http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view Guest View RSS Feed http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-24_citizens__businesses_to_benefit_from_affordable_health_care On March 23, I was privileged to be able to witness history as President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). ]After over a year of contentious and often politicized Congressional debate, it was rewarding to know that we succeeded in overcoming tremendous special interest lobbying to enact sweeping health care reforms that will help individuals and businesses thrive. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-24_citizens__businesses_to_benefit_from_affordable_health_care http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_my_vision_of_edmonds The farm to market road begins in the fertile Snohomish valley and ends at the western edge of downtown Edmonds near the shores of Puget Sound. Shoppers, tourists, artisans and farmers make their way to the year-round public market. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_my_vision_of_edmonds http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_is_the_faa_waiting_for_your_summer_vacation_to_announce_the_ea_findings_ Last Fall SOC predicted the Environmental Assessment and subsequent hearings would fall in the midst of the busy Holiday season. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_is_the_faa_waiting_for_your_summer_vacation_to_announce_the_ea_findings_ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_important_decisions_coming_soon The City of Edmonds is in a very fragile place. Regarding our financial situation, we appear set to spend through all of our reserves by the second quarter of 2012. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-06-10_important_decisions_coming_soon http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-27_dealing_with_the_onslaught_of_seniors We are fast approaching a demographic tsunami of older adults in every community across America. Nationally, the number of older adults will increase by 15 million over the next 10 years. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-27_dealing_with_the_onslaught_of_seniors http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-20_income_tax_would_hurt_washington_entrepreneurs Each year, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) publishes a list of the best to worst state tax systems for entrepreneurship and small business.   http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-20_income_tax_would_hurt_washington_entrepreneurs http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-06_this_skeptic_doubts_787_is_on_right_track Boeing CEO James McNerney and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO James Albaugh enthusiastically report the Boeing flight test program for the 787 is on schedule to complete the test program by mid-September. But that buoyant enthusiasm just doesn't match the numbers. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-05-06_this_skeptic_doubts_787_is_on_right_track http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-16_long_live_the_king_ By now many of you ardent readers of this newspaper have been reading and/or hearing about Councilman Michael Plunkett's drive to change the governing structure of Edmonds. In a nutshell, his proposal seeks to abolish the direct election of our mayor and replace the position with a council-manager form of government. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-16_long_live_the_king_ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-15_taking_fiscal_irresponsibility_to_a_new_level Last night, the Edmonds City Council took fiscal irresponsibility to a whole new level.  As you know, we spent much of last year talking about the need for a levy - including 6 unanimous votes for a levy in 2009.  Ultimately, in a 4-3 vote, Council decided to put that levy off until 2010.  http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-15_taking_fiscal_irresponsibility_to_a_new_level http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-08_a_proposal_for_change Recently the Edmonds City Council passed a campaign reform measure about how we elect our local officials. Today, I’m proposing a government reform measure. After 12 years on the Edmonds City Council I have come to the conclusion that we need to enact a major reform and create a council-manager form of government as soon as possible. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-08_a_proposal_for_change http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-08_a_vision_for_the_edmonds_waterfront The community of Edmonds is at a very unique crossroads regarding developing a vision for the area between downtown and the waterfront. A confluence of efforts, interests, and projects have produced a special time where it is possible we might be able to imagine – and then implement – a new, engaging and vital public space there. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-04-08_a_vision_for_the_edmonds_waterfront http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-25_beauty_and_bounty__ornamental_edibles Beyond rows. Vegetables without borders. Delicious and delightful. These are terms that come to mind when I think about adding edibles to the ornamental beds in a garden. All too often, vegetables are segregated in a dedicated edible area. While this can certainly be a workable solution to where to plant them, there are many other creative ways to sneak a few tasty plants into the landscape. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-25_beauty_and_bounty__ornamental_edibles http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-18_we_are_all_on_a_sinking_ship_and_the_only_life_raft_is_to__idaho__ People across the state must be scratching their heads and wondering, “Now what?”  Your Washington state representatives, driven primarily by the ever-so-close-to-supermajority of Democrats, have really gotten themselves in a bind. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-18_we_are_all_on_a_sinking_ship_and_the_only_life_raft_is_to__idaho__ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-11_taking_care_of_main_street Earlier this year, news that Wall Street banks had posted record profits and were quickly returning to a “bonus-as-usual” mentality left families across our state astonished and angry. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-03-11_taking_care_of_main_street http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-25_to_prune_or_not_to_prune_ The yearly calendar of garden chores has catapulted ahead of schedule with this winter’s warm temperatures. Pruning of many fruit trees is often performed during late winter and early spring during the dormant state. All indications seem to point to the imminent arrival of spring. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-25_to_prune_or_not_to_prune_ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-18_taking_stock____1_billion__no_big_deal__here_it_is_now_ I recently reported in “Taking Stock” that Microsoft was the most profitable company in the world, earning $6.7 billion in the quarter ending Dec. 31. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-18_taking_stock____1_billion__no_big_deal__here_it_is_now_ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-12_heritage_center__great_opportunity_for_legacy Lawmakers in Olympia have a rare opportunity this session to give a green light to the Washington State Heritage Center, creating much-needed jobs, generating sales tax revenue… and providing our citizens with a priceless resource that will serve as a legacy for future generations. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-12_heritage_center__great_opportunity_for_legacy http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-04_look_who_s_no__1__move_over__at_t_and_ibm In the 1970s and early `80s, the most profitable company in the world was AT&T. On Jan. 1, 1984, as a result of a court-approved consent agreement, AT&T was broken up into eight companies. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-02-04_look_who_s_no__1__move_over__at_t_and_ibm http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-01-21_noises_off__and_on_again_ Years ago, an accomplished writer was given the assignment of drafting the pilot episode of a proposed television series. He thought about it, letting it play around in his writer brain for weeks, and finally got a call from the producer, asking about the script. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-01-21_noises_off__and_on_again_ http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-01-21_faa_game_is_rigged A game rigged against us. Want to play a game? Regardless, you’re in, and you can’t quit. http://edmondsbeacon.com/guest-view/article.exm/2010-01-21_faa_game_is_rigged