Merry Christmas!!
2008 has been an eventful year for the Renton Reporter and for the City of Renton. Both are working hard to withstand these tough economic times and both have bright futures.
Renton is at the center of the Puget Sound region and, I like to think, the Renton Reporter is at the heart of telling the story of Renton and its people.
I was heartened to see that Sherril Huff has decided to run for her current job as head of the county Elections Division.
From the old classic, “White Christmas”: “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep. And I fall asleep counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all. And I fall asleep counting my blessings…”
The King County Council recently adopted the 2009 budget. It was the toughest budget in recent memory. A $93 million hole was filled by making tough choices, but the worst is yet to come. On top of these historic cuts, the King County executive estimates that 2010 will bring another very large deficit. King County leaders must start working on reducing expenses now to have an impact on the 2010 budget. The budget was balanced using the executive’s proposed “life boat” strategy. Executive Sims proposed to fund some programs for six months, while he lobbies the Legislature for a new tax increase to fund general government services.
Democracy happens when people vote. It’s a sacred duty and those who watch over our elections need to do so with a deep commitment to keeping the process pure.
RTC swimming pool important to health
Recently there has been some concern raised by businesses about the Renton Reporter’s impending change from a twice-weekly publication to once a week. Let me assure you that this in no way minimizes our ability to reach our targeted audience. Combined with our Web site, which is gaining in popularity, we will be able to provide another media choice.
Renton Technical College plans to close its swimming pool on Jan. 1, ending the water aerobics fitness program. I am one of more than 80 individuals who use the pool at least twice weekly and rely on this activity as an important tool for my health and wellness. It has specifically lowered by cholesterol levels, aided in weight loss, reduced work-related stress, provided muscle toning and is a social activity as well.
I’ve written before about how I want my state legislators and Gov. Christine Gregoire to use some common sense when it comes to navigating our way out of this economic “Bermuda Triangle.”
I have to say I have some very mixed opinions of all the new Renton school-zone, red-light cameras. I definitely agree that speeding through school zones during school hours is a very dangerous and irresponsible act. Matt Cottum, a childhood friend of mine, was killed when we were in third grade back in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Renton is not using these new speed zones near schools, such a Talbot Elementary and McKnight Middle schools, to save such incidents.
Each day seems to bring another grim report about the nation’s economy and Main Street’s ability to cope with the greatest financial upheaval since the Great Depression.
Change is inevitable. In fact we are hard-wired to adapt to changing conditions in our environment. If not, well, we die out or we become… Continue reading
I would like to thank the community for their support of my campaign for the State Senate in the 41st District. It has been my honor to serve our community for the past eight years and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to go back to Olympia for four more years.
Today, I am hopeful. The day is bright, despite the gray weather. I have nothing to fear from my national leader.
Barack Obama is our new president.
I witnessed the Obama experience a couple years ago when I covered his appearance at Bellevue Community College for the King County Journal.
It’s all over but the counting.
Yup, it has been a long few months, wading through the pleas of political candidates and the attack ads that more often than not obscured any hope of making an informed decision.
But it’s our system and you gotta love it, I suppose.
Renton has a lot of firepower in the state Legislature, as measured by the number – 5 – of legislative districts that include a piece of the city or its environs within their borders.
Oh my goodness. Alaina St. Clair from Renton considers the city’s theaters “kind of nasty.” She goes downtown for movies, except for the new Regal Cinemas at The Landing. I guess that makes the rest of us who enjoy the Renton theaters, including the new one of course, not quite classy enough since we consider the rest of the theaters nice. We’re not snobby enough, huh?