Remember years ago when the city of Black Diamond sent out a questionnaire to see what kind of town the residents wanted going forward? The majority of respondents said not a lot of growth. The conclusion was Black Diamond wanted to stay a quiet bedroom community. Call us naive or maybe even a little too hopeful that somehow, maybe, the traffic, noise and strip malls would pass us by. But the fact remains that as a people, this is how we answered.

Then we heard about YarrowBay, and sitting in the City Council meetings wondering what that would mean for all of us, one man mentioned we could be like Issaquah. You know that “country” look — old-fashioned streetlights, a blending of old and new. I couldn’t help but think, what about the three-hour grueling traffic jam their main street contends with daily. I am sure most of us have endured that light-to-light crawl. I would hope we could have better success than that.

Sure we could widen some streets, add lights and so on. But we all know traffic has to go back down to two lanes over the old bridge going to Enumclaw. The poor old bridge that was shut down due to moving earth. That was no small project and could happen again. Then what? After all the building is done how will we redirect the traffic if the road once again is closed?

I understand the old saying, “Change is the only constant.” But I have my doubts when looking at the plans that our old leaders thought everything through. We know some development will happen, but this is more than organic change. This is a massive development that once we start there is no turning back. I think that is what is on most Black Diamond residents’ minds. They want to know someone is looking out for them.

That is why I am voting for Dave Gordon as mayor, Erika Morgan, Carol Benson, and Janie Edelman for City Council.

Patty Wolf

Black Diamond