FERRIES
Talk to your legislators, now
This letter is a follow-up to the commentary, “Time for Some Serious Squawking About Ferry Service,” for The Beachcomber’s Jan. 6 issue.
I listened to a two-hour Washington State Ferries public meeting via Zoom on Jan. 5.
It was very informative (and I thank the presenters) but did confirm my worst fears. An early statement was that the ferry system was barely getting through pre-pandemic. Also confirmed was that 75-80% of the operating budget is paid by riders. They said, as I did, “talk to your legislators.” They need to pass the governor’s budget and go further.
Your legislators:
Senator Joe Nguyen: joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Eileen Cody: eileen.cody@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon: joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov
— Ellen Kritzman
SOUTH END DOCK
Erosion as a metaphor
I would like to comment on the picture of the “beach restoration” that was on the front page of The Beachcomber (“Time & Again: Shore Restoration, where historic business stood”) last week.
I had just been to that location the day the paper was delivered only to find that 4 to 6 feet of that restoration had already washed into the Puget Sound since the picture was taken. Yes, hundreds of yards of gravel, compost and plantings are already gone! What happens as the erosion continues toward the ferry pier and road foundation?
I observed a similar disturbance when the sea wall was removed from a 100-foot section of Dockton Park. There, I observed a plume of silt water flowing into the center of Quartermaster Harbor from a recessing high tide.
Meanwhile, large trees were collapsing into the harbor above where the sea wall once stood. Stable marine environments where seagrasses can absorb light will create a water environment that has abundant life. Erosion and silt harm these environments and make our island smaller.
This situation is a physical manifestation of much that is going on in our culture today. Our past supports are identified as barriers and removed only to have our sound foundations washed into the sea.
— Joe Yarkin
BEACHCOMBER ERROR
Still here
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
— Chris Coldeen
