L.S. Police doing great work in community

Dear Editor,

I wanted to take a moment and praise the work of the Lake Stevens Police Department.
I feel that lately there has been some negative press about our police department.  I wanted to take the time to mention that there is a lot of excellent work performed by our officers that goes unmentioned because we have grown accustomed to their outstanding service.  
First, I am aware that through great teamwork between our detectives and patrol the Yumiko Teriyaki robber was arrested.  Second, the two bank robbery suspects were captured due to police being aware of evidence at the scene and matching DNA/fingerprint.  
Finally, the county wide espresso stand robberies were solved.  As a Lake Stevens business owner and community member I think these three examples show the dedication and commitment we have from our police department.   I am sure the business community applauds the proactive work of the police department, which has always made safety a top priority.  
I have noticed good police visibility in the community, which has always been a cornerstone of a good relationship between the department and our residence.   The police department and the City of Lake Stevens are looking at projected growth and long term planning which is essential to ensuring the continued proactive police force in Lake Stevens.  
I look forward to our police departments continued effort towards our community’s safety.
Congratulations on your recent success!  You have my support.

Marcus Tageant

Lake Stevens

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Grading restaurants is a good idea

Dear Editor,

I really liked Pam Stevens’ editorial on how New York City “grades” restaurants based on their health inspections. That would be such a wonderful system to put in place here as well. Requiring the grade to be posted holds the restaurant more accountable. Their business depends on maintaining food safety.
I did, however, find it quite comical that two pages later in the Journal there is a large advertisement for Ixtapa Mexican restaurant. The restaurant that allegedly sickened many Lake Stevens residents with E. Coli in 2008.
Too bad they didn’t have a grade posted in the window before I ate there.

Amanda Vest
Lake Stevens

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 Aquafest logo contest is missed

 

Dear Editor,

What happened to the community contest to design logos for Aquafest?  
It was very disappointing to have this dropped just in time for the 50th anniversary celebration for Aquafest, but again this year, apparently a logo has already been designed.  
This was such a fun and creative way to come up with logos—and I might add that many were far superior to what is now being used! Maybe it is budget driven or time driven? I am sure I am not the only one who misses this!

Marlene Sweet
Lake Stevens

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 Getting through the onion

 Dear Editor,
 
Business leaders stress that repeatedly doing the same thing while expecting different results is a sign of insanity. In 1774, Thomas Paine wrote in his Common Sense: “A long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence [sic] of custom.”
 Within these two truisms, we see why so little is being done to give more than lip-service to finding solutions to the massive fiscal problems facing the nation.
In his State of The Union address, President Obama talked of how, in a certain period, his administration created “500,000 new jobs.” That’s impressive until you realize — as media fact checkers pointed out — that in the same period more than 600,000 jobs were lost! That fact was lost amid ill-founded ovation.
Throughout our country, experienced and talented men and women have ideas that could help stem our fiscal bleeding. Yet, their voices will never be heard.
Like an onion, each legislator is surrounded by several layers of like-minded people vying for his or her time; family and friends; special interest groups; the “Klingons” whose money opens doors and ears.
With only so many ears and hours to go around, their legislative attention stays focused on those who already think as they do. In politics, thinking “outside the box” has become a misleading phrase to pacify the unwary.
Until 1925, an American citizen could walk to the front door of the White House; today, getting through to even a state legislator is all but impossible, unless you have something to offer his or her next campaign. Woody Guthrie told us all “This Land is Your Land.” Yet, so many of us must wonder why the voices, so sought after at election time, are so ignored once votes have been cast.  

Bill Cook
Lake Stevens

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