Daily Archives: November 5, 2014

Election results, Initiative for Sammamish

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Incumbents either won or were leading in Washington State elections Tuesday night (and in today’s update). Only one really has any relevance to Sammamish of any consequence: the State Senate race in the 45th Legislative District where incumbent Republican Andy Hill faced off with challenger Democrat Matt Isenhower. Hill is leading 53% to 47%. Although at this writing I haven’t seen a concession from Isenhower, I’m declaring Hill the winner. Historically final vote results don’t vary more than a percentage point from the election night.

Why is this one race of significance to Sammamish? Because Mayor Tom Vance, Deputy Mayor Kathy Huckabay and Councilmember Tom Odell endorsed Isenhower. Vance appeared in a mailer for Isenhower.

Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama endorsed Hill. I don’t know if the other councilmembers endorsed either candidate.

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County to destroy 36% of trees in 1.3 mi on Lake Trail, put at risk 26% more–and they ain’t done yet

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King County will destroy 36% of the trees and put at risk 26% more–a total of 120 out of 194 trees–in just 1.3 miles of the East Lake Sammamish Trail between SE 43rd Way (the round-about) and 33rd (roughly the 7-11) as it plans to widen the trail to 18 ft (equal to 1.5 lanes of two lane highway).

The Sammamish Review reported the pending destruction November 5.

And this doesn’t include the long section from 33rd to Inglewood Hill Road.

In a post on October 16, I raised the alarm.

The County’s destruction of trees on the Northern section of ELST, north of Inglewood to the Redmond city limits, is a blight on the landscape.

The County claims that it must adhere to federal and local standards for the trail’s paving and “improvements,” and the trees must go as a result and to protect wetlands that are in reality drainage ditches.

I filed a four page Public Comment with the County and City in advance of the Oct. 29 comment deadline. This document is here: ELST Comments 10202014_2

The County claims it cannot deviate from the trail standards. Poppycock. On the section through Issaquah, there are a couple of deviations from standards, narrowing the trail and changing the alignment slightly for environmental reasons.

Photos below the page break.

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