There is an open seat on the Washington State Supreme Court, which will be filled in the November election. Four candidates are running for this position, but one of them, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, is uniquely qualified by experience and intellect to fill the seat.
Well, isn’t it just lovely that the director of the King County Library System, Bill Ptacek, is so concerned about the citizens of Renton’s financial business that he sent out letters to his “neighbors.” He tells us he directed the Miller-Hull architectural firm to do an “in-depth investigation” on our behalf and they concluded that renovating the Cedar River Library will cost more than building a smaller one in downtown Renton.
Your ballot will be arriving within days. I urge people to do research on the candidates running to represent us in the 11th District.
The King County Library System recently mailed out a letter to Renton homeowners; to share information they have received from an independent firm they contracted with to help establish an estimate for what it will cost taxpayers to rebuild the existing library over the Cedar River. As predicted, the cost to duplicate what the City Council authorized to be built at the former BIG 5 site will be several million dollars more, which taxpayers would likely be required to pay.
Library costs cited in the KCLS letter of July 2, 2012, should not sway Renton voters, who have final say on site selection. “Hard costs” (from supporting documents cited by Bill Ptacek’s letter) are:
I was quite taken aback with the two Letters to the Editor that appeared in the June 29, 2012, Renton Reporter – amazed with some of the statements that completely overlooked the truth of the positive aspects of our present Cedar River library location.
Regardless if the library moves or not, taxpayers will pay for refurbishing the building over the Cedar River. Note the allotted $20 Million total budget in the Big 5 expenditure statement (http://scr.bi/HeMUmI). Cost will be more or less a wash. So the question depends not on will the move save money or not, or develop business downtown, or appease KCLS.
We recently received a letter from the King County Library System (KCLS) regarding the Cedar River ballot measure, Proposition 1, that the citizens of Renton will be voting on come August 7th.
I had a house built in Renton in 1987; at that time there was a policy in place, at least that was what I was told, that the city did not allow builders to cut down trees that did not interfere with the house. Therefore, the builder was going to leave an ugly, bent tree in the front yard of my house. I told the builder that I did not want the property unless he got rid of the tree.
As a downtown Renton resident for the past 16 years and a new member of the City Center Community Plan Advisory Board, I have some comments and questions on the library debate.
I need to reply to a couple of letters in the June 29 issue, about the library.
I am writing to express my support for Steve Bergquist’s campaign for the 11th District’s state representative. Steve’s campaign needs no more acclaim with the huge turnout of support he’s received but I want to explain why my former high school teacher’s bid for office has me so excited.
Join me in voting for the new downtown library located west of the Piazza.
There is no argument from me that the building over the Cedar River is unique and special to the City of Renton. It is a very special building with many needs and possibilities. This building should be repurposed for the City of Renton residents.
The other morning I was awaken by a call from the alarm company servicing our business property. I was told the alarm had been tripped and did I want the police notified. Since our business has been broken into previously, I said yes.
As a longtime Renton, resident I find the arguments against the relocation of the library a continuation of the same old tired themes that have restricted Renton’s development for the past 40 years.
I live in the 11th Legislative District and my son attends Lindbergh High School and was positively impacted by Steve Bergquist. I am supporting Steve Bergquist for the state House of Representatives. Bergquist is a great teacher and coach. He has mentored and motivated hundreds of students to “do their best.” Bergquist had an impact on my son and now he has a great job and a good future ahead of him.
In last week’s paper, Phyllis Forister complained about Renton’s lack of protection for the tress on Rainier Avenue. This is not the first time Renton officials have turned the other way when it comes to protecting large trees. All you have to do is take a look at developments on the East Renton Plateau. Renton is heaven for developers.
I’m very saddened and wondering if business along Rainier Avenue had any input into removing the beautiful mature trees within the last few weeks. I can only guess business would appreciate the tree removal, i.e. gaining improved visibility.
In looking at the plans for the Rainier Avenue project, I don’t see pulloffs for buses to load/unload passengers. This is one of the main problems for traffic problems along Rainier Avenue and just about every bus stop in Renton. Bus loading/unloading pulloffs should be part of every street project. This only makes sense when the streets are all torn up anyway.
I read, with some consternation, a letter by Christina Condelles in the April 6 edition. It would seem that her issue is the relocation of the Renton Library. I believe she has every right to state her opinion as to the location. I am disturbed by her claims and insistence that the downtown area is a hell hole full of crime and shootings.
