Reader’s child enjoys stories about community

Dear editor,

I just read “It’s more than bagging groceries” in the Renton Reporter to my kids tonight and I wanted to send you my sincere thanks! When my 6-year-old daughter asked me to read from the newspaper for bedtime I was nervous I would only find politics, violence, or gossip. I was relieved to find your article on the front page.

We are shoppers at the Benson Fred Meyer and now the kids will be on the lookout for “Bev”! Thank you for sharing her story with our family tonight.

Sincerely,

Eric Prince

Renton

Reader says they’re thankful for new parental leave act

Dear editor,

Before my husband and I welcomed our first child, we meticulously scheduled our leave: How much sick and vacation time did we have? What leave would be protected under the Family Medical Leave Act? How much time would go unpaid? It was incredibly stressful to not have paid parental leave. My husband and I worked for the same organization, so we had to split the 12 weeks of FMLA. In the end, we were back at work and our son was in full-time childcare by the time he was 3 months old.

I know I was fortunate to have even that much time to recover from childbirth and bond with my newborn. Some parents get only a few weeks and, even then, they must choose between keeping their jobs or caring for their baby.

Thankfully, starting in January 2020, Washington’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program will provide workers with up to 16 weeks of paid leave to be there for family. This includes births, adoption, foster placement, caring for a family member or even one’s own recovery from a medical condition.

We’re all pitching in to this new program with small payroll premiums that began in January; the average worker will contribute about $2 per week. Big businesses will pay their fair share too. Small businesses are exempt from the premiums, but their employees are still covered. Even self-employed individuals can opt-in.

Although my child-bearing days are over, I’m grateful that so many families will soon benefit from this program. This is a monumental win for Washington, and I urge everyone to find out if they are eligible and how to utilize this new benefit!

Sincerely,

Melody Ip

Renton

‘Listen to us, the people!’

Dear editor and Executive Dow Constantine,

I am appalled and disgusted that you would litigate against the will of the public in the name of political expediency rather than doing what should have been done in the first place.

I am one of “those stupid voters” who knew exactly what the passage of I-976 would do. Its passage should be considered a wake-up call to tax the public in an honest, straight forward manner. Instead of heeding the call, your actions reveal your true political nature and character, which is unworthy of the office you currently hold. Retract the lawsuit and figure out another honest funding method for transportation. This is your duty!

I am for public transportation, and for the maintenance and improvement of our area’s infrastructure. These are two fundamental governmental requirements. No matter what spin you put on the passage of I-976, you cannot declare a legal passage of an initiative as “against the constitution.” How lame is that reasoning?

Listen to us, the people, and do the job for which you were elected! Figure out a proper funding for transportation and infrastructure and trust the population – we will support proper funding.

Sincerely,

A not-so-silent majority member V. Alan Werner, P.E.

Renton