Sidewalks are needed, not political cronyism

Published 12:52 pm Friday, May 1, 2015

A letter we received from the county was sent to surrounding homeowners as well.

The county proposes closing two streets in downtown Kingston to motorists and pedestrians, subject to being arrested if trespassing after dark or some set hours. I am appalled that this is even a proposal. This goes beyond gentrification to outright elitism. Several wealthy homeowners have decided to force the county to privatize a county road/street based on unsubstantiated fears of “suspicious activities” and a sense of entitlement based on property value and view.

These same entities/individuals have already worked with the county to put up not one, but two “No Stopping” and “No Loitering” signs.

This is unpublished in the county or local news. The workers who work at Everett Naval Base commute by bus and ferry and walk up this way every day. People walk down to the beach. People walk up from the beach. People walk down to the ferry. It is a quiet and safe alternative to the on/off lanes of ferry traffic. We have a known population of commuters.

There is no “hooliganism” or “vandalism” or whatever is the latest social threat.

There are five sets of apartments in Kingston, from Section 8 to middle class. Almost every ad in the rental magazines and ads state, “Walk to downtown and ferry.” But now, there is a “Not after dark,” “Not in my backyard” proposal that is so ridiculous it makes me very concerned about the quality of leadership in the unincorporated town of Kingston.

A valid letter from the county to homeowners would be considering how to put sidewalks in all the streets of Kingston! Walking on the side of busy streets and the state highway is unsafe and dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.

The people responsible for this kind of pocket-padding political cronyism are the real criminals. They hide in broad daylight with a cloak of righteous rhetoric that has no basis in reality. In fact, they are minding everyone else’s business but their own.

Elizabeth Keith
Kingston