Letters to the editor

The following are letters to the editor that appeared in the Oct. 28 print edition of The Peninsula Gateway. To submit a letter, e-mail gatewayeditor@gateline.com. Please keep letters submissions to 250 words.

Incident shows the strain of emergency services on the Key

I am writing this letter to encourage you to vote in favor of the lid lift levy and support our fire district and emergency services.

My husband and I always vote to support our community services, but a recent incident prompted us to realize how important it is for the Lid Lift Levy to be approved in order to provide the necessary emergency services to prevent undue trauma and loss of life.

This summer our granddaughters, Megan, 7 and Sarah, 16 were visiting with us and we made our usual trek to Joemma Beach State Park. Shortly after arriving at the beach, Sarah complained of a stomach-ache and was becoming semi-conscious.

We were frantic! I called 9-1-1 immediately, thinking we would have medical help in a timely fashion. However, that didn’t happen.

Bernie put a straw hat under Sarah’s head and was shielding her face from the sun with another hat, while an onlooker came to help and stood by Sarah to help protect her from the sun.

I was so afraid of a ruptured appendix or maybe something even worse. Minutes went by and no emergency unit came to help — 10 minutes — 15 minutes. Finally, a fire department vehicle arrived with the fire chief from Home and another fire department employee. They were helpful, but only had a blood pressure kit.

They explained that the two emergency vehicles covering our Key Peninsula area were both in service and unavailable to help us, and didn’t know when they could help us. Time passed and approximately 30 minutes or so after our 9-1-1 call, the ambulance arrived and transported Sarah to St. Anthony Hospital.

I rode I the ambulance with Sarah and had an opportunity to talk to the EMT that was driving. He explained how strained our emergency services are on the peninsula and how important it is for the levy to pass. With the population increase and the presently undermanned emergency services, it is imperative that we support and vote yes to lift the lid levy.

Joy Rakes, Minterwood

Shabro using election materials to promote herself for auditor

I cannot help noticing an interesting development in the race for Pierce County Auditor. Candidate Jan Shabro has chosen to print her name prominently on both the General Election ballot and on the ballot return envelope. She made the same disgraceful decision in the August Primary.

Further, while candidates for most other offices are listed in alphabetical order, in the race for county auditor, Ms. Shabro chose to place her bio prominently on top of the first page of candidate listings.

These are highly questionable prerogatives and misuse of the privilege of the office.

People of Pierce County, you’re smarter than to fall for this ploy. Ms. Shabro tells us on her website that she “believes one leads by example.”

Let’s allow her to do just that, and in acknowledging her poor leadership example, let’s ask her to leave the office she disgraces and to which she was inappropriately appointed less than one year ago.

Gerry Baldwin, Gig Harbor

Reject Yanity’s grudge, support firefighters and the FD 16 levy

As Chaplain for Fire District 16, I have witnessed first hand the kindness, care and professionalism of medics and fire Personnel of this district.

These men and women assist family members during the worst moments of their lives. They are highly trained, experienced and compassionate in their line of work. Some have been with the department many years as paid employees, while many are volunteers. All are dedicated to their profession which is serving the community in which they live. I am honored to serve alongside them.

There is a small group of people who insist on demeaning the department for their own selfish gain. One of these people actually wrote a letter to this newspaper sometime ago deriding the Chaplaincy program.

Obviously, he had little information or was badly misinformed by someone. Chaplains are not called to preach to people when they are suffering from loss so deeply. As Chaplains, we are to be the hands and feet that provide care, comfort and presence when and where needed.

The ring leader of this small group is Al Yanity who carries a grudge in his heart and searches for revenge, against one man in particular. He has done nothing for District 16 but bring consternation and disruption since his arrival. He chooses to intimidate the public by scaring them with the threat of large new taxes (this is not true), while hiding his real agenda. He is guilty of discrimination and he is chasing ghosts. The title of Commissioner has been much sullied.

After a couple of very public, very bad choices he has made, is this the man you would listen to about responsibility? You are a sensible people, think it out.

Ms. Leslie Beecher, Chaplain, Fire District 16

Bosch should withdraw, FD 16 should enact family job policy

The potential reduction in fire protection and emergency medical services is without a doubt the biggest issue facing Key Peninsula voters in November. This should be a wake up call to the commissioners who could take two significant steps to improve chances for voter acceptance.

The first, adopt a conflict of interest policy precluding members of the same family from being employed by the district.

The second, for Commissioner Bosch to withdraw his name as a candidate for re-election. While it is difficult to assign a single factor to the loss in August, district employment of multiple family members and Commissioner Bosch’s real or perceived conflicts of interest created by multiple employment of family members contributed to too many no votes or kept too many away from the polls.

At this point, every vote is important and it is time for the Commissioners to take action to improve the chances for a successful voter participation in November.

L. Paul Alvestad, Gig Harbor

Hoppen is the clear choice once you examine his track record

Hoppen versus Payne seems a tough choice, initially. Both are experienced and articulate. Examining track records, though, Hoppen is the clear choice for two reasons:

First, Hoppen’s leadership from 1990-2006 was instrumental in making Gig Harbor what it is today. He spearheaded our “Design Review Guidelines” (since emulated by cities nationally). Many things we love about Gig Harbor, e.g., its charming downtown, its abundant greenbelts, and its tasteful structures, bear the signature of Hoppen’s guidance. Hoppen’s tangible contributions to Gig Harbor’s quality-of-life dwarf Payne’s.

Second, Hoppen consistently supports residents, withstanding pressure to relax design standards or compromise previous zoning agreements.

By contrast, Payne too readily sacrifices residents’ interests. For example, in 2007 when the 174-unit, 12-per-acre “Courtyards at Skansie” proposal sparked a firestorm among residents, all but two Council members voted to appeal the then-Hearing Examiner’s decision to approve the development. Payne was one of the two who voted in concert with developers’ wishes against overwhelming opposition from residents.

Vis-à-vis an enormous structure proposed for Grandview and Pioneer/Stinson, Payne again bypassed residents’ interests, initiating a Council-led Comprehensive Plan Amendment that potentially allows developers to change previously agreed-upon rules, and even to do so “on the City’s dime”.

Hoppen believes “citizens have a right to expect the quality of their neighborhoods to be maintained,” promising he’ll “support policies that maintain and preserve housing densities and uses within established neighborhoods.” We can believe him. Having largely shaped those policies, Hoppen has both the skill and the will to uphold them.

Elizabeth Kreiselmaier, Ph.D., Gig Harbor

Payne has world-class experience

Tim Payne is an excellent resource for the Gig Harbor city government and voters will be well served by returning him to the City Council. Tim is a consummate professional who works well with others and carries a deep passion for the quality of life here in Gig Harbor.

His professional experience as Executive Vice President of a firm that provides guidance for municipalities offers Gig Harbor world class professional experience in it’s own operations.

That experience equips him with the tools and knowledge necessary to deal with the growth, economic, transportation, utility, and preservation issues the Gig Harbor City Council faces.

Please re-elect Tim Payne to City Council.

John Earl, Gig Harbor

Kudos to Vernon Young for improving the quality of life on the peninsulas

Vernon Young and the EnviroCorps volunteers have been some of those unsung heroes that help make the Gig Harbor Peninsula a better place to be.

As a PenMet Parks Commissioner, I’ve seen Vernon’s commitment and hard work transform our parks into better places to walk with their trailblazing and our streets a little bit cleaner with the litter patrol.

Everyone that lives in our community is indebted to their service. Thank you Vernon for your leadership, time and commitment.

Todd Iverson, PenMet Parks Commissioner, Gig Harbor