There are probably few superlatives that haven’t been used to describe Sen. Margarita Prentice.
For nearly a quarter century she has watched out for the interests of Renton and West Hill in the state Legislature.
As I enter my second term in the mayor’s office, I anticipate more challenging times ahead. The recovery from this recession has proven to be very slow and we expect several more years of tight budgets. It’s critically important that we all chip in and help those in need in our neighborhoods and support our local businesses. Despite these difficult times, there are many reasons to be optimistic.
The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is committed to providing access and opportunity to Americans who are – or who want to become – small business owners. For a variety of reasons, some communities are underserved when it comes to getting the tools they need to grow a business and create jobs. We want to change that.
As a physician in Renton, I’m very concerned about what years of budget cuts are doing to our state’s health-care system. While you may have not yet felt the pain, I promise you, your neighbors have. Soon we’ll all experience the impact of more cuts to health care if the Legislature ignores the governor’s call to include new revenue to solve the state budget deficit.
If it’s lucky, a community is blessed with leaders who give of themselves to make their city a better place.
There are two exemplary examples in Renton: Bob Bridge and King Parker, who have made their mark on Renton with their time and their personal resources.
This is difficult for me to say but my name is Tish and I am an addict. I think this holiday season it’s time for me to go on the wagon. Not the alcohol or rich-food wagon, but the charitable-giving wagon.
Requests from deserving charities to help the less fortunate at this time of year are overwhelming. The pleas are like large neon signs flashing before my eyes with such intensity that my giving heart wants to help everyone. But how can I, when the need is getting greater and my funds are getting smaller?
Cities are creatures of the state. Renton and others must do the state’s bidding. They have no choice, even if it costs them a lot of money.
Our governor and state legislators are faced with the difficult task of preparing a balanced budget and are calling for extreme cuts in government services to match the income shortfall created by these tough economic times. There are some services, like public safety, that our tax dollars must support. Services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are part of our public safety network and benefit all of us.
There was a palpable sense of relief – along with a lot of smiles – this week when Boeing announced that it would build its 737 MAX in Renton.
The other day I was flipping through the cable channels and came across the movie “Colors” with Robert Duvall and Sean Penn. The movie is all about two Los Angeles police officers working in the Gang Unit. They deal with generational, entrenched gang issues in certain neighborhoods, and the overall tone of the movie is how hopeless and difficult reducing gang violence can be.
The movie was made in 1988, 23 years ago.
20,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues.
Those are two really good reasons why Gov. Chris Gregoire is rallying local and state leaders, educators, unions and businesses to show Boeing why it should build the 737 MAX in Washington. Of course, we think production of this newest member of the 737 family should land in Renton.
Our candidates lost in the general election.
We endorsed Mary Alice Heuschel for hospital commission and Robin Jones in the race for an open seat on the Renton City Council. But what mattered most is that the endorsement of the voters carried the day.
We remain firmly committed to the principles and goals that Heuschel espoused in her race against Dr. Paul Joos, who won handily.
If crystal balls really had the power to show us the future, then there are a few things I would like to know.
For instance, will the homeless finally have shelter? Will food banks have an abundance of food to feed the hungry? Will the arts play a vital role in sustaining us as a culture? Will abuse and neglect be absent neighbors? Will our lakes, rivers and forests thrive? Will every child have the opportunity for a world-class education?
Recently, when I noticed fresh graffiti and tagging in my neighborhood, I immediately took pictures and forwarded them on to code compliance at the City of Renton. Renton’s strong ordinance, established in 2008, against this type of activity has been very successful because of their all-inclusive approach to this problem – early notification by the public, cash rewards, quick cover up of tagging and graffiti by volunteers, criminal trespass and vandalism charges for offend
The Renton Reporter is joining a growing list of newspapers that no longer will accept anonymous online comments, starting Nov. 17.
The retirement of King Parker from the Renton City Council left in its wake one of the most personally charged elections in recent memory. The important issues of the day got lost in the race between Robin Jones and Ed Prince to replace Parker on the council.
The Renton Reporter endorses Mary Alice Heuschel in her race for an open seat on the Public Hospital District No. 1 Board of Commissioners.
Today, the Renton Reporter continues its series of endorsement editorials in three City Council races and the race for a sole position on the Public Hospital District Board of Commissioners. The endorsements are made by our Editorial Board, comprised of Publisher Ellen Morrison, Editor Dean A. Radford and community members Jim Medzegian, Armondo Pavone and Pat Auten. The candidates in each race were interviewed, then the board deliberated before voting. The final endorsement, for the hospital commission race, will appear in the Oct. 14 Renton Reporter.
Providing quality education to our children is critical to the continued economic development of our city and the future of our community. With the new school year already under way, teachers need our help. From African-American history books for elementary students, to wickless alcohol burners to teach middle school students about science, to requests for guitar kits to help high school students who love music, there is no end to the needs of a classroom. And to meet these needs we must all be committed and support our teachers and students.
Without reservation, the Editorial Board endorses Don Persson in his bid for a fourth term on the Renton City Council.
