[nfbwatlk] FW: Bellevue Light Rail At Risk

[Jacob Struiksma]

  _____  

From: Rachel Smith [mailto:smith.rachel0 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 1:58 PM
To: Rachel Smith
Subject: Bellevue Light Rail At Risk



Dear mass transit supporters,

As you know, we had a great victory a year ago with the passage of Mass
Transit Now - Sound Transit's phase 2 of light rail development east to
Bellevue and beyond.  Over 60% of voters in King, Pierce, and Snohomish
counties gave a resounding YES to more light rail, buses, and commuter rail.
This strong support put to bed a long conversation about light rail in the
Puget Sound region.

Or so it should have.  Instead, light rail opponents are reorganizing
themselves to fight rail development in other ways, despite the overwhelming
support received at the ballot box.  Kemper Freeman and his Eastside allies
are coming up with new and creative ways to throw a wrench in getting East
Link up and running.  The newest strategy?  Stack the Bellevue City Council
with anti-light rail members.  Specifically, elect members who will use
their position to change the alignment of light rail in Bellevue to make it
less effective, serve fewer people, and reduce opportunities for transit
oriented development.

The good news is that there are some candidates running for Bellevue City
Council who understand the transformative power of light rail and respect
the voters of the region.  Now is the time for us to stand up and support
them.

Please attend the upcoming Bellevue City Council Candidate Forum, sponsored
by the Bellevue Downtown Association, and make light rail a focus during the
audience question and answer period.  It's critically important that these
candidates are on the record and tell citizens exactly where they stand on
supporting transit - particularly light rail.

Below are details and additional information; let us know if you have any
questions.

Date: Tuesday, October 6
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Location: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Evergreen Ballroom, 900 Bellevue Way NE
Admission is free but you must register by TOMORROW, OCTOBER 2.  Visit:
http://www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/councilforum.html to register or for
more information.

Check out these pro-transit candidates:

Vick Orrico, http://www.orricoforbellevue.com/

Patsy Bonincontri, http://patsybonincontri.org/

Michael Marchand, http://www.votemarchand.com/

Mike Creighton, http://www.creightonforbellevue.com/




Cheers,

Rachel Smith and Andrew Glass Hastings

-- 
rachel r smith
smith.rachel0 at gmail.com
918.809.2449