October 2007

More than 23,000 children in King County are suffering from a health condition that is largely preventable and manageable, yet their families are largely unable or unaware of how to help.

The majority of these 23,000 children come from lower-income families where these children are made sick by the very place they should feel safest - their home.

The sickness is asthma.

Homes should be safe, healthy places for families, but too often, they are not.

Driving north on Interstate 5 one Sunday afternoon we became involved with several traffic slowdowns (stop and go) caused by traffic slowing down to observe an accident in the southbound lanes. There were several state patrol officers plus several other state vehicles with several personnel seemingly not being too productive.

It made me wonder why one or two of these people could not stand on the safety side of the road barrier to signal drivers to resume speed.

BRAVO to the Burien Little Theatre's production of Dracula!

I was very impressed with the way this complex story was woven into the version presented as well as the passionate nature of cast and crew. Burien Little Theatre is certainly one of Burien's finest arts in the community and produced largely by volunteers!

Let me say that as a volunteer for SCARE Productions (a/k/a Des Moines Haunted House for over 10 years) that productions put on by volunteers depend on support from the city, generous backers and individual donations.

Reference to the column by Ralph Nichols in Sept. 12 edition.

I couldn't agree more and the attacks on Gen. Petraeus by our representatives in Congress just prove the point more and more.

The number of foiled Islamic attacks within the U.S. is estimated to be between 30 and 40. Something not generally reported.

In regard to the school's need to re-emphasize the "Three Rs", the problem of so much time being taken up with non-academic subjects doesn't just plague schools.

Before I retired from the military, there were quarterly requirements to sit through equal opportunity briefings, which cut into precious training time that could keep more soldiers alive and performing missions.

No one needs to be taught tolerance. Tolerance is such an ugly word. "Tolerance" is patronizing.

I would like to respond to comments about my minority views questioning community engagement and representing diversity with flags by writing about my other minority views on the Highline School Board.

First, I would like to say that the school board is in agreement on many important issues. These are few issues where we differ.

While I do question the current strategy of community engagement, I am in favor of other forms of community engagement.

This letter is in response to a P-I editorial, "Affordable Housing," on Sept. 3.

What do you expect that the higher-than-thou elected leaders in Burien really cared about housing? On the other hand, if they really cared, why tear up affordable housing and kick out the working poor?

We need the community to advocate on their behalf!

No plan is perfect. I have seen plans come and go in the Seattle area for over 50 years. Always, someone has come along and shot it down saying it would do nothing to eliminate congestion. Proposition 1, the Roads and Transit issue on the ballot, is a well thought out effort. Yes, it will cost money and yes, it will take time to build. But we must get started and it is an appropriate mix of money for roads and transit.

To Mr. Sims credit, he has always been concerned about the environment and greenhouse gases.

Light rail will not ease traffic congestion. Yes, that's a fact.

Dave Earling

Former chairman, Sound Transit

It's rare that conservatives find ourselves in agreement with King County Executive Ron Sims on any issue.

But Mr. Sims' recently declared opposition to the Roads and Transit mega-tax package puts us on the same side this time.

The liberal county executive, who until now has never seen a tax he doesn't like, is against Proposition 1 because he doesn't think it's "green" enough.

Times/News publisher Jerry Robinson has been awarded a First Place for humor writing in the annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Robinson, 87, writes a regular column that appears in both this paper and our sister paper, the West Seattle Herald/White Center News. He began his newspaper career in 1947 and a year later, won his first award, also a First Place, for a sports story.

Over time, Robinson has written thousands of columns, often about local people.