Join Rep. Ross Hunter with his colleagues, Rep. Cyrus Habib and Sen. Rodney Tom, for the next 48th Legislative District town hall meeting. We’ll cover lots of material and look forward to seeing you.
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013 Time: 10 a.m – noon Place: Redmond City Hall, Council Chamber (15670 NE 85th St Redmond, WA 98052)
Ross,
I would enjoy attending a town hall meeting with you and Representative Habib, but I shall NOT attend any meeting with Senator Tom – he is a turncoat and has shown his true colors – a Teanderthal at best, a liar in the least. Mr. Tom is NOT welcome at any Democratic function I might attend. Mr. Tom turned a blind eye to the Republicans when he ‘changed parties’ to the Democrats. I was skeptical, and rightly so – he has now used that political move against the Democrats, and hopefully shall pay the price of defeat by BOTH parties in his next election. I met him personally in his office during a previous legislative session while lobbying for patient safety laws and was struck by his Tea Party mentality at the time – he belongs with the Teanderthals, NOT the Democrats. Many good Democrats were lured into Mr. Tom’s trap, I was not one of them. Please add a town hall meeting for Democratic representatives in the future – a meeting that does not include wolves in sheep’s clothing like Mr. Tom.
Mr. Hunter, we have disagreed over fiscal matters, but I respect you and your Democratic beliefs. I don’t think the state needed to give Boeing $3.2 (and more) billion to build the 787 FireBird/Phoenix, but it’s a done deal. I see that Boeing is still moving jobs out of Washington state in spite of that lure. (Boeing is moving it’s Renton simulators/Flight training center to Florida). That may well be a payment that will continue to haunt the legislature. $3.2-billion to save 1,000 jobs – pretty expensive. I also believe that light rail is wrong for our area – bus rapid transit, grade-separated bus lanes – are much more economical and more easily adjusted for civic growth patterns. Rails never move, so the expense is made and the decision is permanently paved. “Jersey” barriers can move, and can create grade separation at a fraction of that expense, and can be adjusted to living patterns.
Nevertheless, my son graduated from a Bellevue high school (Interlake) with a full IB diploma (he spent an extra year to do so because he had a year of foreign study via AFS in New Zealand), and completed his college education at Boston University in 3 years rather than 4 (at a family savings of $40,000), all because of our successful public education system. You are one of their champions, and I am grateful for that. While I no longer have children in the educational system I fully support it. Our children are our future, and we must adequately educate them.
I am currently enrolled in a higher learning program at Kent State University in Ohio, and would prefer to be attending/supporting a Washington college if it was equally possible. Sadly, the cost and time constraints are not tolerable nor equal. My education is 100% online from a famous brick-and-mortar university while area options require classroom attendance. Upon fulfillment of the requirements I may walk across the stage and receive my diploma in person with all of the other students! The online option gives me room to adjust my studying to my work schedule. Perhaps that is a direction you may guide higher education in Washington? Online classrooms rather than seats – it’s more economical in many ways, educates all who are interested and keeps education local.
Steve Krauss
Bellevue, WA