September 3, 2010

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Reader Comments and Opinions
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Grape Stomp Sept. 15th

Letter | Bikini Dust Up

Dear Editor:
For the last month anyone who will listen – from the police to city council members – have been listening to the bleatings of a person who was appalled that a bikini shop would hire bikini models.
The Sunday of The Annual Car Show, Bikini Beach, a twenty five year old company, hired 8 delightful [...]

Guest Commentary | Keep Kirkland Family Friendly

Note: The following letter has been broadly distributed around town and was forwarded to us by several readers. It refers to a promotional activity involving bikini-clad women during the Kirkland Classic Car Show which took place last month. – Editor

August 10, 2010
Dear Neighbor,
Origins of Keep Kirkland Family Friendly Initiative
The initiative to Keep Kirkland Family [...]

Letter | FABULOUS Chinese solution to transportation problems – Why not us??

The following letter was addressed to numerous elected officials throughout King County. The author shares this intriguing concept with our readers. – Admin

Dear  King County  Council and  Sound Transit Board members :
Please consider this!  China will test its first , ‘flying’ bus by the end of this year.  It is intended to reduce traffic jams in [...]

Letter | confusion over Kirkland’s bicycle lane striping

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Dear Editor:
Seems the City has been busy restriping bike lanes. On Market street bike symbol is in the middle of traffic lane instead of a lane on the side of the traffic lane. One especially confusing is on Juanita Dr in front of Michaels. Bike lane all of a sudden cuts [...]

Guest Commentary | One of those moments at Marina Park…. (photos)

I totally experienced one of those moments last Thursday evening, ( Aug 5th 2010) that just makes you feel really glad you were, where you were.  My wife and I were heading down to the Kirkland Summer Concert Series at Marina Park in Kirkland and to be honest, I couldn’t even remember the name of [...]

Larry Springer responds to Matt Gregory letter

Matt Gregory sent us a letter to the editor regarding Representative Larry Springer. As a courtesy to elected officials, we offer them an opportunity to respond to such letters whenever feasible. – Admin
I appreciate the concern my longtime colleague, Matt Gregory, has regarding the cost of political campaigns.  As a candidate whose has had to [...]

Letter | Larry Springer Campaign

As a courtesy to elected officials, we offer them an opportunity to respond to letters to the editor whenever feasible. Representative Larry Springer responded to this letter at http://www.kirklandviews.com/archives/19382 – Admin
Dear Editor:
My TV has had two candidate political advertisements repeated; Patty Murray for statewide US Senate Seat and Larry Springer for 45th Leg. Dist.  Larry [...]

Letter | Enough is enough!

Dear Editor:
Enough is enough!  For a few years now I’ve been wanting to respond in some way to Mr. Robert Style’s endless rants about anything and everything having to do with Kirkland’s governing decisions.  The last gripe of his-this time about Jane Hague- was the last straw needed to have me write this letter.
I have [...]

Letter | Jane Hague Responds to Critical Letter

The following letter is from King County Councilmember Jane Hague in response to a letter to the editor posted here: http://www.kirklandviews.com/archives/18944
It has always been my goal as the Eastside’s regional representative on the King County Council to work with city officials and stakeholders to bring consensus to outstanding issues.


It has been a pleasure to work [...]

Letter | Who controls Kirkland, us or the County?

King Council Councilmember Jane Hague was offered an opportunity to respond to this letter to the editor. Her response is posted at http://www.kirklandviews.com/archives/18946
Dear Editor:
I believe several Kirkland Councilmembers and staff will meet with King County Councilmember Jane Hague. I don’t know the scope of the discussions or who else will be there. However, [...]

Guest Commentary | Lake Washington Boulevard: Kirkland’s future depends on our crown jewel

I wrote the following letter to Janice Soloff, Senior Planner for the City of Kirkland on July 14, 2010:
Janice,
Thanks again to the hard-working folks who are helping plan the vision for the Lakeview neighborhood.
After last night’’s ,meeting I realized that of all the Kirkland neighborhoods, Lakeview plays a crucial role in Kirkland’s future. Here are my thoughts:
Lakeview [...]

