Opinion/Letters Stories - San Juan Islands

Leaves of Gold thank you | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Find here a small thank you note for a hugely successful third annual Leaves of Gold concert. This annual fundraising concert helps to support the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s artistic leadership as well as music education in the schools and community. Violinist Chee-Yun and pianist Andrew Staupe performed soaring repertoire in a space meant for just such sound.

Truth about Highlands’ well | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

I am compelled to clarify a number of misconceptions and errors made by people over the previous year regarding the drilling of wells in the Orcas Highlands.

Yes for land bank REET | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Letters in support of renewing the land bank's real estate excise tax, which is on the November ballot.

Vote against the solid waste parcel fee | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Vote no on school levy | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Aren’t you proud to be an American? At least you know you’re free. It’s voting time again and the school is broke. Remember the desperate need for an industrial arts building just a few years back? Did you know you can now experience that voter-funded asset in all its virtual reality. It’s right there in the master plan, folks, ever ready to help Orcas youth acquire the skills to better compete in today’s shrinking job market.

Vote yes on school levy | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Letters in support of the school district's $900,000 levy on this November's ballot.

No on land bank REET | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Why is the land bank asking for a renewal this year when their funding does not expire for another two years? That is right: 2014! Voting no in this upcoming election does not mean you are against land preservation, because I certainly am not. Voting no will show that you are being a fiscally responsible citizen to your neighbors and friends.

Land bank's support of agriculture is not what we all approved in 1990 | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Council member Patty Miller clarifies parcel fee | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Sauer responds to criticism in letters | Letter

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

I was hoping the campaign for Commissioner of Eastsound Sewer and Water District Position 5 (the position I have held since 2009) would be an honest evaluation of the district’s current and future needs as they were addressed at the recently held League of Women Voters forum.

Why you should vote for Stephen Adams | Letter to the editor

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Kurt Jacobs supports Stephen Adams

The truth about the airport | Letter to the editor

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Two citizens are concerned about rumors that have been circulating around the island

Our shorelines need you | Letters to the editor

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

If your vision for San Juan County shorelines includes vibrant ecosystems and a healthy respect for natural erosion, San Juan County needs to hear from you.

Stolen Olga flamingos were on display for breast cancer — Islands Letters to the Editor

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

County prosecutor supports Prop. 2 | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

No promise can be made that a contractor will cost you less or give you better service. It will be difficult to influence rates set by a commission in Olympia based on the information provided by the contractor.

Leaning against the Land Bank | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

My question to voters is: has the Land Bank become such a sacred cow in San Juan County that we cannot consider critical questions in making our decision on how to vote on this issue?

Know before you vote | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Be informed when you vote and ask yourself questions like: Why isn’t the Land Bank focusing on obtaining conservation easements on open space — rather than purchasing urban land and farmland, making expensive improvements and leasing it at a loss?

Benefits the environment and economy; 'Yes' on Prop. 1 | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

I believe that if we stop funding the land bank, we are only hurting our merchants, our marinas, our restaurants, and particularly our real estate agencies and our construction industry. We will only be shooting ourselves in the foot.

Journal misses the mark, disappoints on Prop. 1 | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

We disagree that the 21-year investment in the Land Bank should be put in jeopardy by voting against its renewal just as we begin to appreciate the powerful benefits it has brought by protecting open spaces and scenic views, public access to our Islands’ special places, and the preservation of farmland.

Land Bank benefits quality of life, property values; 'Yes' on Prop. 1 | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

In spite of the fact that property values both nationally and locally have fallen dramatically, people are still drawn to island life, partly because of the work of the Land Bank. A property's value is worth more that it would be without the Land Bank.

Land Bank must reset financial course; vote 'No' on Prop. 1 | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Unless we’re prepared to accept that the stewardship fund will not serve “in perpetuity” as intended, we don’t even have the option of not extending some portion of the 1 percent REET before 2014. So how can we prevent an even larger burden from being handed off to the county and its taxpayers in 2026?

We the People… in support of the Land Bank | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

We, ourselves, do not have the luxury of bountiful funds or personal lands to satisfy our needs, so rely upon lands in the public trust to provide us with the many benefits that special lands afford, whether it's preserving farm land, a beach, a trail to walk, a valuable watershed or places to make us feel alive and inspire us.

Land Bank a plus for local property values | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

There are opponents to (real estate excise tax) monies going to the Land Bank, who state it takes away monies that would support schools and law enforcement agencies. It is important to be clear that the REET income paid to the Land Bank in no way takes away from these institutions.

Land Bank adapts in tough economic times | Letters

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:10:53 PDT

Since 2007, the Land Bank’s 1 percent REET has declined roughly 60 percent. No other county department has faced revenue reductions anywhere near this magnitude.