As we begin the new year, I found myself thinking about the events of the last year and the unanswered questions that occurred as a result:
Why did the Kirkland Council overrule the people by pushing through the annexation when the votes were not there to support it?
Why did we hire a city manager at almost $200,000 when the city is already in debt up to its eyeballs?
Why did the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) vote to change from a K-6, 7-9 and 10-12 system to a K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 system even though the people clearly voted against it? If the reason for this change is to address overcrowded schools then why are you delaying the re-building of Juanita High so that the STEM school can be built first?
Why choose STEM, which serves only certain students, instead of Juanita, which serves the whole community? How will STEM help to resolve this and why is it a better choice than rebuilding Juanita?
Why was the impact to the children not considered since it affects everything from elementary band to 6th grade graduation to 9th grade cruises?
Why do we have to pay for garbage pickup when it snows and the trucks don’t arrive? Why are garbage trucks not required to come back as soon as they can rather than wait until the next cycle?
Why can’t we do something about Totem Lake Mall, which is now basically a home for discount furniture and flea markets? Why can’t we replace the whole thing with a Wal-Mart Supercenter?
Why do all close elections always end up being won by the Democrats?
Why have we been forced into mail-only ballots, which leave many of us doubting our votes were counted?
Why is everyone afraid to use the word Christmas – after all it is a national holiday regardless of whether or not you accept the religious aspects?
Why is it so important for Kirkland to grow that they annexed a population of people that allowed them to double their size. Do you locals really want to become like Bellevue?
When will we get someone on the city council that will actually listen to the people?
Tom Ellis, Juanita
