Letters to the editor

Nickelsville

Let pink tents stay

Editor, The Times:

The shelter system is over capacity citywide ["Seattle doesn't deserve this pink tent city," Times, Local News, Sept. 24]. On Tuesday, Operation Nightwatch could not find emergency shelter for 24 men and women. This summer we served more than 200 people, the most in 40 years. Other agencies are reporting similar trends. Given the current economy, things may get worse before they get better.

So why is there such resistance to homeless people getting organized and camping out on vacant and unused public land? They have not asked for money from the city.

Our 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness says that homeless people "are at immediate personal risk and have a basic right to safety. Interim survival mechanisms — services focused on keeping people alive ... are necessary until such time that affordable permanent housing is available to all."

Yes, they're playing politics with the name. It's unfortunate. But the pink tents would keep people alive this winter, with more comfort and dignity than is being provided by Interstate 5 and Kinnear Park.

I say, leave them alone.

— The Rev. Rick Reynolds, Operation Nightwatch, Seattle

Initiative 985

Hidden solutions?

We should not underestimate the wisdom of initiative guru Tim Eyman's solution to traffic congestion ["Eyman warns DOT," page one, Sept. 24].

Under his proposed Initiative 985, all carpool lanes will be opened to all drivers during nonpeak hours. (If it's "nonpeak," where is the need?)

If I-985 is approved by the voters, surely we can expect peak-period ticketing for inadvertent violations to skyrocket. Is I-985 really a well-targeted budget proposal to render the State Patrol fiscally independent? No new taxes, just fines. Depending on the degree of driver confusion and ticketing, we might even have here a solution to the overall state budget deficit!

Keep a trusting eye on Eyman. Beneath the surface, this armchair expert is not really on a vendetta against the state Department of Transportation.

— Peter D. Beaulieu, Shoreline

Presidential election

Give access to Palin

I am deeply disturbed at how much the John McCain campaign is restricting access to Sarah Palin ["McCain to reform Wall St., Palin says," News, Sept. 25].

Excluding reporters from her meetings with foreign heads of states, and intentionally limiting them to strictly photos and video, is an intentional attempt to limit the American public's real understanding of her abilities. They are trying to create images, rather than enable the American public to evaluate her based upon reality.

The American public should not stand for this. Why aren't we given more direct access to Palin? If she is such a star, what is there to worry about? The public deserves to know whom they are electing, rather than being marketed a highly controlled image. Right now, we are not being given that opportunity.

This is not consistent with Palin promoting herself as being transparent. This is consistent with the Bush administration's practice of secrecy.

We cannot afford another Bush administration. Learning about them after they are in office is much too late.

— Kirk Barrett, Issaquah

Dems' lawsuit

Stop wasting our money

When will the Democrats stop wasting our money on such frivolous issues ["Lawsuit says ballot should label Rossi Republican," Local News, Sept. 24]. In such tight financial times, is this really something that needs to end up in the courts? If it is that important, change the rules for the next election.

Additionally, if people do not know that "GOP" stands for the Republican Party, then maybe they should have paid more attention in government, civics and American history classes. Stop wasting our money.

— Shawna Andrew, Monroe