Dear Editor,

West Seattle neighbors were invited to a Transit Town Hall to have our questions answered about Sound Transit’s WSLE light rail plans.  Finally, after two years of asking, we thought we had an opportunity to speak directly with Sound Transit and get clear honest answers about the impacts of light rail on our community.  We were wrong.

The form for pre-submitting questions looked like a Sound Transit document causing many to worry that ST would use the information to pre-emptively counter our concerns prior to their final EIS.   But, in good faith, 250 people submitted questions anyway.    Over 60 people attended in person.

Here is a link to WestSide Seattle’s coverage of the event by Patrick Robinson; https://www.westsideseattle.com/robinson-papers/2024/07/24/west-seattle-link-extension-project-update-draws-large-crowd   You will need to go to his website for photos.

This was a travesty of a town hall.  Per usual, Sound Transit was given the first 30 minutes to present their project propaganda; it was 7:58, however, when the moderator got to ask the first question.  And we soon realized that this meeting was not about impacts to larger community; rather, the focus was how a few business owners could get fair relocation compensation.  We whole-heartedly support these businesses but were disappointed that this “town hall” had such a narrow scope.   The sixty-some businesses and hundreds of residences threatened with eminent domain were not included.

Also ignored were our serious questions about the environment, including the coming destruction of heron, salmon, and beaver habitats, Pigeon Point, Longfellow Creek and the West Duwamish Greenbelt.  West Seattle Health Club members showed up to tell Sound Transit about how vital the club and its pool is to the community, but their many pre- submitted questions were neither acknowledged nor discussed.

Transit experts sent in comments and solutions for our local needs hoping to have a discussion BEFORE the final EIS.  These were not taken into consideration last night, though Marty Westerman is on the record saying the light rail would serve only 3% of our future population.  There was no follow-up discussion.  We were naive in thinking Sound Transit would engage with us or be forthcoming with anything but obfuscation and false empathy.

The meeting appeared be a success for a few business owners.  Sound Transit offered to make deals with the biggest and squeakiest of wheels, employing the same divide and conquer tactic they have used in my neighborhood.  They privately promise to pay fair compensation to a few people, thereby splitting up the group and rendering the others powerless.   

So, we were conned into thinking Sound Transit wanted to hear from us – and are pretty sure they will exploit our naivety by adding photos of us to their propaganda portfolio.

Marilyn Kennell

West Seattle

Closing on a lighter note.  Here is a photo taken by Patrick Robinson.