Letter to the Editor: The Risk of Saying “No.”

To the Editor:

Want to know what happens when voters say “yes” to a needed improvement? Look no further than the obituary for Jim Ellis in last Monday’s Seattle Times. Mr. Ellis is credited with leading the effort to clean up Lake Washington in the late 1960s and with conceiving Forward Thrust, a voter-approved measure to purchase park land and expand recreation opportunities throughout King County. Fifty years ago, our pool was built with Forward Thrust Funds.

Want to know what happens when voters say “no” to a needed improvement? Look no further than the rejection of Ellis-promoted bond measures that would have funded regional mass transit. Twice. Result? In 1970 federal funds earmarked for us were spent in Atlanta.

Opponents said if you don’t build it, they won’t come. Really? How short-sighted. By the time voters approved Sound Transit, we were 30 years behind and growing at a steady pace. Think about this when crawling down I-5.

Public investment (taxpayer money at work) and social infrastructure (schools, parks, libraries, pools, rec centers) create and sustain livable communities such as Shoreline. Don’t let the opportunity to build the gathering place we need and will enjoy for the coming 50 years slip through our fingers. Embrace it! Say “YES” on Prop 1.

Keith McClelland

Shoreline