Work to do

On April 23, just over 25 percent of Fall City’s eligible voters made the decision for everyone else to reject the best opportunity the Fall City Fire Department has ever had, and likely will ever have, to significantly improve service levels at a reduced cost. Many who voted “No” on the fire districts merger were likely confused about what they were voting for, and that was by design. A clever campaign of misinformation and fear mongering was successful in keeping the department at service levels considered unacceptable everywhere else in King County.

What’s done is done. Now we have to live with this decision. I can only hope that those who worked hard to defeat this merger will stay true to their claims of being supportive of the fire department members who work hard every day with limited staffing, equipment and training. I hope they will be willing to pay more if an increase in the maintenance and operations levy is requested, so that the department can reach the service levels it could have achieved at a reduced cost with this merger opportunity. I hope that the “local control” that many people seemed to value over everything else will mean that fire department commissioner meetings will be well attended by those who gained a sudden interest in the department over the last few months. I hope they will advocate for the improvements they just turned down.

Meanwhile I will continue to proudly do my job as a firefighter in Fall City, a community I love. To those who voted “Yes,” thank you. To those who voted “No,” we have a lot of work to do. Are you with us? Or was this just a fun game to play until the next distraction comes along and the firefighters are forgotten? All I can do is hope.

Josh Yancey

Sammamish

Call for impeachment

I urge U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier to begin impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump. He has done everything in his power to obstruct the investigation into him and his fighting of subpoenas further shows his contempt of Congress. Give us a public hearing and get special counsel Robert Mueller to testify before the House. Even if the Senate refuses to convict, the facts will be part of the public record and voters can make an informed choice in 2020. We also must ensure the integrity of our election systems so they aren’t vulnerable to Russia, or any other external force. It is time for all members of Congress and my Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray to stand up and be counted.

Alan Armstrong

North Bend