I am writing in regard to something I observed on the “HOT lanes” on State Route 167.
As a recent annexee to the city I am delighted to now be protected by Renton’s fireworks ban. Last week’s writer who called limits on fireworks “draconian” was just plain silly. The private, irresponsible and dangerous blow-outs all-to-common in neighborhoods around the 4th of July have nothing to do with real patriotism and love of freedom. They are more related, at any age, to foolish juvenile acting out drawn to loud noises and bright flashes, heedless of the danger and annoyance to their neighbors.
The County Council has stated there is a $70 million budget crisis to have cuts in courts and law enforcement.
I was surprised by the opinion of Julia Patterson (Renton Reporter, My Turn) about what caused this budget crisis.
Your article on June 14 entitled, “A reminder: Fireworks banned in the city” was terribly one-sided. You cite the reduction of property damage and fire calls since the ban was enacted in 2005, but you say nothing of the tens of thousands of people who have had their celebration of their country’s founding destroyed by this draconian ban.
As a residential designer in Renton, I feel compelled to respond to a recent letter to the editor. My goal as a designer is to produce the best home solution for my client. This may or may not include fire sprinklers but does consider their “bottom line” and safety. Fire sprinkler systems are good to have but should not always be required.
We live on 137th Place Southeast just off Southeast 156th on the Renton plateau. Saturday, June 7, my sister and I were talking and I looked out the window and saw two dogs that resemble pit bulls in our back yard, one black and the other a brownish color with a white muzzle.
Home fire sprinkler systems save billions of dollars while saving lives of countless occupants and firefighters. Sprinklers typically cost one-half percent to 1 percent of a new home’s price, but more than pay for themselves in reduced insurance premiums and other savings.
I wanted to take a moment to thank and recognize Ms. Hutt, a local Talbot Hill Elementary school teacher who attended a Renton Community Center dance recital.
It has been fascinating to read in the Renton Reporter about Highlands Man – a tantalizing glimpse into the past. When I came to page 19 of your June 4 issue, though, the article became rather entertaining: “The goal is to gather all of the young man’s remains and give them a proper burial, hopefully under the watchful eye of his ancestors, if they can be located.”
I suppose if their graves were better marked than his, you could track down their headstones, though I doubt his ancestors’ mortal remains are in possession of any kind of “watchful eye.”
Regarding John Carlson’s commentary of May 21, Renton Reporter. If he reads his own quoted words of our President, George H.W. Bush is defining the mere act of communicating with leaders we don’t like as “appeasement.” He shows this to be poor policy with the example of Kennedy meeting Khrushchev in 1961.
As the school year is coming to a close, I wanted to recognize the Renton Community Center and some their specific staff members. I feel lucky to live in a city that offers such a variety of programs for my toddlers. I have been bringing my three kids to the Renton Community Center for 3-plus years. My kids love the classes, the teachers and the office staff who treat us like family. I really appreciate having a safe and fun environment for my kids to learn and grow in.
In the last election I was elected on a reform platform to try and bring more transparency to governing King County Public Hospital District No. 1 (Valley Medical Center). I want to thank you for the trust that so many citizens and voters have placed in myself and other elected officials to work together to ensure public resources are being used for the maximum public good.
Have you sent in your ballot?
No surprise – Renton bond measure for May 20 states “No tax-rate increase (rate remains a low $3.44/$1,000 of assessed value).”
School district measure on May 20 will not increase tax rates.
Many people think that since most high school students can’t vote, we don’t really care about the important politics, like the next improvement bond that is on the ballot for May 20. But the thing is, we absolutely do care about what’s going to happen. The Renton School District motto is “Launching Learning to Last a Lifetime,” which we wholeheartedly agree with. Our years here at Lindbergh have taught us more than what we could learn inside a classroom; we have learned about life and most importantly about what the real world will be like beyond the classroom.
The theme of our current bond election is “Building for a Lifetime of Learning.” I personally believe that “learning” includes building strong bodies as well as strong minds. As the parent of three student-athletes who have thrived in the Renton School District, I have seen firsthand how involvement in extracurricular activities benefits our students in many positive, character-building ways. I’d like to focus briefly on this aspect of the bond proposal:
Has a prime piece of waterfront property been taken over by the “Canadians?”
Re: “First HOT commute going good,” Renton Reporter, Wednesday May 7, 2008
For the past two weeks your readers have been treated to a John Carlson column that parrots the Dino Rossi campaign mantra. I presume that you pay Carlson for this column. Actually, I believe that you should charge him the standard advertisement rate for political ads. Or alternatively, you could provide Gov. Gregoire with equal time and space.
