By the end of this year, 39 neighborhood parks in King County may be closed, due to the King County budget crisis. Imagine, 132nd Square Park with a cyclone fence around it, the great, new playground inaccessible, and the ballfields locked! What a shame to close a 10-acre park, especially in this economy. Where will all the Little League teams play?
As a mother of a 3-year-old who loves 132nd Square, as well as Edith Moulton Park’s “forest trail,” I’m saddened and angry. These are just two of six parks in the Juanita/Kingsgate area to be shuttered under King County Executive Kurt Triplett’s plan. The planned park closures are just one more good reason to vote for annexation to the City of Kirkland this November. The county doesn’t have the money or resources to provide services to unincorporated areas. The city has a good track record (wonderfully maintained parks) and must maintain a balanced budget. If we annex, we’ll have better services overall, for about the same tax rates. And we have a better shot at salvaging our parks. Please vote yes for annexation on Nov. 3. Check out www.ci.kirkland.wa.us and click on the annexation button, and see www.onekirkland.org for more information or to donate to the cause.
Barbara Ramey, Juanita
Sternoff should resign
Although Councilman Bob Sternoff has publicly apologized for sending personal and sexual explicit e-mails to his girlfriend during a city council meeting, an apology doesn’t go far enough. Evidently, as an elected official, he doesn’t have an interest in public meetings, particularly if he has time to send off 90 personal e-mails while the council is discussing annexation. No wonder Kirkland government is so screwed up, starting with the lack of leadership in the City Manager’s meeting, and ending with a totally dysfunctional council. Sternoff should do the honorably thing and resign. He obviously has no interest in the job and he isn’t representing the public’s interest. Do your personal correspondence on your own time, not during public meetings.
Pat Harris, Kirkland
