With the failure of the school bond the city of Maple Valley finally has a vision.  It was kind of like a shot in the dark with a submachine gun inflicted upon those families with school age children.

The lack of planning and inaction of the city, and lack of commitment to those families, will undoubtedly force the city into becoming what is referred to as an intentional community, a designed community.  The city now has direction and is going to transition from being just a bedroom community.  No, I don’t suspect that the city will become a commune, nor ecovillage, nor religious kibbutz, nor destination resort.  It is going to become a retirement community as a result of the city’s inaction to accommodate our school age children.

At least one financing alternative that I’m aware of was proposed to the city and I’m sure that there were probably others.  Well, for those not wanting growth this will be good.  Families will relocate elsewhere and will be replaced by the boomers who are now retiring.  This will inevitably create new opportunities in Maple Valley to service the boomers.

The Economic Development Committee has been a priority of our city manager for two years, but it was disbanded months ago.  I suspect that there was some exception to the fact that the buy local campaign was little more than a membership drive for the local chamber of commerce at taxpayer expense contrary to what was indicated to council.

A new, somewhat promising, Economic Development Committee should be spearheading this new direction, but it may be usurped to some degree now by a Community Service Coalition recently formed to better coordinate and communicate the activities of local groups that serve the community of Maple Valley.  Notably absent from this group is ironically the press, community service group leaders such as Kiwanis and Rotary, other local business network groups, Greater Maple Valley Area Council representation and our representative faith leaders of the community.

Anybody else see anything wrong with this communication perspective especially when City Council has to debate and check with legal counsel whether or not the coalition meetings should be open to the public?

Well, at least we have direction and vision even though it is short-sighted, self-inflicted and consequential.

Larry Baumgart,

Maple Valley