Opinions and Letters

Opinions and Letters are welcome, whatever your position.  E-mail them to redmondblog@gmail.com.  

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Three school board members up for election in 2019

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If you have thoughts about running for a school board position , now is a good time to start planning. You have to live in the District in which you want to run. Each Board position is elected by the voters from the entire school district.  Questions?  Contact sparthemer@lwsd.org, Director of Communications and Community Engagement. Chris Carson -  DISTRICT 2   Kirkland area / West Lk. Samm. Blvd./ No. Bridal Trails (tan district color) Christopher Carlson, Ph.D., was elected to the school board in November 2007. He is a faculty member in the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Division of Public Health Sciences. His lab focuses on identifying correlations between genetic variation and disease risk for cancer, diabetes, and other common diseases, then identifying the biological mechanism responsible. Carlson is also an affiliate assistant professor with the University of Washington School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology. He holds a B.A. in mol...
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My trip to Europe -- Redmond History & urban transportation

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Two long rows of "scooters" blanket a plaza in Sorrento credit/ Pam Yoder On July 23, our family burst out of the Redmond bubble for an eye-opening visit to Ireland and Italy.  After 40 years of life in Redmond it was about time to gain new perspectives! Our trip was instigated by my nephew, playing the Irish in a  Aussie Rules Football. tournament.  We lost both games but the Guinness, Jamison and lively pubs made up for it. I had my eye out for the McRedmonds in Ireland.  None to be found.   Luke McRedmond  immigrated to America during the potato famine and homesteaded here in 1850.  Upon becoming postmaster in 1882 he renamed the town from "Salmonberg" to Redmond.  [Click on the hyperlink to read a fascinating accounting of the early development of Redmond up to Microsoft's presence.] My daughter Lexie, and her boyfriend had to leave after the tourney.  Pam and I extended our trip to visit Venice, Rome, Sorrento and Capri.  Grea...
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LETTER: School taxes are growing too fast

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LWSD is considering an additional $120M levy.  This 6-year [school] levy will cost homeowners $29.00 for every $100,000 in assessed value. So the owner of a $700,000 house would pay $203 more per year in property taxes (2020-2026.) Property taxes on the $700,000 house are already: State School Taxes: $1330 McCleary School Taxes: $700 LWSD School Taxes: $1900 Roads, City, ST3, Hosp, etc: $2,800 Total: $6730 School taxes now make up 60% of our property taxes. This levy provides 4 elementary school additions and an addition at Lake Washington High School that was rebuilt in 2011. The District isn't even addressing the construction projects authorized by the Long Term Facilities Task Force. They will ask taxpayers to fund these in the 2020 bond measure. Additionally, the McCleary tax is scheduled to increase by 30% in 2021. I've lived in the same house for 20+ years. In 2012, my property tax bill was $4998 and the school taxes were $2600. In 2018, my property tax bill was $7,900 an...
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