Support for Aras
In Bellevue, like the rest of the nation, it is time to ask some difficult conversations. Sure, we all want to send our kids to Stanford or Yale, but at what cost? Anxiety and depression are on the rise. Each student deserves to be respected and appreciated. They need academic challenge, but they also need to develop socially and emotionally with friends and family.
To that end, Jane Aras is the best candidate to serve on the Bellevue School Board. During high school robotics team events, Jane Aras and I discussed the challenges of raising kids in such a competitive environment. Jane understands that a one-size-fits-all approach to education does not work, and that each child is different. She has the rare experience of being a mother of three teenage and young-adult children, while also having served as a full-time educator in public schools. If elected to the Bellevue School Board, Jane Aras would help craft education policy that addresses the whole child, and policy that serves every child. Jane Aras holds a master’s degree in special education, so she understands how educational psychology actually works. Jane Aras has been there in the trenches. She is the best candidate for the job.
Laura Ohata
Bellevue
Take action on climate
We attended the Global Climate Strike Friday, Sept. 20, at Houghton Beach Park in Kirkland. The four student speakers spoke with poise, passion and eloquence as they addressed how climate change could affect their futures. A follow up speaker, who is a scientist, likened the impact of climate warming on our youth to child abuse. The message was that we adults need to take climate action now.
It was clear their call to action needs to be answered on many levels, from individuals and businesses to local, state and the national government. Individually, we can reduce beef consumption and use of plastic, for example. On Thursday, Sept. 29, Amazon pledged it will become carbon neutral by 2040. A great step. Yet, 1,000 Amazon employees joined the tech rally of 2,500 to 3,000 on Friday asking tech companies to do more.
One student speaker especially exhorted our Eastside cities to do more to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. So, we urge Eastside city councils to heed requests to develop comprehensive climate action plans, which include measurable targets, to meet the King County Cities Climate Coalition goal of reducing GHG by 50 percent by 2030, compared to 2007. Let our youth know we heard them.
Kristi and Tom Weir
Bellevue
Robertson support
We are lucky to have Jennifer Robertson representing us on the Bellevue City Council.
By observing numerous city council meetings and meeting with her a few times, I’ve learned she is smart, genuine and cares about our city and its people, in all of our unique neighborhoods. She listens and responds to our diverse voices and takes our concerns seriously. She balances compassion and public safety to meet the needs of all Bellevue residents. She does her own research and understands complex legal issues and the impacts they have on the community. Jennifer offers solutions that are best for Bellevue. She is a fierce advocate for transparency and open public process, and her actions show it. On important issues, she submits her comments in writing for public review, rather than in closed door meetings preferred by some council members.
With an incumbent, you can review the public record and see what they actually do instead of just what they promise in campaign ads. Watch the videos of past city council meetings and you’ll see she is the real deal — respectful, fair, transparent and always prepared. Please vote to keep Jennifer Robertson on the Bellevue City Council.
Melissa Harp
Bellevue
EDITOR’S NOTE: A letter was removed due to inaccuracies.
