Stop industrializing Kenmore | Letter
Published 1:54 pm Thursday, March 14, 2013
The following letter was also sent to the Kenmore City Council and staff.
Yesterday I called and spoke with Janice trying to get a rep from the city to come meet me at Ostroms. I am spending so much of my life and time trying to undo the industrialization you have set as Kenmore policy, apparently. The fumes were toxic and nobody could meet me. I called Allan VanNess, and the Mayor (David Baker). (Baker) answered and we talked. I stopped short of calling the 911 nonemergency, not because it wasn’t justified, but because I can’t spend my entire life trying to detoxify Kenmore and protect its citizens.
Mr. Ramsey told me he can’t run for office, but he insists the council sets policy and can’t defer their responsibility.I asked the council why they supported CalPortland’s request to add “manufacturing” to the Shoreline Master Plan, which we lost the appeal on. I want you to realize that on the day we officially lost, March 4, the asphalt fumes started in earnest, intensified. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence, but it is clear that Cemex and CalPortland appreciate the council’s “support” that you gave. Did you know why? Debbie Bent explained, but what you don’t see is that you have helped an unhealthy facility (CalPortland and Cemex) expand their operations, and, from what I hear at the docket planning hearing for our Planning Commission, you are promoting an industrialized shoreline to this day.
Kenmore Village, I presume, based on what I’ve heard from your consultant, will promote industrialized jobs at the shoreline. I don’t think that’s good for our health and you should ask the workers at Ostroms.
Ostroms is not my concern, but my health is, and I believe Mr. Ramsey is right that you set policy, but he doesn’t see is that the city staff is running the city and the council is saying, “Yes, we support what the staff suggested.” If Janet, Ann and I had won our appeal, we would have asked for testing and for old facilities to have to upgrade their operations (as in adding filters to protect workers at Ostroms) before they got to widen their pier. I know the companies planned it, and I know the council has too much on their plate to understand all the strategy. But I can tell you now that I breathed in the toxic fumes of the Cemex operation yesterday, and you should not promote their operation unless you breathe in those fumes first. City Manager Rob Karlinsey and Bryan were not there yesterday to do so, nor were any of the council members.
I am upset because we tried to warn you and we were ineffective. It’s not your fault. But you could do something now. Talk to Janet, Ann, me, Richard Honour and Ostroms, but don’t keep industrializing Kenmore unless you want people moving out. It is not healthy to live here with that kind of emission, and if our city hasn’t figured out how to minimize or monitor the toxins, who would want to live here? Young families? I doubt it. Those kinds of fumes cause asthma, etc.
So, please understand I’m not upset with you. I am upset with the system we are all a part of and I know that you will come around after we talk, so that we can get this healthy and make a healthier shoreline. We must start with a good foundation. That company is inconsistent with residents and Kenmore being a family-friendly healthy city.
Elizabeth Mooney, Kenmore
