Last week I met Debbie, who supervises the janitorial teams at a number of facilities in downtown Seattle including everything from historic office buildings to modern skyscrapers housing an array of government agencies and officials — an imposing stretch of real estate and a huge responsibility.
In recent weeks, I have heard from administrators and health care workers who operate small hospitals in rural areas across the state, and from those within the 39th District, which includes United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Valley General in Monroe, and Cascade Valley in Arlington. They are concerned with proposed cuts in the governor’s supplemental budget plan for reimbursement of care for Medicaid and Medicare patients.
A new charge showed up on my bank statement. I hadn’t done anything differently, I deposit money, write a few checks. So what had changed that warranted a $4.95 charge? Actually, nothing had changed except for the bank deciding that some small service would no longer be free. Okay, that’s fair, but only if one uses that service. I don’t.
The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe are launching an initiative that will enhance our readers’ experience online.
We don’t really have a budget problem — we have a jobs problem. When the economy was good, the budget was fine. So the question is this: How can we balance the budget while creating jobs?
Anyone looking closely saw actual tears forming in Governor Gregoire’s eyes when she announced a menu of cuts equal to our state’s budget shortfall. Anyone who criticizes that lady’s priorities ought to be sentenced to the cruel and inhuman punishment of taking over her job.
The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe have had a long-standing policy that all Letters to the Editor must be signed. But, at the same time, our online readers have been able to make anonymous comments to our stories posted on our websites.
November 13–19 is Focus on Education Week in Washington state — and the 90th anniversary of American Education Week. School districts across Washington, including Arlington, Lakewood and Marysville school districts, are encouraging legislators and community members to learn more about their public schools and understand the often difficult, but always important, work we do.
The rich rewards of diversity never cease to amaze me. When we engage fully with people who experience the world differently than we do, we can expect to be inspired. Two stories came across my desk this week that illustrate the point.
