A voice for NE Tacoma

I read with great interest the recent pieces concerning the potential development of the North Shore Golf Course (Nov. 10). Thank you for keeping us informed about this. Like guest columnist Gene Foster, we have grave concerns about how this development would impact us as NE Tacoma residents and the inherent problems that would spill over into Federal Way. Thank you again for your voice.

Pam and Joe Doyle, Northeast Tacoma

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Now we await Prop. 2

The failure of Proposition 1 was not a surprise to me.

It was politically driven vs. transit usage driven. Our transit system is overloaded during the commuting hours and most of us agree something must be done to relieve congestion.

The main factors that determine people’s choices in commuting are convenience and time in route, although some would include cost. It is very hard to solve the convenience factor because we can’t put a special van at everybody’s front door, but we can reduce the time it takes in route. To reduce time in route, we build new roads, dedicated express bus lanes and train/light rail all supported by a convenient park and ride.

The flaw of Prop. 1 was that the tax rate in all five subareas was established by the amount needed in the North King County subarea, or in plain words, the amount needed to complete the light rail between Seattle and Northgate and replace the 520 bridge.

Because of the state mandate that all subareas must be taxed at the same rate, this created a landfall of cash in the South King County subarea as well as the other subareas. In South King County, the political solution was to spend the additional tax dollars on extending the light rail from Sea-Tac airport to Tacoma at a cost of over $2.5 billion.

I ask, who would ride a light rail from Federal Way to Seattle that will take over one hour when one could depart from the same transit center on a bus that takes 30 minutes?

The remake of Prop. 1 will not be easy, but very necessary within the coming year. There is a very good foundation of management at Sound Transit headed by Joni Earl that can complete projects on budget and on time. Light rail must be completed from Seattle to Northgate. Light rail should be completed from Sea-Tac airport to 200th. Garages with 2,500 parking spaces should be built at Northgate and 200th. There is no need for light rail north of Northgate, east of Seattle or south of 200th.

To make a new Proposition 2 voter friendly, the state Legislature must modify the mandate that all subareas must be taxed at the same level. If the Legislatures can do this work, then there is no reason to initiate a new governess system for regional transportation management. There is enough expertise in the RTID and Sound Transit to get the job done.

A much cheaper Bus Rapid Transportation (BRT) system makes more sense than light rail in East King County. I support most of the road improvements and where financing is short to complete the projects tolls should be used, i.e.: Alaskan Way freeway and 520 bridges.

If a new Prop. 2 can be written with reduced light rail, it follows that proposed tax rate increase in Prop. 1 for South, East, Pierce and Snohomish subareas can be cut considerably. The time required to complete the projects should fall within the next 10 years. With those changes, I believe a majority of the people will vote for Prop 2. I know I will.

Al Stipe, Federal Way

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Walker says thank you

To my family, friends and supporters — the race has been run.

It has been a little over a week since the elections, and I have had some time to rest and reflect.

In all, I am extremely happy that over 6,200 people entrusted their vote to me. With my opponent receiving such a large number of votes, it stands to reason that the votes I received were a conscious choice for me, because they went against the norm. I feel honored.

Again, I want to say a big thank you to everyone. I realize more and more how much a political campaign is a team effort.

Many thanks to: Trevor Denham, Curtis Franklin, Prakash Meloot, Barbara Reid, Don Putman, Ed Reeves, LaWonda Smith, Steve Bastrom and Tony Moore for your help and advice; homeless guys Robert and Hugh who helped wave signs; DeBorah Little, Angela Griffin, Penny Howard and the rest of the MIE Coalition for your encouragement; Vasili, Michel, Oleg, Natalie, Lil’ Vasili and Lori Katretcheko, Jim McConville and his brothers, Dmitriy Usmanov, Josh Reichlin, Brett Hansen, Larry Ahkiong and my other neighbors, for all your help with the “Big Sign;” my financial supports, and again, a real special thanks to the 6,245-plus people who cast their vote for me.

Maybe we will team up again in the future… As for me, I will rest and work on the city’s MLK Celebration that’s two months away, pick up signs (if you see one in a ditch or such, please call me) and find other ways to impact the lives of young people.

Blessed and content,

Ron Walker, Federal Way

Note: Walker was a candidate for Federal Way School Board position 5. His Web site is LetMeHearFromYou.com.