It looks like we have to wait until the next election in 2017 in order to improve staff accountability since (the Kirkland City) Council provides them with its “guidance.”

It would be foolish for me to run for office. In order to do that, I would have to become a politician, someone whom I don’t trust. I prefer to stay truthful and help identify those who are not.

Regarding annexation: The Growth Management Act (a state law) has many provisions; however Councilmember’s chose to cherry pick those that Council wanted, not those which could have kept Kirkland a city we made and paid for. Instead, when it comes to representing Kirkland, the Council chose a holy than thou approach without a hearing.

The Council voted for more density, more traffic but failed to implement provisions that could have been chosen to prevented jams. Many Kirkland citizens want to remain suburban. They want concurrency but they were denied by Council. It was an opportunity lost.

They chose to increase urbanizing and become crowded.

The Act specifies growth is the responsibility of the county, not cities. Many jurisdictions didn’t want to increase density but you did. Council condoned the Urban Growth Boundary Line without a vote from citizens. Council was also advised to provide transportation networks in support for mass transit. They haven’t done it and now we have more and longer traffic jams. Busses create traffic jams when they load and unload. They don’t relieve them.

Through their planners, Councilmembers maneuvered to insure the County’s version was adopted. The ghost of Joe Tovar came to life in our current Kirkland Planner, Mr. Eric Shields. Us and other jurisdictions were urged, even threatened by the County to withhold state funds in order to have their version of Kirkland to become a highly dense, non-suburban community instead of remaining the beautiful and responsive suburban community we made and paid for by the people who live here. We want a suburban city, not a more crowed one.

Until 2017 election, I want our citizens not to forget what Council has done and will do if elected.

Robert L. Style, Kirkland