No need to take the bitter with the sweet
Published 12:55 am Friday, October 3, 2008
Carole King has always been one of my favorites! She somehow had a way of giving perspective to what on its own could easily seem like an unbelievable load. In one of my favorite tunes, she reminds us that, “We’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet.”
Recently, I spent almost two hours with (a campaigning) Matt Larson on just that subject. We were at the end of my driveway, contrasting and comparing what could easily be seen as the two separate, yet politically and economically bound communities of Snoqualmie and Snoqualmie Ridge.
In the past few years, the residents of Snoqualmie have endured the construction, put up with the traffic and felt the environmental and social impact that a development the size of Snoqualmie Ridge inevitably brings. We were asked to do this in the name of our future and as a result of our somewhat limited options and poorly planned past!
Shoeless Joe Jackson had it right when he said, “Build it and they will come.” The trouble is, we’re still building! Now we’re working on the “expanded” version of Habitat for Humanity, and soon Fall’s Crossing will begin to replace what once were trees. As a result, there’s now heavier traffic, higher taxes and only a fleeting sense of what brought us to this little town in the first place! Now you’re asking us to accept a casino with its three restaurants and possible hotel in the middle of an existing neighborhood! Are you kidding?
According to some reports, this has been in the works for a few years. I had heard a rumor to that effect in late July. My first call was to the Snoqualmie Tribe. Their response was that they had no plans whatsoever for this, or any other specific piece of property. Even the city of Snoqualmie stated that it was just a rumor and that they were not aware of any plans, and that we, as residents, would certainly have ample opportunity to express our opinions. Now it seems like the comment phase has come and gone and it’s all but a done deal, yet I never heard or saw a word from city or county leaders or the Snoqualmie Tribe itself.
Bitter with the sweet? Snoqualmie Ridge has 17 parks, complete with tennis courts and climbing walls. In the near future there will be shopping with all the amenities. There is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and approximately 20 miles of recreational trails. We have relocated the police station there, with talk of the fire department, post office and, if Matt Larson gets his way, the library!
There’s going to be new schools, a community center and quite possibly a pool! My suggestion is: Let them have the casino, too! There’s better access, less impact on the more established community and it’s simply a more logical, equitable and community-responsible choice!
Why a casino anyway? According to The Seattle Times, it might have something to do with the free upgrade to the city’s aging sewer system. Ray Mullen of the Snoqualmie Tribe, however, claims that they want just to do what’s best for the people! How can a casino in the middle of an existing neighborhood, promoting drinking and gambling, possibly be good for anyone but a nameless investor from Arizona! Even if it provides revenue, what is the ultimate long-term price for this community? I can’t even imagine what Hole at the Winery on Bingo Night is going to bring to town!
There was a time, a long time ago, that a group of investors made a huge investment in a new way of life. They boarded ships and set sail for a new land with its seemingly endless opportunities. In the process they destroyed a nation’s whole way of life and robbed generations of a spiritual connection that can never be compensated for or replaced, no matter how we try. Like that history, it seems that we are bound and determined to relearn old lessons again and again, instead of taking the wisdom and moving on to a larger view and a better place for everyone.
If the Snoqualmie Tribe really believes that a casino is the answer to their needs, let them build it, but not on top of someone else’s dreams. Not where lives are unfolding and foundations are already laid. Certainly not in a community that’s already had more than its share of challenges! Bitter with the sweet? Bring on the sweet – we’re ready for a change!
Rick Grant
Snoqualmie
