romantic dinners and game nights — just a group wherein to have a fun break inexpensively once a month. They also would like to help in the community and our service clubs do provide that.

Becky Wilder, Issaquah

We see today that people seem to affiliate after feeling involved and having a sense of community. The idea that you join in order to belong is increasing difficult to justify. The act of belonging is an expression of community. Traditional clubs and organization will be most impacting “when they move out of building and programs” and into areas of community interest and community need. In Christian contexts, the mission of congregations is to join God where he is already at work in the community!

Don Burnett, Issaquah

No. If the development is a good investment, then private investors would put their money into it and not need to ask for taxpayer funds.

Paul Stewart, Issaquah

No to the Regency Centers! Perhaps at some time we will have to consider offering tax or other incentives to an enterprise in order to entice them to come here rather than to another city seeking their presence. However, we would have to consider the wisdom and implications of such a move based on a hard-nosed cost/benefit analysis.

Ray Extract, Issaquah

Absolutely not! The Issaquah Highlands development is a business and the taxpayers shouldn’t bail it out. We have already sacrificed more than enough.

Hank Thomas, Issaquah

Public-private co-opts have a murky history — for example, our sports stadiums. A developer would not risk capital if it wasn’t certain of profitability and in that case the public should not have taxpayer dollars in jeopardy to prop up capital ventures. Surely, we’re all tired of government bailouts of private entities by now!

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Surprise! Another business lining up at the public trough. How far will our City Council bend this time, and how do I get on that money train?

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

Absolutely not. Developers pay to develop. That is their business. We should not be begging for developers. On the contrary, I would like to see Issaquah take the position that it is a privilege to develop in our city and anyone who submits a proposal should be prepared to meet our (hopefully) stringent standards and requirements.

Barbara Extract, Issaquah

One advantage that I see is that each high school could offer specialty classes that are attended by small numbers of students. This means that schools could combine small classes in one location. Busing should be provided to allow students to move from school to school.

Jim Harris, Issaquah

The schools are there for the students, right? I do not understand why there are different school start times, depending upon the day of the week. The teachers can do their stuff for the next day, after the classes are dismissed for the day, at the same hour! Allow the schools’ start times each day at the same time. Depending upon the availability of the school buses, the high schools should start at the same time each day, as well as the middle schools and the elementary schools.

Ken Sessler, Issaquah

If it costs more money (e.g. more buses or staff needed) don’t do it!

Matthew Balkman, Issaquah

I can’t imagine a disadvantage. Traffic could be improved with alternating end times.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Not sure what advantages would be. Disadvantage clearly the potential for simultaneous traffic jams around the city.

Monica Drakes, Issaquah

I am so not interested in schedules. I am more interested in educational achievement — what are those plans?

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

Are you bothered by reports of bears or cougars in the Issaquah area? Why or why not?

We are driving the wildlife out of their native habitats. Too much residential and commercial building is creating this imbalance.

Jim Harris, Issaquah

Seems to me that the interests of a suffering patient far outweigh those of the city. We must figure out how to make this palliative necessity for some patients easily accessible at an affordable price.

Meredith Prock, Issaquah

Sitting by my TV, watching those terrorists attack America. Too bad that some in America do not see the danger today.

Ken Sessler, Issaquah

Almost run over by a man running out of Tully’s unable to contain either his shock or excitement — not sure which.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Listening to my alarm clock and hearing impossible news, then seeing the unbelievable on TV.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

My wife and I were asleep when the phone rang at about 6 a.m. I cursed and answered the phone wondering who would call us at such an ungodly hour. It was our son who was in Texas on a business trip. He asked us if we were watching TV. I said that we were asleep. He said “Turn on the TV!” I asked what channel. He said “It doesn’t matter!”

Jim Harris, Issaquah

I was in bed when my son called me early in the morning from KOMO, where he was interning, and told me to turn on the TV as he was monitoring the newsfeed as it was happening. It was amazing to see it and of course a very sad way to wake up.

Michele Forkner, Issaquah

Were you or anyone you know connected to Sept. 11? If so, how?

We were all New Yorkers that day. I try to take every opportunity to thank fire and police in every city I visit. We should never forget why it happened and how our heroes responded.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

I think we all were connected on 9/11; sadly, less so now.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

In Honolulu, sleeping. My son woke me up telling me my daughter had called from D.C. saying she was OK and to turn the TV on. I was horrified; stayed glued to the tube until I had to report to the newsroom of the business weekly where I was copy editor. The office TV was on all day as we worked feverishly on stories about how this life-changing event would affect our business readers. We went to press the next day.

Meredith Prock, Issaquah

It was days later that a cousin of mine in White Plains, N.Y., reported to me that the widow of another cousin had died in the Twin Towers. My N.Y. cousin had seen the other’s name in The New York Times’ list of victims.

Jim Harris, Issaquah

Thought the mayor had a paid individual to manage the different city government departments. If the city has to blow $50,000 for some hokey study, then fire that manager.

Ken Sessler, Issaquah

Frankly, I think Issaquah city staff are amongst the best you will find — listen to them regarding what needs to be fixed, what doesn’t and how they would go about it. It has to be difficult for them with all the expansion and changes under way.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

First, start with a 10 percent cut to all programs. We all have had to do this in our personal lives and businesses. Why should government be immune? Yes, some may lose their jobs and have to work harder … so have the rest of us. Second — Cap the budgets not to exceed this cut amount for three years.

Matthew Balkman, Issaquah

Should it be a surprise they live here? I suspect folks should understand that critters — big, potentially dangerous critters — were here before we were. Keep Skippy inside!

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

I agree with Thoreau: “In Wildness is the preservation of the World. … From the forest and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind.”

