COMMUNITY | FORUM

Lake Stevens citizen’s on the right page of the law

BY CHUCK TUCK JOURNAL REPORTER The community of Lake Stevens speaks up about some of the new laws that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2008.

Shawn Reed was working his job at Sahara Pizza in Lake Stevens when he took a few moments to chime in on his opinions of the new laws.

LSJ: Shawn, what do you think about the new text messaging law?
Reed Text messaging while driving shouldn’t be allowed.
LSJ: Why do you feel so strongly about the law?
Reed: Well because, if you can be pulled over for talking on you phone (beginning 7/1/08) you should be pulled over for texting on your phone. When you’re talking on your phone you’re not looking at your phone; but, when you are text messaging, it requires you to look at your phone and not the road.

When asked about the new state minimum wage, Tiffany Nelms feels it will help but is still not high enough.
Nelms: Doesn’t it increase every January?
LSJ: Currently Washington pays one of the highest minimum wages in the nation. Do you think this will influence younger kids to go out and get a job?
Nelms: I do actually, but people here still think that minimum wage is still too low but some people know it’s the highest around. Because of that, I think people will take advantage of that and go out and get jobs.
LSJ: Do you feel the wage is a good one?
Nehms: I still think it’s too low, but getting tips help.
LSJ: Are you familiar with how and when the minimum wage is increased?

Harden of Lake Stevens was out with his two sons, Reece 16, and his older brother who at the time was busy and couldn’t comment.
LSJ: On Jan. 1, the state increased the minimum wage to $8.07 per hour. Do you feel this will encourage kids to go out and get jobs?
Harden: I don’t think it will help. The people who are going to want to get jobs are going to get jobs, and they’re going to make due with what they’ve got.
LSJ: You have kids, what about them, do you think this will encourage them to get jobs now?
Harden: As far as my kids go, they can get a job if they can keep their grades up, and the money has nothing to do with it.
LSJ: Reece, being 16 years old, is making $8.07 per hour going to be enough for you?
Reece: Yes.
LSJ: What kind of jobs would you expect to do for that kind of wage?
Reece: I like doing labor work like construction and stuff like that.
Harden: He’s a good worker, he likes the physical labor and he is really good at it.
Reece: I usually ask for $10 per hour for labor.
Harden: He gets that from neighbors when he’s doing work.
LSJ: What about the new text messaging law, any comments about that?
Reece: I don’t text message at all.
Harden: I did it once.
LSJ: And what did you think?
Harden: It’s factually unsafe
LSJ: The thing is, whether there’s a law or not, I just don’t

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