Apartments versus salmon
Dear editor,
The Cedar River is the highest priority stream/river in the watershed for Chinook salmon recovery. Chinook, listed as a threatened species 15 years ago, has been in decline since Europeans arrived. Habitat restoration science is young. Decisions made now should be scrupulously considered.
Renton is considering development of an empty lot (Stoneway Plant) southeast of intersection State Route 169 and Interstate 405 into two, five-story apartments, [including] 481 units plus businesses.
There is no precedent established allowing buildings of this height and type. Current zoning, Commercial Office Residential, based on old standards from 100-plus years of industrial use is now inappropriate. The mitigation processes used to compensate for adverse effects are ways to circumvent rules and “best practices.”
Multiple critical and sensitive areas include; regulated Cedar River shoreline, sole source Aquifer Zone One protection area, critical aquifer recharge area, well‐field one-year capture zone, regulated and non‐regulated 100-year flood zones. Direct surface contaminants above the aquifer migrate through the water table. Storm water run‐off contributes 30 percent of pollution in waters with some pollution. Pollution permits/treatment plants can’t solve this.
Healthy riparian zones essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems along rivers involve; maintaining large areas of diverse vegetation and minimizing the effect of adjacent land use. Renton’s Shoreline Management Program requires buffers and building set‐backs up to 100-feet along river/lake shorelines. ‘Renton’s ‘Lower Cedar River Restoration Assessment study’ for Chinook Conservation, gives high priority to replanting, enforcing aquatic buffers and limiting variances.
Better uses of this area would avoid adverse impacts on the river, aquifer and salmon recovery. In 2008 Renton’s Tri‐Park plan proposed three ball fields at this site. Current grid lock and ongoing traffic congestion on State Route 169 and Sunset Boulevard at Interstate 405 are major concerns. Four lights exist within a quarter mile and a railroad crossing.
The developer’s ill‐informed sign states, “expect traffic delays.”
Sincerely,
Nicola Robinson
Renton
Reader disagrees with how the county spends tax dollars
Dear editor,
In the June 21 issue of the Seattle Times there is an article about the County Council spending more taxpayers’ money on a Municipal Relations Director. So what’s next for the council? Are they going to hire a deputy Municipal Relations Director or does he get to hire a Chief of Staff?
When will the council realize that we, the taxpayer, are not an endless supply of money for the county? Some people are paying for the light rail and in August there will be a new proposal to fund parks even more. Or how about other things the county wants? Where is the money coming from? What is next? Will everyone get a 10-20 percent raise — again at the taxpayer’s expense?
I attended a meeting on Wednesday evening [June 19] and we heard that the [Department of Permitting and Environmental Review] has only five code inspectors to monitor code complaints in King County. Why doesn’t the county fix this problem, budget some money and hire more code inspectors? When will the council stop hiring people that may not be needed?
Sincerely,
Claudia Donnelly
Renton
Reader suggests going vegetarian this Fourth of July
Dear editor,
Here are the 10 best reasons for barbecuing veggie burgers and hot dogs this Independence Day, rather than ground-up animal body parts:
■ Focusing on traffic and fireworks safety, rather than food safety.
■ Giving your eyes a break from reading government food warning labels.
■ Not sweating nasty E. coli and Salmonella bugs, if temperature is too low.
■ Not sweating cancer-causing compounds, if barbecue temperature is too high.
■ Not wondering about what’s really in that burger or hot dog you’re chewing.
■ Giving your body a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol, and hormones.
■ Not sweating the animal cruelty and environmental devastation guilt trips.
■ Not having to explain to your kids why we feed Rex and eat Babe.
■ Distinguishing your Independence Day menu from your friends and neighbors.
■ Celebrating a day of independence from the meat industry.
Sincerely,
Sherman Peters
Renton
Reader has an issue(s) with Renton’s Pride (and RPGs)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was edited for spelling, grammar and length.
Dear editor,
On Friday, June 14, the Renton Reporter featured an article called “Renton has Pride, finally,” and a full-page color ad called “News from your County Councilmember.” I, Janis V. Hyne, a 74-year-old widow and Renton resident since 1987, wish to express my opinion about the subject of these two items — “LGBTQ+ folks.”
I have heard, via the grapevine, that Renton is the third most diversified city in the United States of America. This is awesome news as our very own American Statue of Liberty welcomes all pilgrims and strangers from the various countries around the world. Our American Declaration of Independence states that God, our Sovereign maker, gives us all our God-given rights. In that we can be proud to be American citizens.
However, Mayor Denis Law, your proclamation that June is Pride Month and the City of Renton raising a rainbow flag to promote “queer visibility” of a minority of residents living here in the area and flaunting the ungodly life as “LGBTQ+ folks” is not a “positive development” for our beloved city of Renton. I am all for diversity of religions, languages, customs, etc., but not being forced as a tax-paying citizen to support this kind of sexual perversion.
Once again, I strongly disagree as to that image for the City of Renton. “Pride” original meaning “inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often in contempt of others.”
“Pride goeth before destruction,” Proverbs 6:1.
Is that what we good citizens of Renton want to promote as our “long overdue” image?
I definitely don’t think so — nor should leaders of our city. The United Christian Church in Renton with its display of colorful doors is welcoming and accurate — “God’s doors are open to all.”
But deviant sexual sin, as experienced by homosexuals (LGBTQ+ folks) is directly addressed in God’s written letter of His love and laws.
Yes we are to love them, just as God does, they are our neighbors here in Renton and entitled to their opinions. Yet not as Renton resident Chad Cashman-Crane said in the Reporter article, lifting up “queer identities” of the minority group of LGTQ+ folks does not represent a good, progressive city.
That reminds me that Renton also cannot encourage the demonic, abject and violent “fantasy role-playing” games (I.E. Dungeons and Dragons) that are being displayed and taught in our Renton Historical Museum to teens and families for a five-month period.
So please, I beg you, our leaders of Renton, do not allow our city to be destroyed by activities that “sound exciting” and “progressive-going with the flow.” Let’s keep our schools, parks, libraries, public buildings (like city hall) and museums free from ungodly displays and promotions. Let’s celebrate Renton for years to come as a good, decent place to live and raise our families.
Sincerely,
Janis V. Hyne
Renton
