FIRE LEVY

Thank you to the community

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful community of Vashon Island for your support and trust in passing Proposition 1. We are truly honored by the faith you have shown in the fire district to responsibly manage the tax funds.

With the passage of Proposition 1, we can now continue our mission to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and visitors of Vashon Island. Your support allows us to enhance our firefighting capabilities, emergency response services, and community outreach programs.

Please know that we are committed to utilizing these tax funds efficiently and transparently, working tirelessly to serve and protect our community. We value your partnership and will strive to uphold the trust you have placed in us.

Thank you again for your overwhelming support. Working together, we will continue to enhance the health and safety of our community.

Vashon Island Fire and Rescue Board Commissioners

Pam King (Chair), Brigitte Schran-Brown (Vice Chair), Camille Staczek, and Jim Whitney

APOLOGY

Letter showed lack of respect

My letter of July 20 showed an inaccurate portrayal of the community service rendered by Steve Nourse, Scott Harvey, Alice Larson, and Hilary Emmer.

In the letter, I expressed my political views about the fire levy and my personal experience as a first responder. But they, too, have performed a variety of services — volunteer or elected — for the island. Every volunteer service involves time commitments and experiences unique to that program or office. I allowed my political opinion – (Yes, Fire Levy) — to cloud a respectful viewpoint of their volunteer service and political expression.

I apologize for my lack of respect and consideration, especially to Steve Nourse.

Mike Kirk

FIRE LEVY

Thank you to all voters

Thank you, thank You, thank you Vashon! The “No” campaign against the levy lift was about numbers and facts. In that regard, even though the final results were not what we were seeking, the numbers indicate many of you actually read all the material we provided opposing Proposition 1.

As a result, according to King County Elections, the “no” votes increased by 121 when compared to the last levy lift in 2017, while the “yes” votes decreased by more than 500 from last time. For those of you who read all our material, including our website, and still voted “yes,” we thank you for participating in the democratic process and respect your right to choose a contrarian position.

Other numbers that put the outcome in perspective include the fact that Chief Vinci and the Firefighter’s Local 4189 were joined by only seven island families in contributing nearly 80% of the $6,000 raised for the “Yes” camp, while one islander contributed $50 to the “no” camp. Therefore, each “yes” vote cost $2.17, while each “no” vote cost less than $0.03.

Scott Harvey