November 2007

As a 17 year resident of West Seattle I have grown increasingly thankful to the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and the opportunities it provides to us all. In my role as executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce (since 2003), I have personally witnessed the impressive growth of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and its impact on our local businesses. In the summer months it delivers thousands of tourists to visit West Seattle businesses on Alki and at the Alaska and Admiral junctions, helping build a vital and sustainable local economy.

a dissappointment

On a recent out of town business trip I logged on to the Herald Web site to check my neighborhood news since I was unable to read that week's issue in print. What a disappointment! Not much of an archive of stories is there? Good thing I was gone for only a week. And, right there at the top of the page it says, "Updated As Warranted." Is that a statement of fact or a challenge?

Though not used by everyone, the Internet has become pervasive in our society and web pages have become equivalent to business cards.

I concur with the sentiments expressed by Kim Petram (Oct. 14 Herald) regarding the denigrating of neighborhoods by the building of the multi-unit housing structures.

One additional point that disturbs me greatly applies to all the areas surrounding these structures. With a one car garage provided with each residential unit and the expectation of street parking filling in for families having two cars (as most do), just how long will it be before the one car garage fills up with the detritus of life ...

As The King County Council and King County Metro Transit are proposing fare increases in 2008, the need to adjust the boundary lines between Peak Hours Zones is also warranted.

For some 20-plus years Metro has unfairly charged residents of the Southend bus areas for 2-Zone peak hour rates while residents of the Northend, riding a farther distance, are only charged with a 1-Zone Peak hour fare.

With the upcoming 2008 legislation to increase Metro Transit fares, said legislation should address the unbalance in Peak Hours Zoning areas and correct the traveled distances (fro

While I don't live in West Seattle any longer, I was born and raised here. Occasionally I return because it is a place that I love.

When I was in West Seattle last week, I read your Nov. 7 issue.

still ignored

Editor's Note, this was sent to King County Council members with a copy to this newspaper.

To my King County representatives,__I am shocked.__

You continue to ignore the funding needs for a new South Park Bridge. A bridge you own. A bridge that provides a major freight route for the entire state. A bridge that carries 24,000 vehicles per day. A bridge that provides the life-blood of a small impoverished community.

I am shocked._I understand you have voted to raise property taxes to pay for new ferry runs in King County.

The letter of Nov 14, captioned "Sly union edit," was an interesting study. Its writer strikes out firstly against the proletariat (shameful "power grab for the Service Employees International Union"), secondly against the bourgeoisie ("It's time that Seattle's upper class is forced [to fund] this city's services. It is ... clear that a ...

Thank you to the West Seattle Herald and to the community for honoring my beloved Rick with such a nice article.

He would of been proud. Rick loved his work, his many years of volunteering and, most of all, he was truly rewarded by all the wonderful people he came in contact with.

Please hold him in your hearts forever. He was everything the article said and so much more.

In Appreciation to All from his loving wife,

Marilyn Bragg,

His son, Steven and

Mother-in-law, Margaret

Vanity license plates have become extremely popular, but is their origin?

They were started in Connecticut before World War II, about 1939, and were furnished only to drivers who had a pefect driving record, no citations of any kind, for a minimum of five years. Thusly, they became a true "status symbol," and were forfeited if the driver received a citation while having one.

The cost was $5 (a lot of money in 1939). Today, most states allow them, and anyone can have one; unfortunately,there is little prestige in one today. But I have mine!

Jack R.

... and it will never happen!!! West Seattle is too overdeveloped ... and in the wrong way!!

The Mayor of Seattle (who lives in West Seattle) doesn't care either!! I wrote to him in April with the same problem ... nothing in walking distance from the High Point Development! I also thought it might a be a good place to move ...