Letter to the Editor: Jesse Salomon has listened to me and my neighbors
Sunday, October 16, 2011
To the Editor:
Before the election ballots arrive, consider the experience of our Parkwood neighborhood with Candidate Robin McClelland. In 2008 a developer proposed a 6-story, 210-unit building, not just adjacent to our single family homes and residential neighborhood, but 20 feet off our property lines. Ms. McClelland, a member of the Planning Commission, suggested that the developer be required to come onto our property and plant “a few rhododendrons”. Apparently she thought the rhodys would mitigate the size of the development. My neighbor, who also attended the meeting, had a slightly different version of what happened, “she was berating to you and said that she had been doing this kind of development work longer and knew better what is appropriate”.
Do I trust Robin McClelland, as my representative on the City Council, to be “a strong proponent of protecting the livability of our neighborhoods”? Not so much.
Jesse Solomon has visited, spoken with and listened to me and my neighbors. I think he is cares about the well being of our single family residential neighborhoods and will represent us on the City Council.
Susan Melville
Shoreline
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8 comments:
I totally agree with the writer. I live in the Richmond Highland neighborhood. Robin came to my door asking for a vote and so when I questioned her as to what she was going to do to make our city better....she stopped thought about it and then said "what would you like to see?" She has no intention of doing what we want. She has an agenda and that is to make all those contributors to her campaign happy...she owes them. Why is running for a $5000 per year seat getting so much money thrown at it???? I am sure all you reader can figure it out.
But look who's throwing the most money at it - Salomon. A guy who hasn't lived here very long, tried to run (and failed) elsewhere, and had to ask "what are the issues in Shoreline". Does he really care about this city or is this just a "first step"?
Jesse Salomon has made a great committment to society since he was very young. He is a public defender and has contributed a large amount of his campaign money himself. He defends the little guy and is a rep for Ridgecrest on his neighborhood council. He has walked virtually the entire city. He believes that the City should defend Richmond Beach and make traffic safety a high priority.
While Robin is also a good person, she is very allied with those who want to "collaborate" and negotiate away the future on Point Wells.
Jesse believes this issue should be taken to the state Supreme Court and I agree.
I'll be voting for Jesse.
When it comes to choosing who is going to protect your neighborhood and who is going to side with developers, look at the record. Ms McClellan has support from the development community for whom she has advocated as a planner for her entire career. Her comment about development at Point Wells being a great opportunity for the city is an example of how she sees things.
Jesse Solomon sees the world from the perspective of the average person living in our neighborhoods. He will bring a dose of reality to discussions about the future of our city.
I have known Jesse for a few years now. Having spoken with both Jesse and Robin on many occasions what I observe is this:
Robin is smart and with her experience on the Planning Commission understands the issues. Whether she would represent the common man in Shoreline I don't honestly know.
Jessie grew up in the Seattle area, at the age of 19 started a non-profit that helps get teens off the streets of Seattle. That non-profit still exists. So Jesse obviously has his heart in the right place and he knows how to make positive things happen.
Having grown up in the area and living in Shoreline for a few years and the fact that he really listens Jesse has a good sense of the needs of our community. With his intelligence, his experience and his heart Jesse is the best candidate for Shoreline City Council I have seen in a long time. He has my respect and my vote.
After speaking at great length to both Jesse and Robin when they came to my door, it became abundantly clear that I, and anyone else who is concerned about the proprosed development at Point Wells, MUST VOTE FOR JESSE.
Robin was extremely dismissive of my concerns and is clearly very pro-development. She bragged about her record in community planning, and treated me as though I knew nothing about the topic (she was unaware that I am a Harvard JD with particular experience in land use/planning law). Specifically, when I expressed my disappointment that the plan does not provide for a rail stop at Point Wells (and that apparently no governmental entity is requiring that one be part of the project) she stated that a rail station there would be pointless since "no one here would ride the train downtown anyway." My take away message from her was that she certainly won't be making any traffic mitigation efforts on behalf of residents of Richmond Beach, and her condescending attitude was so offensive to me that it has actually spurred me to take political action for this first time in 20 years.
Jesse, on the other hand, has taken the interests of Richmond Beach residents to heart, and has the intelligence, education and follow through to best represent our interests in the mess we are facing down by the water. I think it's a no-brainer, we are far better off with Jesse on the City Council.
Join the Save Richmond Beach Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/63776159580/.
It would be nice if Robin cared enough about communicating with the public if she would attend every candidate forum (which she has not).
Jesse has been a planning commissioner in Bellingham and understands the process. Rather than serve well-heeled clients, he has chosen a legal career in public service, which lends him a perspective how hard times are for people right now in Shoreline -- check out this week's agenda for the city council, poverty is nearing 9% here in Shoreline and there are hundreds of foreclosures.
As for being new and self-funding part of his campaign - to me, that makes him an independent voice; and above the mud-slinging fray that has made Shoreline politics the swill hole it has been for years between the factions of long-term residents. We need fresh eyes to look at our problems.
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