Letter to the Editor: To the voters of Lake Forest Park
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
To the Editor:
Those of you who read campaign literature before recycling it will have noticed that I endorse Dwight Thompson for Mayor and Catherine Stanford, Ed Sterner, and Chuck Paulsen for City Council. For the past 3 years I have co-chaired the Community Services Commission (CSC), a volunteer position. I work with these candidates. I am impressed by their leadership abilities, their experience, their dedication to Lake Forest Park, and their ability to bring people together to find solutions that work for the community.
CSC recommends funding levels to the Mayor and City Council for the human service organizations that serve the citizens of our city. They include the Shoreline Senior Center, Kellogg after school programs, and Third Place Commons and the Farmer's Market. The funds account for less than one percent of LFP's budget. The candidates I endorse understand both the need for such services and that leveraging our funds as the City does is very economical. Seniors are more able to stay in their homes; young teens are off the streets; LFP has a community gathering place. When on City Council, Mary Jane Goss voted against funding both the Commons and the Market, a position she reiterated at the August candidates forum.
CSC's also provides guidance on park issues. Gov Watch issued a misleading statement regarding our new city park behind the Fire Station. It was purchased wholly with grant money from Conservation Futures and other funding sources. This was a win-win-win situation. Residents got a park; the city acquired the property without expending city funds; and the property owner received a fair price based on appraised value.
For human services, for the parks, for fiscal responsibility, and for the citizens of Lake Forest Park, I urge you to vote for Dwight Thompson, Catherine Stanford, Ed Sterner, and Chuck Paulsen.
Judy Altman
Lake Forest Park
Posts
2 comments:
Conservation Futures funds come from taxpayers. Granted, not just Lake Forest Park taxpayers, but it is still taxpayer money. Lake Forest Park will have to pay for maintenance...oh wait, they cut park maintenance funds...perhaps the city could sell the lovely yellow eyeballs across the street from this new "park" to help defray the cost of "improving" and maintaining this newly acquired piece of property. Why does the city continue to acquire property, taking it off the tax rolls, when it can't afford to maintain the property it already owns?
I am concerned that an LFP Commission Chair would use her position to promote political candidates, in contradiction to established policy for Commissioners.
I care for residents whose lives, property, and neighborhood would be adversely affected by Council decisions.
During my time on City Council (1998-2005), I actively supported the funding of programs for public benefit at the Commons. Because I am a steward for the Environment, I voted against a proposal to build within 20 feet of a salmon-bearing stream at Town Center. I was also troubled that a business would receive start-up funds from the City. It should also be noted that the Commons controls the public use of its space and at times limits freedom of speech and expression there, most recently at the Oct 18th Candidate Forum.
Although all candidates at Tuesday's forum indicated they support human services, there has not been universal support by incumbents for all human service programs currently funded by the City. In fact, it took a lot of resident input during the budget process last fall before Council voted to reverse the funding cuts to these programs in the proposed budget.
The City may have purchased the new city "park" behind the fire station with grant money. However, there is no money in the current budget (nor, probably, in the foreseeable future) for development or maintenance of this property.
I continue to support services our residents rely on.
Post a Comment