Hi Friends - Here are a few important updates for you to be aware of.
In just 2 days our elected local officials will be making a major vote in the city council meeting to decide if they should authorize $2.3 million taxpayer dollars to put a concrete bridge on the beach north of the jetty. We don’t get to vote in this, but we DO have influence! Insider sources are indicating it is a VERY tight vote and it could go down to the wire going either way – so we need to stay active. This is our best opportunity to shut the project down now before any more money is wastefully spent. Stay active online, continue to send emails to council members sharing your concern, put up signs around town. Now is the time to elevate our visibility because councilmembers live here too – they see you.
Be informed on the facts and fallacies being presented:
The mayor and his allies seeking to build the concrete structure on the beach seem to be focusing their argument on safety. Who would argue against safety right? Well the way they are trying to position their argument is that the “Connector” (aka concrete overpass on the beach) is the ONLY way that safety can be adequately improved for emergency access on the waterfront in the slight chance of a train blockage coinciding with an emergency on the waterfront. His argument is a classic false dichotomy fallacy that doesn’t pass the smell test. His argument is that: the Connector = safety and no other options do, therefore the connector is the only valid option. But it falls apart fast when you look at the city funded research that shows other options DO solve the safety issue – so don’t buy in to the fallacy being put forward that other options don’t adequately solve the safety issue. Look at our updated website for a bunch of pictures of safety vehicles that are used by FDNY and Shoreline Fire (Richmond Beach) to solve access issues as well as the summary charts showing the safety ratings of each option. www.SaveEdmondsBeach.com It also seems that there is more to the story than just safety. Insiders have been reporting that there are other agendas at play that aren’t being talked about publicly, mostly regarding future ferry use of the connector for car traffic when/if they add a third ferry - the safety issue may be a red herring to distract from talking about that. Imagine all of the car pollution spilling onto the beach and into the marine preserve if it got incrementally “converted” for regular use by the ferry. Maybe a local reporter can learn more?...
Media Coverage Update and Links
Here are links to recent media stories done about our movement to save the beach.
- Q13 – They used old designs for the story, but close enough. You’ll also notice the mayor make the argument for safety via connector (then look at our updated website for an easy solution to mitigate his safety concerns about a ladder truck) LINK
- Edmonds Beacon - Council meeting story LINK
- KNKX is planning to air a story on their station on Monday or Tuesday.
- Interview with large local paper on Monday.
- Interview with TV news network on Tuesday.
Many of these news stations and outlets WILL be at the meeting on Tuesday to cover it – they REALLY want to see you there – so do I!
Keep "decorating" Edmonds with Save the Beach signs – especially downtown and in other high visibility areas.
Thanks so much for all of your efforts! Together we will save the beach, either on Tuesday night or all summer long!