Letter to the Editor: Jay Arnold Not the Right Choice for Kirkland

Dear Editor:

Jay Arnold has said, “Kirkland is the best place to live, work, and raise a family in the Pacific Northwest,” I believe was correct as far as he went.  It’s why people move here.

Then why does he want to reduce our quality of life with more traffic jams, higher densities, and higher taxes?  Why does he think that as quoted, “To maintain that quality of life and be competitive with other cities, I will ensure that Kirkland is sustainable and strategic in our transportation, planning, budgets, and economic development?"  Do we really want to become another Seattle?  As much as we would like to think that Kirkland can economically compete with Bellevue and Redmond, it’s ludicrous.

We are a residential community that provides housing for those who can afford to live here.  What he proposes is a change that will take us from Kirkland’s role as a residential community to become another metropolitan city with all its honking horns, cramped densities, social problems, and growth that is not being planned for.  Single family homes will suffer because of it.  Cramped living units not bigger than 350 square feet are being proposed and pursued.

He’s relying on mass transit to solve our transportation needs, a mass transit system that requires infrastructure to support it.  So far, Kirkland has not provided the support that would reduce or eliminate traffic jams.  They are getting longer and occur more often.

Jay has a lot of endorsements.  That’s a problem.  Those who support him do not want to save Kirkland as it is now.  I don't think Kirkland will be better off because of their endorsements.  It’s time for the citizens to endorse someone who can improve our quality of life, not degrade it. 

Jay is a leader who asks how can we do things better?” said former Mayor Dave Russell. We need Jay to keep our city moving forward, even with tight budgets.”  Unnecessary ballot measures didn’t move us forward. Jay helped to move us back.

It wasn't; a tight budget that caused the Council to put two measures on the ballot that increased our taxes.  The budget has always increased even in tight times.  The money was already in the budget to pay for the Council’s failure to fund essential services.  The Council took a step back to cover its backside.  Jay’s a bobble head and would do the same.

He said, “We have to do keep Kirkland a great place to live and work in.”  It will be tougher to do if Jay is elected in November.

Bob Style

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