To the Editor:
Referencing Shari Winstead’s recent letter to the editor where she stated “The contributions and loans are important information when learning about a candidate's support.” I agree that it is always important to follow the money. In a campaign mailer I received this week supporting David Chen, I noticed the statement at the bottom:
“No Candidate Authorized this ad it is paid for by Washington REALTORS PAC-504 14th Ave Se Olympia, WA 98501. Top Five Contributors: Washington REALTORS®, Spokane Association of REALTORS, Seattle King County Association of REALTORS®, Kitsap Association of REALTORS, National Association of REALTORS”.
The mailer contained the same two photos of Mr. Chen and his family that were on the mailer that his campaign sent out. Mr. Chen has been called an urbanist. If this is true, these two bits of information lead me to assume his plan for Shoreline is for density, density and more density.
Liz Poitras
Shoreline
I sympathize with those who don't want more density in Shoreline. But I want to clarify, especially for new residents, that there are two stages to creating more density: rezoning and planning. Rezoning was accomplished by present and past Council members. Major areas of Shoreline can and will be changed dramatically. Rezoned properties will inevitably be put up for sale and bought be developers. What lies ahead is planning, including policymaking and investment in public infrastructure, to encourage new property owners to make the denser development the best it can be for current and future generations. The City needs to be an active partner in shaping the change it created for residents who do and will live in and around rezoned areas. Otherwise we risk our neighborhoods to be shaped by lazier and less responsive developers. After multiple long conversations with David, I am convinced he is concerned about planning density, not advocating for more density. It would be folly to bite off more than the City already has. It's time to chew.
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