The Kirkland Downtown Association is alive and well and excited to move forward with enhanced support from the city, a growing, energized board, renewed support for tourism, and the go ahead for some great projects downtown.

Past executive director, Dick Beazell’s decision to leave Kirkland and the KDA in December presented us with the opportunity to re-evaluate our mission, our message and our role as advocate and conduit for downtown businesses and downtown activities. We are fully engaged in that work and confident of the outcome.

Your article last week with regard to Julie Metteer’s decision to move on neglected to mention her continued commitment to the organization and our transition. It evoked a sense of hopelessness about the future of the KDA that is simply not true. These are difficult economic times and we need to be working hard to respond to the challenges we are facing. The KDA presents a perfect venue for that. As we dig out of this pretty dreary winter let’s get excited about a Spring and Summer with lots of great events in and around downtown.

Penny Sweet, KDA Executive Board