In response to Andrew Villeneuve’s editorial in the Dec. 10 edition, the issue is not a reluctance to pay taxes in order to collectively accomplish those things we could not do individually.
In the Dec. 10 letter to the editor, “Harsh problems in Bethlehem,” Mr. Schack notes the “great suffering … in Bethlehem … caused by a massive wall.”
I am a mom and I wanted to protest against the Gov. Gregoire’s proposal to eliminate all state highly capable program funding for the next two years. My kid is in the gifted program and is thriving well with the challenge the education provides. He actually enjoys going to school and learning which was not the case before he was accepted into the program. I also volunteer in his class and have seen firsthand how much all the kids love it there.
Recently our family joined more than 80 other citizens in attending “Livable Redmond,” an event held last month at City Hall.
Andy Wappler, former meteorologist for KIRO TV, now with Puget Sound Energy, gave a keynote speech, and then small groups gathered to discuss what a sustainable Redmond is or could be. The city defines sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The police blotter feature is both a description of a small selection of police incidents and a statistical round-up of all calls to the Redmond Police Department that are dispatched to on-duty police officers. The Redmond Reporter Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all police calls originating in Redmond, which gets more than 500 calls (emergency and non-emergency) per week.
For its 12th season, the SecondStory Repertory Children’s Theater Series is presenting “Sleeping Beauty,” Jan. 7-23.
Rose Hill Elementary School is presenting “Peter Pan in Neverland” Jan. 7-8, 2011.
Playing its first 2B Sea-Tac League game of the season, the Bear Creek boys’ basketball team had no trouble with Crosspoint on Friday night at home, crushing the Warriors 78-37.
From left, Redmond Fire Captain John Stockman, who is driving, Sarah Jones, Jeanette Campagna, Meghan Jones, Mac Morrison, Redmond Fire Apparatus Program Supervisor Doug Jones (Santa) and behind Santa, Redmond Fire Mechanic Brian Barrett (Buddy the Elf) cruise around the Grass Lawn neighborhood Saturday night in a vintage 1949 GMC fire truck as part of the “Santa in the Neighborhoods” food and toy drive, sponsored by the Redmond Firefighters’ Union.
The Redmond Senior Center (RSC) will host a conversation between Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball and Redmond Mayor John Marchione on Monday, Jan. 10 at 12:15 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the RSC, 8703 160th Avenue NE.
State legislators did their job last Saturday by partially plugging a financial hole in the state budget. However, they didn’t do themselves – or the public – any favors. The state’s finances still are a mess.
Andrew Villeneuve, in his Dec. 10 editorial, states that “a debate has been raging over taxes at both the state and federal level.”
According to his own figures, taxes per $1,000 of personal income have gone up by 19.5 percent since 2008, yet he doesn’t see this as a problem. Washington voters don’t seem to share his view. They shot down his beloved I-1098 income tax initiative by a 65-35 percent margin.
In his Dec. 10 column, your editorialist, Andrew Villeneuve, argues that we should fall in love with an ever-increasing tax burden.
His argument centers on two contentions. Both are nonsensical uses of words and data.
First, he equates the word “commonwealth” with “common wealth.” This is pure poppycock.
The economy may appear to be turning around, but in Washington, by the most favorable measure, unemployment is now at least 8.6 percent.
Here on the Eastside, people are still losing jobs and homes, small business are still closing, social services are reduced and families are forced to dip into their pensions and children’s college education funds to pay bills and mortgages.
The police blotter feature is both a description of a small selection of police incidents and a statistical round-up of all calls to the Redmond Police Department that are dispatched to on-duty police officers. The Redmond Reporter Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all police calls originating in Redmond, which gets more than 500 calls (emergency and non-emergency) per week.
Thirty teachers in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD), including nine from Redmond, achieved National Board Certification, bringing the district’s total to 170 full-time National Board Certified teachers.
King County and City of Redmond residents can seek assistance for destroyed and damaged property by contacting the King County Department of Assessments at (206) 296-7300 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.aspx.
The Redmond Senior Center (RSC) First Friday Coffee Chat on Jan. 7 from 10-11 a.m. will feature Police Chief Ron Gibson and Commander Shari Shovlin. This is the time to get acquainted with Redmond’s new Chief and learn his philosophy of policing. Chief Gibson is also anxious to learn from residents as to their concerns and suggestions.
Commander Shari Shovlin will be on hand to discuss the new Traffic Safety Camera Pilot Program that will begin on Jan. 1, 2011.
A 32-year-old Redmond woman faces first-degree child rape charges after allegations that she had sexual contact with a 5-year-old boy, who was a regular playmate of her young son.
The City of Redmond’s new Safety Camera Pilot Program begins on Jan. 1, 2011 with three red-light cameras and one school-zone camera.
Redmond police will issue warning tickets through January. Citations with fines will begin on Feb. 1. The fine for a safety camera violation is $124.