With the costs of real estate development increasing daily, building housing affordable to the full range of income levels seems like an impossible task. Sympathetic housing developers understand the need for affordability, asserting that they would happily build lower-cost units “if only it would pencil.”
For County Executive Ron Sims and County Council chair Julia Patterson. The two high-ranking politicians came up with a plan to finally do something about the county’s animal shelters by proceeding in an innovative way. They each dismissed their staffs from a meeting and sat down face-to-face to hash the problems out. The result: a solution.
The high-altitude thinkers we invited to project technology trends earlier this year concurred on one key insight we all should note:
By JOHN CARLSON
A recent study underscores the fact that good health isn’t just a matter of personal choice for Americans.
The King County Charter is currently open for a review that occurs once every 10 years. The Charter Review Commission has been gathering information and deliberating, and will soon forward amendments they endorse to the County Council. The Council will consider those recommendations, then decide which amendments will be placed on the ballot this fall. The voters will have the final say.
Think globally, act locally, as the saying goes. All over the country, one thing is becoming clear: Local governments — cities and counties — are emerging as the leaders in the struggle to reduce our carbon footprint and fight global climate change.
I noticed it last week. Premium gas at $4.09 at a Chevron station in the Overlake area.
Every once in a while, an election comes along that decides not just the next four years but the next 20. When it comes to transportation, 2008 will be one of those years.
A new study has weighed in on the topic of tolls and road congestion. This one is different. It considers all tolls, all the time.
John Carlson hosts a daily radio program with KOMO 4’s Ken Schram each weekday from 3-6 p.m. on AM 570 KVI. He also broadcasts daily radio commentary on KOMO 1000 news. E-mail him at johncarlson@komoradio.com.
Elsewhere on this page is an article by Julia Patterson and Ron Sims. It’s worth reading.
The subject of shelter animal care is an emotional issue, and one that until just recently divided us in county government. Strong feelings expressed from people in our community and the great number of e-mails and calls demonstrate how much we all care about the animals in our shelters.
Fishing opportunities in Northwest waters have just about disappeared. It’s a situation that has strained relations between Indians and non-Indians – the state, local governments, environmental organizations, businesses and even fishermen. It’s also a condition we can improve, if we follow the truth, and that truth goes right to habitat.
As a community, it is good to take time to celebrate milestones. It is also good to thank those who make this a better place to live, work and raise our families.
He lied to us.
Our search for a new columnist has attracted several applicants, all of whom have provided interesting points of view. We still have a bit to go before we pick a replacement for Ken Schram, who decided to step away from his weekly column.
The Seattle Times announced this week that it is cutting its staff and also is closing its Eastside bureau here in Bellevue.
Most of us recognize education’s sweeping impact as an equalizer and door to opportunity for people of all backgrounds and economic status.
Richard J.
