To the Editor:
Letters and editorials are flying, both pro and con, on Prop 1: expansion of the Everett Port Authority district to encompass all of Snohomish County. I write in favor of Prop 1.
The three major focuses of the Port Authority have been environmental cleanup and habitat restoration, economic development, and transportation to and away from the port of Everett. The Port’s accomplishments are obvious and spectacular.
Examples:
The Port restored 353 acres of the Blue Heron Slough, prime salmon habitat at the mouth of the Snohomish River. The Port project is adjacent to the Tulalip Tribe restoration of Qwuloolt tidal flat and the Smith Island project, resulting in approximately 1000 acres of natural habitat restored.
The Everett waterfront, heavily polluted from years of wood products and heavy industry, has been capped and returned to residential and small business use. It is Everett’s most vibrant and newest neighborhood.
The third Port focus is smooth and uninterruptible access to the port, not just by seaway but by road, rail, and air. The economic success of the Port of Everett is as much linked to routes in to and out of Everett to the interior of the state as its port facilities. The Port of Everett has within its remit the ability to strengthen and improve existing transportation corridors. Within their current jurisdiction, basically the city of Everett, they have done so.
Please vote yes on Prop 1.
Janice Lengenfelder
Snohomish
