Lots of things make Covington and Maple Valley better cities than such stalwarts as Seattle, Boston, San Francisco and New York City – one of which is that you don’t have to pay to park your car here.
A recent study underscores the fact that good health isn’t just a matter of personal choice for Americans. It’s tied – in some cases, painfully so - to income levels and geography.
As community representatives, we, the residents in the Fouir Corners neighborhood, do not believe that the information provided by Puget Sound Energy to address community concerns over current sub-station site selection, alternative site locations and affects on property value are adequate, relevant and-or accurate.
Thumbs up to the people who are choosing Metro’s vanpools as a way to make their daily commutes, making life on the highways a little easier and the environment a little healthier for everybody else.
The Fourth of July isn’t only about pausing to reflect on our considerable history. It’s also about having fun, being inspired and celebrating our remarkable freedoms with friends and family. I just want to share the amazing Fourth of July spirit our Katesridge neighborhood here in Maple Valley demonstrates every year.
My article in the Reporter June 25 (“Unexpected and unwanted ‘bonus’ in city’s utility tax”) stirred things up a bit. I do like to do that, but in this case, the conclusions were wrong.
This article is in response to the misleading and inaccurate article submitted to the Reporter by Maple Valley City Councilman Noel Gerken (July 5, “Maple Valley’s future hinges on Four Corners planning”).
There has always been a question about whether public constituencies are better-served with long-standing elected officials or steady, even unexpected turnover. Residents of Covington are about to test the latter scenario for the second time in less than a year.
Sometimes the solutions to a problem are as plain as the whisker on a cat’s face.
King County’s animal control program has a devil of a time finding new owners for the homeless pets that end up at the animal shelter. There aren’t enough owners to go around. That’s why the agency continually pleads with the public to adopt a cat or dog – even rabbits.
I’ve recently been reading the letters to the editor regarding the Covington utility tax that non-city residents are having to pay through their Verizon bills. I no longer pay the Covington city sales tax or the effect of city tax to the city of Covington. I wrote in to let all of you that have Verizon as your wireless provider know how I did this.
Maple Valley is at a crossroads. We can continue planning for a bright future of a central shopping and gathering place, including a Main Street, or we can continue to be known for old strip malls and business parks and a lack of restaurants and needed retail stores.
Thank you to staff writer Kris Hill for reporting on the alarming King County budget shortfall. (June 11, “Law and justice ‘in trouble’”). In addition to the cuts in the criminal justice system that were noted (about 80 percent of the general fund budget), there is a proposal that all health and human-service funding (the other 20 percent of the budget) be eliminated in three years.
How well do you, your family and friends know your country’s history? Take the following quiz and find out. Could make for some interesting conversations during the July 4th holiday weekend.
Thumbs up to a couple of major retail companies – Wal-Mart andHome Depot – for putting their money where their mouth is when they say they have local communities at heart.
And I thought the weather got people riled up. Going from meteorology to the energy industry put me in stormy seas.
Puget Sound Energy, my new employer, is merging with some Canadian pension funds and New York and Australian investors. Until now, I would have thought Canadian pension funds were as alarming as Melba toast, and Crocodile Dundee seemed like a fun guy. New York is another story. But this merger is causing a ripple, mostly due to myths about what it means to you and me and everyone who pays a utility bill.
I ask the questions, you give the answers:
City’s tax gets you no matter where you live
Fireworks are as much a part of the Fourth of July as Old Glory and Uncle Sam. The problem is they can also damage property and hurt people if used inattentively or through blatant disregard for safety.
The residents of Covington overturned the City Council the first time they passed the utility tax. Many of us were upset when they passed the tax again within a couple of short years.
However, this time there was no initiative effort to overturn it. as us citizens probably realized the council was going to do whatever it wanted to one way or another.
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen someone throw litter from a car or truck, I could afford gas a lot easier for my own car.
