Let’s support local economy
As a former 23-year resident of Bothell and employee of Bothell, I was amazed and disappointed when I read in the Bothell Reporter (July 8) of the decision to have the Bothell historical book, “Bothell Then and Now,” printed in China. With the community asking folks to “buy local,” this is a slap in the face to the people in the community. It is a, “do as I say, not as I do.” Everyone can blame the economy for everything. That is always the cop-out. The right thing to do would have been to have a local printer do the work, make a little less money for each book and keep our folks in this country and town employed. That is a win-win for all. It certainly can’t feel good when you know you are supporting people in another country that often don’t even pay living wages to their employees, let alone the conditions they may be working in. It is not something I would be proud of supporting. This has left a bad taste in my mouth. I won’t be purchasing the book.
Carol Pellett, Anacortes
Evaluating the candidates
Regarding your July 22 article on the Aug. 18 Bothell City Council primary election between Gerry Gawne, Del Spivey and Jeffery Bogdan: I found particularly interesting Mr. Spivey’s reaction to the question raised by Mr. Gawne concerning the health-care benefits the council awarded themselves in January 2008.
At issue is the extremely generous medical, dental and vision insurance package they created for themselves and their spouses AND all other dependants fully paid for by the taxpayers. Mr. Spivey voted SIX times over two meetings to fund this platinum-plated benefit while many of our citizens either don’t have any health insurance or are worried about losing what they have.
Mr. Gawne was the first of several citizens who testified at the 2009-10 budget hearing asking that the council drop that benefit. They refused. Recently, the mayor’s hand-picked Salary Commission characterized the benefit for the part-time council as “outrageous.”
In response, Mr. Spivey attempts to suggest that challenging his votes to support those benefits would be “negative campaigning and mudslinging.” However, it’s precisely his record that the voters should use to decide whether he deserves another term. Mr. Spivey’s 2005 campaign flyers proclaimed that he “had the right priorities.” Soon, the voters will get to decide if they agree.
Bill Moritz, Bothell
Diving into the pool issue
The importance of finding a new pool operator for Ruiz-Costie/Northshore can’t be overstated.
For those in the community who are unfamiliar with pools, Ruiz-Costie Pool in Bothell and Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool in Kenmore are linked through the Northshore School District’s boys and girls swim team programs (August-March), which form part of a reliable user group revenue base.
Ruiz-Costie/Northshore is the home and practice pool for Bothell High and Woodinville High. Wald is Inglemoor High’s practice pool; Ruiz-Costie/Northshore is also Inglemoor’s home competition pool.
Neither pool can afford to lose the high-school swim programs, neither on the revenue side nor the element of introducing young to the sport and healthy activity, which perpetuates the experience.
Nor can the high-school programs afford to lose access to already scarce pool space.
We are fortunate that West Coast Aquatics recently contracted with Washington State Parks and Rec to manage Wald, and that WAVE Aquatics has similarly taken on the Juanita Pool at Juanita High in the Lake Washington School District. The Juanita pool is also the venue for high-school district meets.
I’m not advocating for pools for the sole purpose of having a high-school swim program, but to point out the complex interwoven connections of the swim community and to the outside community supportive of year-round pay-per-swim, access to swim lessons and other community oriented events.
It behooves all of us to help Ruiz-Costie/Northshore find a suitable new operator. The cities of Bothell and Woodinville currently underwrite a portion of the operating expenses, but not all.
We’ve learned from past experience that operators who bring great programs to the these venues are the best hope for their sustained success.
Please, get involved! Please, spread the word!
Visit http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Support_Northshore_Aquatics/message/472.
William (Bill) Leak, Kenmore