Editorial | Income Tax and Liquor Law Changes on the November Ballot (poll)

This election year will be an important one as Washington State voters will have several new ballot measures to vote on in the November 2 general election. The measures include instigation of a new income tax, privatization of State liquor sales and another Tim Eyman initiative to require a 2/3rds supermajority for all tax increases [...]

Guest Commentary | I Pledge… (video)

Jeff Heinz, local photographer and Kirkland resident, has created a montage of his Kirkland Fourth of July photos to which he has added audio explaining the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jeff Heinz is a guest contributor for Kirkland Views and a local photographer.
Find Jeff on Twitter or see more of his photography at www.JeffHeinz.com.

Which Kirkland event(s) does your family most enjoy (poll)

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The City of Kirkland is awash with public events – both large and small – throughout the year. There is always something going on in town for the young and the not-so young, the active and the not-so active. Summer is the busiest season in Kirkland, but events happen [...]

Letter | Annexation promises will be broken

At the Council study session last night, the Council heard from staff what was being proposed for the annexation area.  It was clear that the people in the annexation area are being jerked around regarding impact fees, boundaries, and zoning.  I don’t think that’s what they voted for.
Staff is conducting meetings in the area.  I [...]

Should the Kirkland City Council Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? (Poll)

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

A Kirkland City Councilmember recently raised the question, “why doesn’t the council start each meeting with the pledge of allegiance?” It seems that most of [...]

Burglaries in the Kirkland Highlands Neighborhood

There have been two home burglaries in the Highlands in the past two weeks and several apparent attempted break-ins. All of these crimes have taken place in mid-afternoon. In addition, a car was stolen Monday night
On June 17, neighbors saw a Caucasian man in his mid thirties, wearing jeans, a white shirt and a baseball [...]

Last Chance for Fireworks in Annexation Area

June 2011 annexation by the City of Kirkland means one thing to fireworks fans this Fourth of July:
Light ‘em if you’ve got ‘em
UPDATED
The City is receiving inquiries about the use, sale and discharge of fireworks in the annexation area. As you may know, the annexation does not take effect until June 1, 2011. [...]

Community Poll – The Budget

The Kirkland City Council will once again visit the budget this summer and another round of budget cuts may be necessary to balance the city budget. The past few rounds of budget discussions were difficult to enact and painful for the citizens to receive. We thought it might be interesting to see what city departments [...]

Letter | Response to ‘hit piece’ against Larry Springer

To the author of the hit piece against Larry Springer:
1) you didn’t ask my permission to use my name
2) you ascribe sins to Mr. Springer for actions over which he had NO control.
3) By your own words it was Phil Mendehart(?) that performed the crappy actions – not Larry Springer.
4) The Grape Choice is going to [...]

Representative Springer responds to anonymous attack about Kirkland Uncorked

The political mudslinging in the 45th District has begun. The opening shot came in the form of an anonymous email attacking 45th Legislative District Rep. Larry Springer (D) of Kirkland, who is running for re-election in November. The email titled, “No money for Larry Springer,” makes accusations against Springer and attacks Kirkland Uncorked, the three-day [...]

Letter | Does Kirkland have its priorities confused?

I wish someone would explain to me how we can afford in these very difficult times to pay our new City Manager $174,000 a year when we can’t even afford to keep trash cans in our parks because we don’t even have employees to pick it up. From what I hear from a relaible source we [...]

The Pros and Cons of Initiative I-1100 – Liquor Sales in Washington State

On June 23rd, a campaign called Modernize Washington delivered over 396,000 signatures for Initiative 1100 to the Secretary of State’s office in an effort to get the initiative on the November general election ballot. Both the pro- and con- sides of this initiative have produced talking points presenting their positions. Below is text from the YES [...]

Letter | We need Juanita Beach dredging and fireworks for all

Dear Editor,
Is it possible for the 4th of July barge of fireworks to be moved further out so we could see it along the Juanita beach area?  Rose Point sticks out too far out for viewing.
Since you are getting lower bids for the Juanita Beach renovations, would it be possible to DREDGE the silt that [...]

Letter | Call for volunteers to help Kirkland’s the 4th of July

Editor’s note: This is a truly rewarding volunteer opportunity. Kirkland’s 4th of July parade and fireworks brings so much joy to countless young and old from across the Eastside. Every year I am astounded by the number of visitors who come to Kirkland to enjoy an old fashioned Independence Day. The smiles on the children’s [...]