City should reconsider Sheriff Office’s contract

Dear Editor,

The city is not living up to their commitments to the citizens they serve when it comes to providing police services. 
The recent events within the police department, to include the chief “leaving” proves the timing is perfect to put all avenues of policing on the table for debate, to include a potential partnership with the Sheriff’s Office. 
Isn’t this what elected officials and persons in positions of leadership are in their positions to do—make an informed decision about police services?
This is not a police vs. sheriff issue.  This is a fiscal issue where the city should be actively pursuing all information before making a long-term decision on how best to police the City of Lake Stevens with limited monies available to the public coffers. 
The City should be doing everything in their leadership ability to prevent the police department from seeing staffing shortages based on unforeseen and unpredictable economic factors as we have seen the last several years.  Case in point: City promises to staff the annexation area with 14 officers but staffing levels are still the same.
The purpose of this letter is to urge the City leadership to do three specific things:
• Request a partnership proposal from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
• Debate the proposal within the City.
• Consult with Snohomish about pros and cons of their current partnership with the Sheriff’s Office.
Our form of elected representative government has always been predicated on information, debate, and making a decision.
There may be a way for the city to save taxpayer money and possibly even expand the depth of police services by a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office.  But no one in Lake Stevens leadership will ever know unless they request the information and debate it.

Adam Fortney
Lake Stevens

Rethinking education

Dear Editor,
 
In a recent Guest Editorial, Don C. Brunell reinforced the need for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills for college-bound students, but also stressed our need for skilled craftsmen: “certified welders, electricians, plumbers, iron workers, technicians and mechanics.”
Yet, with “Math and Science” becoming such a deafening cry, teachers and administrators are often blinded to important disciplines that help our young people find fulfillment using their natural talents and develop societal skills not steeped in the hard sciences or geared to producing today’s wide variety of hi-tech products.
No one doubts that excelling in math and science is critical to landing today’s best paying jobs. But is financial success life’s only reward?
They say, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But, exactly what does he win? Are those lacking aptitudes for math and science of no worth to our society?
Some say, “Market drives the need.” But don’t values drive the market? Have ours gone awry?
Should we not recognize that, because of our psychological differences, some people are just not “cut out” for a world that revolves around math and science? Beethoven was not; Monet was not; Hemmingway was not. Were their contributions of no worth?
Future generations will be sprinkled with those having a natural affinity for math and science. But, is our preferential treatment of students who excel in those disciplines creating a better world for us, or just a world in which people without such affinities are destined to be second-class citizens, allowed only menial jobs or required to subsist on tax generated entitlements?
And what does the constant harping about “math and science” say to students who may be brilliant in fields unrelated to either?  Here in Washington, we give incessant lip service to being “fair.” But what message do our ACTIONS send?

Bill Cook
Lake Stevens

 One little girl helps others at Christmas

Dear Editor,

In this time of the year when we all are rushing to and fro to find the “perfect” gift there is one whom I have met and wish to share with you. 
Her name is Abby, and I will not address the physical problems she has been through for the past years, so many for an eight year old, BUT, I did find out that this heart, this spirit, every year saves her allowance and stands on streets with the help of a friend, and gathers toys for other kids, this year over 3,000 toys for kids who would not have toys, for kids who would not have CHRISTMAS.
No matter your political stand believe it or not, this little girl with the biggest heart, every year since she was six has saved and stood outside of stores in Monroe and gather toys, not complaining, not caring about politics, just caring about those who have not what she seems to have, even though what her family has is not much with doctor bills and other costs, she still saves and gives. I say Yes Santa there is a Virginia.

John Worley
Lake Stevens

Dear Editor,

I am writing you to report a car accident that occurred around 12 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, which occurred on 1st St. SE, close to 83rd. This section of road is elevated above a creek, and is surrounded by greenbelt on either side of the road.
A silver Jeep Liberty with three to four teenage occupants spun out, jumped the curb, taking out a 50 foot section of guard railing, and landed backwards in the greenbelt below the street.
The occupants, despite the insistence of a nearby homeowner who arrived on the scene after hearing the accident occur, warned them to stay with the vehicle until the police arrive, but they fled the scene on foot.
The homeowner said that they were not injured, but this has not been confirmed and the Lake Stevens Police have not been able to get a hold of the vehicle’s owner as of this writing.
First St. SE is the main thoroughfare into the neighborhood, and in the 17 years that I have lived here, there have been many speed related accidents particularly when the road is wet from rain/snow.
Many people tend to use this section of 1st St. SE as a speedway, completely disregarding the 25 mph speed limit.
In the last several years, two trees in the median strip in front of my home have been damaged, one of which had to be removed. The streetlight in front of my home was knocked down by a car a couple of years ago, and the guardrail has been damaged by vehicle accidents on numerous occasions. The last one occurred a couple of weeks ago. It is surprising that there have not been any pedestrian injuries, but it is just a matter of time till someone does get hurt or worse.
Discussing it with my neighbors we all agree that putting several speed bumps in is the solution to slow people down.

Chris Fergus
Lake Stevens