Letters to the editor | Jan. 29 edition
Published 9:18 am Thursday, January 29, 2026
Vote yes for levy
Vashon Education Association strongly endorses renewal of the district’s Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) Levy.
Voting “yes” to Proposition 1 will help ensure that academically rich program offerings continue to be available to meet the needs of all of our students and that our school buildings operate efficiently and effectively.
Vote yes by February 10! Our members benefit greatly from living and working in a community that continuously invests in its future. We are confident in working with the district and community leaders that key areas have been identified for this year’s EPO levy. Seventeen percent of the district’s funding stems from this levy, including the funding of ten teaching positions, district athletic programs and coverage of around $520,000 worth of special education costs. It will support the work of district staff who work hard to meet the diverse needs of students who attend island schools. Levies like
this one bridge funding gaps from the state and allow for economic stability for both the district and its employees.
With our community’s passage of the levy, you will help support the important work of school counselors, nurses, teachers and all of our members in the district. We are proud to work with Vashon’s students, parents, community members and all district employees as we strive to prepare students to thrive in a future they imagine.
Matt Tilden,Vice President, Vashon Education Association
Undermining success
I was dismayed at the recent article regarding Island Center Homes.
For Amy Drayer to use the words “myopic” and “crazy” when referring to Hilary Emmer was a telling statement. Amy Drayer’s language and actions toward a community member who has done everything in her power to provide safety and care for Vashon residents over many years has been stunning, and uncalled for.
Not providing a social worker for ICH residents has done more harm than good and undermines the success of the entire project. The deflecting rationale seems to be to attack Hilary Emmer, instead of solving the problem.
Wasted time and energy which should instead be focused on helping ICH residents.
Kelly Wright
An unfair bargain
I was dismayed to read the recent article regarding the “conflict” at Island Center Homes (ICH). As their next door neighbor, we at Vashon Lutheran Church have looked forward to this much needed form of housing, as it is also our mission to serve vulnerable Island populations.
We do this primarily through a healing ministry that provides 12 step programs, caregiver support and the distribution of free durable medical equipment in partnership with the Vashon Care Network.
We have supported ICH by donating furniture and household items for the residents, as well as providing needed office space. It has been our privilege to work the program coordinator and project manager, Rachael Hetrick.
Rachael has been a passionate and talented advocate for the ICH residents, using her unique experience to connect them with a variety of social services, as well as providing personal support in successfully making the transition from homelessness. She is also their direct link to Vashon Household, and an excellent liaison to both VLC and the greater Island community.Hers is a unique position for a unique project, and she provides much more than a part-time social worker ever could. VHH and ICH are lucky to have her in this position.
We are also, unfortunately, very aware of the resident mentioned in the article. Our staff and volunteers have been subjected to this person’s anti-social behavior and have reported multiple instances of suspicious activity.
This is very concerning, as we serve a population that deserves to feel safe while on church grounds. The quoted statement, “they haven’t held up their end of the bargain, so why should the tenants have to hold theirs?” is a weak justification for the bad behavior we have witnessed and, frankly, an admission that this person is intentionally ignoring the rules of the complex.
To be fair, this person does deserve housing and advocacy, ideally in a more structured rehabilitation setting, which ICH was never designed to be. Until this happens, this “created” conflict will continue, to the detriment of the other residents.
Church staff and volunteers will continue to stay vigilant, but it is regrettable that this is even necessary, all due to one willfully non-compliant tenant.
Patte Wagner
Step forward and work together
For several weeks leading up to last week’s Beachcomber, my friends and I were discussing recent neighborhood issues related to VHH housing on 188th. The initial emails I received began with, “What the heck is going on there?” The Beachcomber articles (01-22-2026) tell the tale in some detail, along with the page 6 editorial. It sort of describes it as 2+1 = 2.
That said, starting with the assumption in this largely single-family neighborhood, life won’t get any better with 10 more residences — a total of 40 units on just 2+ acres.
I’ll venture some free advice about how to deal with the current situation. As a 20-year City of Seattle manager of difficult residential/commercial crises, in the late ’80s we had the scourge of crack, crank and dust. City electeds and at-will managers had three options: Step Forward, Step Back, and Step Off. The City stepped forward, took five years, and restored safety and tranquility.
1) The Beachcomber seems to quote the VHH Board and ED Amy as stepping back into bureaucratic denials of well-documented promised solutions, and perhaps offering no future realistic solutions to this project. “Because conditions changed” is a serious mistake — it gives your supportive community a paltry, undocumented comment.
2) Housing a high proportion of residents with little or no rental history — living in shacks formerly known as chicken coops, even living in Santa’s cottage behind U.S. Bank; extremely low cash income; and 24/7 roadside living in a ’94 Plymouth four-door without recliner seats: WOW. This has to be the highest need for daily support to help resolve PTSD/traumas, with trained social/health professionals.
3) Ok, it’s probably well-known: I’m madly in love with Hilary, and of course prejudiced in this kerfuffle. Some of that madness is her “fault”: Hilary never steps back, always steps forward, cease-and-desist notwithstanding — and honestly doesn’t know the first step to step off.
Free advice in that situation: work with Hilary, VYFS, King County, Olympia, and the neighbors and something very good will happen in my community of 35 years. Your life experience, Amy and Board, assures us you will work the problem to benefit this rocky community.
Bernie O’Malley
