ELECTION Vote Yes for Monroe School District bond
Monroe School District residents will reconsider a major funding initiative this November after a February ballot measure failed to secure approval for a $152 million, two-decade bond. In response to community input, district officials have refined their approach into a more focused, four-year capital levy totaling $49.1 million, up for consideration on November 3 as Proposition 1.
State-level support for school infrastructure remains limited, leaving districts like Monroe to seek local approval for essential upgrades. Without dedicated funding, maintenance tasks often draw from operational budgets, potentially diverting resources from classroom instruction and staffing.
The levy would fund a range of facility enhancements, including roof replacements, HVAC modernization, and updates to fire safety and security infrastructure. A significant portion, about $30.3 million, is allocated to move the Sky Valley Education Center to the Wagner Center site. The current location continues to incur ongoing expenses related to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which complicate operations and maintenance.
Unlike the February bond, this levy would not involve borrowing, meaning no debt service or interest payments. Collections are projected to span four years, from 2027 to 2030, with projects rolled out in stages as funds come in.
Superintendent Shawn Woodward noted that the initiative complements, rather than replaces, the ongoing educational levy approved earlier this year, which sustains academic programming and daily functions. Additional details are available at www.monroe.wednet.edu/capitalLevy2026, and the superintendent’s office remains available for direct engagement with interested residents.
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TRUMP Trump was right we dont want warmongers
In a recent letter, Tom Conom of Edmonds offered a thoughtful defense of President Trump’s rhetoric around foreign military engagement, suggesting that the former administration’s messaging may have laid important groundwork for public skepticism toward interventionist leadership.
Conom questioned whether sufficient attention has been given to Trump’s consistent critique of leaders predisposed toward military action abroad. He pointed to the president’s investment, both political and financial, in television advertising campaigns warning of the risks posed by “murderous warmongers.”
According to Conom, these efforts have helped frame a broader narrative: that selecting a leader inclined toward conflict represents a deviation from core American values. He speculated that future initiatives could expand on this theme, with ads cautioning against leadership traits such as advanced age, detachment from economic realities, or indifference to democratic norms.
The letter proposed that such messaging might also target figures perceived as self-serving or aligned with authoritarian peers, emphasizing concerns about democratic erosion, press freedom, and institutional integrity. In essence, Conom argued, the public may be invited to reflect on the risks posed not only by aggressive foreign policy but by leadership styles that prioritize personal power and image over institutional stability and civic engagement.
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Make Oligarchy Great Again
A reader from Everett expressed strong opposition to the current Republican leadership, describing the party’s conduct as baffling to intelligent voters. The correspondent compared the administration’s economic impact to previous business ventures, noting that while the family’s wealth reportedly increased by $2 billion, benefits for lower-income populations, such as food assistance and childcare, were reduced. The letter characterized the financial gain as a unique windfall for the corporate entity, distinct from other real estate holdings, and suggested the current political landscape mirrors voting restrictions in existence around 1835.
In a separate letter also from Everett, a resident urged voters to abandon their support for the Democratic party, arguing that the group has held power for over four decades. The writer attributed state budget deficits to excessive spending rather than revenue shortfalls, citing a former governor who identified spending as the core issue. The correspondent advised voters to scrutinize their ballots carefully and consider that persisting with the same voting patterns while complaining about outcomes is counterproductive. The letter concluded by encouraging readers to think critically before casting their votes, suggesting that those who feel irritated by the advice may be proving the point.
A resident of Snohomish addressed the state’s new income tax measure, which targets individuals earning over $1 million annually. The writer expressed disappointment with an editorial by Todd Welch, who argued against the tax. The correspondent contended that the tax is unlikely to burden the average neighbor who has recently become a millionaire, and that it addresses the state’s regressive tax structure, which disproportionately affects the poor. The letter criticized the conservative tendency toward lack of empathy and argued that fears of being taxed into poverty are often unfounded. The writer suggested that the ability to set aside personal fears to consider the needs of others is essential, and called for a stronger argument from the editorialist.
Don’t be fooled, vote No on I-645
Clarifying the State Income Tax Law
The recent column by Mr. Welch contains significant inaccuracies regarding the new state income tax. The measure applies exclusively to a limited group of approximately 25,000 high earners in the state, specifically those whose income exceeds $1 million annually. Under statutory provisions, the $1 million standard deduction can only increase over time, not decrease as suggested. Speculation that the inclusion of public pensions in the income definition represents a hidden agenda to tax all retirees, including low-paid teachers, is unfounded. The state correctly adopts the definition of income found on the IRS Form 1040, specifically under the line for Adjusted Gross Income. Consequently, a retiree whose combined income, dividends, and pension exceed $1 million is subject to the tax, just as an athlete earning a salary over that threshold is.
Concerns regarding a future government attempting to alter state tax laws and start anew are mitigated by existing checks on power. These include the governor's veto authority, the requirement for a super-majority to override such a veto, and the voters' ability to utilize the Initiative process to repeal unpopular tax measures.
If I-645 is approved, it will result in a $13 billion reduction to the state budget. To compensate for this loss of budgeted revenue for the next biennium, low-income and middle-class residents would face increased taxes. Voters are urged to disregard misinformation and scare tactics and to vote their pocketbooks by voting No on I-645 to tax the ultra-rich.