Ballard is buzzing.
With new boutiques, bars and restaurants, and a blossoming art and music scene complimented by a rich history, the natural beauty of a sound-side neighborhood, and a slough of icons no other community can claim, there's more to do and see here than ever before.
It may happen only once in 36 years, but getting a viable and competent replacement for Rep. Helen Sommers is important to Ballard and the entire 36th District.
Sommers is the longest serving state legislator and a virtual legend here. She is usually not one to seek out the media but to work quietly and competently.
John Burbank worked hard to earn his 74 percent vote for the endorsement of the 36th District Democrats, which was no easy feat. John has been a tireless public servant on behalf of ordinary citizens for years, and his public record is unassailable. He is our champion for health care, for education funding, for retirement security, for issues that directly affect our lives and our neighborhood. He has already been an agent for positive change, and he has proven himself.
John Burbank has been working on our behalf for years, and now he needs our support. It's the right thing to do.
"Almost nine out of 10 people in this country have some kind of health insurance coverage," said Robert Harris, who oversees Regence's market research.
Too bad Mr. Harris is afraid to state the real numbers and percentages.
The U.S Census Bureau's Web page gives the most recent total population numbers (from 2007) as 301 million people. If 48 million of us are uninsured then the statement that "almost nine out of 10 ...
sex offenders
It continues to be my observation that the truth is stretched and/or eliminated during political campaigns. That is particularly true in the campaign ad against Governor Gregoire in which the woman, supposedly a mother, feels she must keep watch over her child because sex offenders cannot be located due to Governor Gregoire's failed watch. I want it to be well known that Governor Gregoire has done more to maintain supervision of sex offenders that any Governor or Secretary of Department of Corrections in the history of tracking sex offenders in this state.
While I agree with Executive Sims, your editorial mischaracterized the choice.
First, Executive Sims is still on the Sound Transit Board. He was one of two negative votes on the Sound Transit 2 plan. You wrote: Sims used to be a member of the board of Sound Transit.
Second, the disagreements between Sims and Mayor Nickels had little to do with Ballard bus service. Sims correctly argued that the Sound Transit 2 funds in the outer four sub areas would have been better used on bus service and bus capital rather than on long extensions of Link light rail.
The Ballard News Tribune recently profiled John Burbank and Reuven Carlyle, the two candidates for state Legislature in the 36th District. I've known John Burbank for 25 years through politics and friendship and can attest with great passion to his overwhelming qualifications for the job.
John's been an activist for progressive issues in the district for decades and has a proven track record of delivering real results for ordinary, working people.
I first met John Burbank at my door. Many of you may also have met him or seen his literature on your steps, since he is well on his way to visiting every home and apartment in the 101 precincts in the 36th District - not his staff, him,
The second thing that impressed me about John is that he's an avid biker. He's also endorsed by the 10,000-plus member organization, the Cascade Bicycle Club.
I'm a young voter, one of those people rolling her eyes when Peter House refused to use his position to help John Burbank, whom I support. Peter refused to go negative about Reuven. He refused to call anyone for the endorsement meeting because of his position. Peter House was naive.
Reuven Carlyle is as slick as a used car salesman. His slam against Peter House is proof of this. And it is not true.
I'm glad to see the paper is covering this issue (Mercer project opposed by many, Oct. 15). But I'm afraid the retelling of Councilman Licata's meeting doesn't quite line up with the facts.
I know your reporter said that just about everybody at the meeting opposed fixing the Mercer Mess. But Licata asked people at the meeting to vote on what they wanted to happen.
