Reader’s view of downtown Bothell | Letter

Published 11:57 am Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Recently, my wife and I went to lunch in downtown Bothell. After lunch, we walked around town for about an hour. It was very obvious to us that this one-time beautiful small town has come under a strange spell. We noticed the planting strips with more weeds than flowers and plants. Pot holes in a major intersection. Mountains of dirt where a highway is supposed to be. And where is the much ballyhooed McMenamins Pub and Hotel? And what of the unsightly mess from removed buildings on the adjacent property? On our way home, we drove across Interstate 405 on Beardslee Boulevard to 39th Avenue Northeast and turned north. The same orange cones are there marking where 39th floods each year for how many years now?

Both the City Council and mayor wonder why they lost the annexation vote? Isn’t it obvious that the “no” votes came from people who actually looked at this town and saw the neglect and waste. When Bothell is managed by those who really care for the town rather than their own interests, maybe then, we can try this vote again.

Steve Collins