I can remember a time when the K2 building was a bustling place of employment — somewhere working class people could go on Vashon to support their families. Our community was more diverse, more vibrant and a lot less precious back in those days. That’s why I’m excited that a company has come along that wants to produce a legal and highly regulated product there.

More people working on Vashon means more traffic in our other local businesses, less stress on our social service net, and perhaps — if we are lucky — a return to a time when Vashon was not just a moated, gated bedroom community for the wealthy but a place that was welcoming to people of all different income levels and ways of life.

— Liz Shepherd