February 2008

Yes, legislation is moving through the Legislature to enhance protections for tenants whose rental apartments are either threatened to or are being converted into condominiums ("Renter aid bill alive in State Legislature," West Seattle Herald, Feb. 6). House Bill 2014, sponsored by Rep. Maralyn Chase (D-Shoreline), and my bill, Senate Bill 6411, received a public hearing on Feb. 5 in the Senate Consumer Protection and Housing Committee along with SB 5031, sponsored by Sen.

I will not be able to attend the viaduct meeting in West Seattle on Feb 12, but I wanted to thank you for holding it and compliment Mr. (Matthew) Miller and others on the excellent coverage in the West Seattle Herald.

I just want one point to be heard loud and clear, and I'm sure this will be echoed at the meeting. "It is not all about downtown." Many, many residents and businesses use the viaduct to go through downtown. Many times of the day it is the only viable alternative.

Anticipating replies by the likes of David Guthrie, I included URL's for the websites I drew my conclusions from.

A big rant to the people who use the street to dump their garbage. On Snoqualmie just past the alley between 35th and 36th. Ave. Southwest is beginning to look like a dump site. You litter with bottles, fast food boxes, napkins, diapers, panties, and even Kotex. Where is your pride? We need an undercover litter control officer around. Maybe they could instill some pride in you. Please remember you are not the only ones using that street. I walk every day and going by (that area) makes me a little sick. Please consider what you're doing.

Ruth E. Walior

West Seattle

Please have someone in the city government explain why they want to annex North Highline.

Every study and projection that has been done shows that annexation even with what additional taxes would be collected still will leave a huge deficit in the city budget. Add to that the Seattle police and fire are operating at 1970 levels, (there are) plans for more streetcars, parks that are not maintained and the list goes on and on.

Why? A power grab? Stupidity?

Just wanted to thank you (Dave Kannas) and the editor of the West Seattle Herald for your regular column in cycling. As a fair weather bicycle commuter I appreciate your efforts to make our streets a safe a sane place for cyclist and motorist alike.

Many thanks and keep up the good work.

Mike Kaiser

Alaska Junction

With this year's elections, your readers would find a new book of great interest and value.

The book is "Heroes, Hacks and Fools, Memoirs from the Political Inside" written by Mr. Ted Van Dyk, University of Washington Press, 2007. It is available on amazon.com. It has many insights on the past, present and future of government, J.F.K public policies and leaders of public policies.

We strongly recommend this book to your readers.

James E. and

Retta Kovacevich

West Seattle

An outstanding opportunity

By Jeff Clark

Dear West Seattle community members,

As you probably are aware, thanks to the Seattle voters, a new Denny/Sealth campus plan has been funded, complete with a new building for Denny Middle School and a significant upgrade for Chief Sealth High School. I believe that this opportunity will give our students what they deserve - the best possible educational facility.

Over the course of the last month, the School Board has been asking for feedback regarding this project.

This month the Seattle School Board is scheduled to make a decision on one of its most controversial capital projects to date, and hundreds of stakeholders have weighed in with opinions across the board.

The board is scheduled to vote at its regular Feb. 27 meeting on whether Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth High should remain on separate campuses or co-locate.

Hotwire Coffee has garnered the reputation as a cozy place to gather, not just sip-and-run, and unattached customers are joining a new date-matching service the shop provides.

On the wall across Hotwire Coffee's bank of four computers hangs a bulletin board crowded with snapshots of patrons seeking partners. Each photo has a number corresponding to a Valentine goodie bag hanging on one of three walls. A customer signs up, posts a headshot, views potential partners, then places an email address, phone number, or little gift inside another's bag, or bags.