On the Mayor's Mind - 12.28.14
Monday, December 29, 2014
On the Mayor’s Mind
By Shoreline Mayor Shari Winstead
If you’ve been anywhere around me since last April, you’ve probably heard me mention my excitement for the arrival of my first grandchild. It’s with much happiness that I announce that my grandson, Cameron James Hawkins was born on Dec. 16, 2014, weighing in at 10 lbs. on the dot! And of course, I must express my gratefulness to my amazing son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Shawna Hawkins, (See previous article) for making me a grandmother! I can’t help but share this adorable picture!
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| Mayor Shari Winstead and grandson Cameron Photo by Stan Hansen |
While we have been enjoying lots of great family time over the holidays, I was very excited to see the opening of One Cup Coffee Shop, located in the former Sugar’s building. The building has undergone a complete transformation, now with beautiful windows and design elements. Even better, this coffee shop is a partnership with Bethany Community Church.
"In a region overrun with coffee shops, One Cup Coffee represents a unique blend of world-class coffee and community service. Bethany selected One Cup to be its non-profit partner at The Junction not simply because of the quality of its specialty drinks, but also because One Cup owner Christian Kar shares Bethany’s goal of offering community fellowship and outreach in the name of Christ. Next time you’re meeting a friend or need a momentary break, think One Cup. Open Monday-Friday 5am-6pm, Saturday 6am-6pm.”
As a person who frequently meets with folks at coffee shops, it’s great to have a centrally located coffee shop that isn’t too loud or too crowded for a peaceful conversation. One Cup has great coffee and great food. I hope you’ll support this new Shoreline business.
When I was campaigning in 2009, I heard from many people how much they wanted Shoreline to be more “family friendly” - less casinos and no strip club. I shared those concerns. After I was elected, I became more educated about he other side of the coin - all businesses, whether or not considered “desirable, " bring in revenue for the City.
Many great projects in Shoreline have been funded by taxes paid by casinos. However, when smoking was banned from indoor public spaces in 2005, we saw the revenue from those establishments severely decline. Rather than raise the tax rate on these struggling businesses, we chose to let the economy drive the industry, and sure enough, we have seen most of the casinos close.
What most people don’t know is that the casinos (and Sugar’s) were holdovers from before Shoreline was incorporated, opened under King County’s code.
Things are changing in Shoreline. And our City will become an even more desirable place to live as light rail makes its way north. Our great neighborhoods will not only have the single family residences, but some will start to look a little different.
In December, we received permitting applications for three different multi-family housing complexes, the largest at the Westminster triangle - under the pedestrian bridges and adjacent to Aurora Square. Having more residents in this area, with easy access to transit and shopping, will no doubt bring more businesses and redevelopment to Aurora Square, something we have wanted to see for a long time.
Great things are happening in Shoreline, and 2015 will no doubt be an exciting year.
I wish you and your loved ones the best in the upcoming year!
Mayor Shari Winstead
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13 comments:
Well, then... let's fully encourage "less desirable" businesses because they bring in revenue for the City. Let's lift the smoking ban and open a few brothels while we're at it. Why? Because we're Shoreline and we do whatever we want, despite the input from our citizens. Is the "economy driving the industry" currently for all of the struggling businesses around the Aurora street construction that has gone over-budget and exceeded the timeline?
"However, when smoking was banned from indoor public spaces...we chose to let the economy drive the industry." Self-contradictory.
There are nearly a thousand businesses in Shoreline. They are in daily competition with one another. Many struggle to survive. It is shameful that the Mayor uses the City brand to promote a handful of her favs. Since beginning her self-promotional biweekly column in the Shoreline Area News, she has given shout outs to the following:
Bethany Community Church
One Cup Coffee
Park Ridge Skilled Nursing Center
Grinders (three times)
Costco (twice)
Home Depot
Aurora Rents
Highland Ice Arena
Trader Joe's
North City Bistro and Wine Bar
Streetzeria
Taqueria Guaymas
Pho 99
The rest of will just have to pay for our ads.
The Highland Ice Arena is NOT a favorite of Shoreline City Hall, if they gave a shout out to them it is because they have been trying to force the owners to sell their real estate to a developer. Shoreline Councilmember has called the Highland Ice Arena an "eyesore" in the past.
Oh no! The ice arena has to stay! It's a Shoreline staple! GENERATIONS have learned to skate there.
Improvements along aurora and the light rail station are fine. Rezoning a significant portion of Shorelines residential areas is not fine. Not at all.
I think a church should be a church and a coffee shop a coffee shop. Why mix the two? Why try so hard to sell your religion?
Shout out to Lovers on Aurora @ 200th! Good people and products contributing to the Shoreline economy. Not sure which church they're affiliated with though...
The Highland Ice Arena is an eyesore from the Aurora side much like the City of Shoreline building is an eyesore to the 185th side.
The Highland Ice Arena has generously supported Shoreline for 50 years, and the family has been active in civic affairs - something not many can say no matter how long they have lived here. Most of Aurora is an eyesore, even after the City has spent untold millions on the Aurora Corridor project, given away property tax exemptions to new developers who have no stake in the community (like the Highland Ice Arena) that are building new eyesores like the Echo Lake project that look like tenements. In fact, the idiots at City Hall have approved apodments (otherwise known as modern day tenements) when the City of Seattle is putting the brakes on them -- only Shoreline rushes in where other forward thinking cities like Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, etc. with real comprehensive planning run away. Thus, you see these vacuous, feel good "dear diary" pieces from the provisional talking head called the mayor.
Shari's Favorite Things.
So much for "Business Ethics" and "Christian Values in the Marketplace"
Wow...
http://youtu.be/aFCD6iJHqGw?list=UU6DYg7XNsHqoM9z7Xu_NCrg
Just for the record, I love Highland Ice Arena. Had many good times there when my son was young, including fun birthday parties. I plan on going back when my grandson is old enough to ice skate.
Happy New Year to all of you!
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