Bob McCoy, Sammamish

I’m bothered only by concern for the bears. It was recently reported, “If relocation fails, a nuisance bear may be destroyed.” A “nuisance” bear should be one that is aggressive toward humans, not one that repeatedly returns to a source of food someone has left for it (garbage, bird feeders, etc.). I prefer to find ways to coexist.

Monica Drakes, Issaquah

Bothered? We should be thankful, not bothered! These animals are not out stalking humans. We need to fit into their environment and accommodate them, not try to eliminate them from ours.

Ken Konigsmark, Issaquah

No, but it indicates that we are encroaching more into their space and pushing them away. We used to see deer on Bush Street — have not seen any this year or last.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

We live in their home territory. We need to adapt and coexist.

Hank Thomas, Issaquah

In the spring we had a bear in our backyard. We stay out of the way and wonder at the beauty and majesty of living in a community that has protected its environment enough so all of us can live together!

Kelly Munn, Issaquah

Need to push the federal government on this issue. Not sure the city’s and patients’ interests are in conflict — would prefer to put illegal drug dealers out of business. Council should solicit views of the public — via emails, town meetings, etc. — and make a decision, quickly.
Monica Drakes, Issaquah

Legalize and tax it, period.
Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

Legalize and tax marijuana for anyone over 21 just like liquor. But no state stores unlike liquor.
Tom Masters, Issaquah

Why is it not treated as any other drug? The doctor writes a prescription, the patient then goes to a drugstore and gets it filled. Patients do not mix/grow/boil their own chemicals to get their required medication.
Ken Sessler, Issaquah

I would give more credence to actual pain patients and the providers who prescribe marijuana than I would to activists or those who will profit from sales. Listen to both sides of the addiction issue.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Instead of a hand-wringing moratorium, the best approach is to work toward legalization of marijuana.
Hank Thomas, Issaquah

The traffic lights at Front Street and Sunset Way need to be on longer to allow the westbound extra traffic through.

Ken Sessler, Issaquah

It has been a welcome relief.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

The real change is at Second Avenue and Sunset Way — some drivers can’t figure out the dedicated left and right turn lanes.

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

Traffic is better. The wide and extra turn lanes help. A light at Second Avenue would be better.

Barbara Shelton, Issaquah

The city received $100,000 to study another transfer of development rights, with the receiving site in the business district. Should the area along Interstate 90 be redeveloped into a dense neighborhood?

Better, where are those TDRs coming from? Will county TDRs get the priority over local ones?

Connie Marsh, Issaquah

No. Traffic is already a problem that the city has not been able to fix. We don’t need more jams along Gilman Boulevard, Front Street or Southeast 56th Street.

Jim Harris, Issaquah

This TDR is a bad thing. If the business district is going to get a pass on environmental and development rules, then the transfer mitigations (benefits) should be kept within our city limits, not placed somewhere in King County.

C.A. Christensen, Issaquah

Washington voters rejected a series of taxes on the Nov. 2 ballot, leaving the state to close a huge spending gap. What steps should Issaquah’s representatives in Olympia take to preserve local programs amid cuts?

Cuts must be fair, prioritized and based on realistic cost/benefit analyses, not pork-barrel favortism. Speak the honest truth about the importance of Issaquah programs and facilities, but if other areas of the state have a program or facility of higher importance, then it should keep its funding.

Ken Konigsmark, Issaquah

First, call attention, in Olympia and in the media, to the need to clearly define what role our state government should have, which does not include what should be done by city government, county government, federal government, charitable organizations, private businesses or individuals. Second, eliminate programs that do not fit that role. Third, spread our existing tax dollars among the remaining programs. Our budget gap is too large for every community to expect to preserve local programs.

Mel Morgan, Issaquah

We have to think out of the box to accomplish more with less, streamline bureaucracy and improve processes. Prioritize needs. Safety, education and repairing broken infrastructure are immediate needs.

Ray Extract, Issaquah

Bellevue College has expressed interest in the Issaquah Highlands for a possible campus site. How could a college campus change the community in positive and negative ways?

Graduating seniors would have an option close to home that could cut residency cost and allow for commuting.

Don Burnett, Issaquah

To have such easy access to higher education here in Issaquah would be a huge asset.

Gail Givan, Issaquah

Though I was not able to attend, I appreciated that the effort was made to get citizen input — good job parks and rec!

Bryan Weinstein, Issaquah

The Parks Department has been doing an excellent job having meetings to get community input, but the real question will be if they were actually listening or not.

C.A. Christensen, Issaquah

I attended a Confluence Park Meeting and Central Park Plan Open House; both were informative, accessible and inclusive of all interested parties.

Gail Givan, Issaquah

Bellevue College has expressed interest in the Issaquah Highlands for a possible campus site. How could a college campus change the community in positive and negative ways?

As always, traffic would be a problem, but housing would flourish.

Sue Wood, Issaquah

Being a “college town” carries a great deal of benefit. The highlands is well suited for the additional traffic and having BC further out on the eastside will reduce commute difficulties and expand services.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah

A college should locate where there is ready, mass transit access for its students, not create a facility that requires everyone to drive a personal vehicle to reach the campus. I hope that any college campus in Issaquah will be required to be served by mass transit and parking lots will be limited.

Ken Konigsmark, Issaquah

If the BC campus would be a forested one, like Bellevue, excellent! More meeting rooms, jobs, people.

Connie Marsh, Issaquah

Bellevue College would surely bring more positive than negative in many ways. Since we have the Running Start program, students would be able to cut short their driving time to go from the high school to the college campus. This will also benefit mature residents who want to take some classes at Bellevue College. Economically, the local business will also benefit.

Becky Wilder, Issaquah